Celebrating Legacy and Leadership at the NSEAD Past Presidents and Council Event

NSEAD Past Presidents and Senior Fellows event at UCL IOE Sat. 27th Oct.

It was a pleasure to host the NSEAD Council meeting and be Master of Ceremonies for the award commemoration for Past Presidents and Senior Fellows at UCL IOE this Saturday 27th Oct.

I have recorded my speech from the different sections of the ceremony below:

Introduction:

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all—soon to be new Senior Fellows, past Presidents and Council members of NSEAD—to this very special gathering. Today marks an important moment in the history of our organisation: a moment of reflection, recognition, and reaffirmation of the values that bind us together.

NSEAD has always been more than a professional body. It is a unique space where tradition meets practice, where the highest standards of art and design education are not preserved for their own sake, but carried forward into the real world. This is why it is so fitting that we are here at UCL, in a university celebrated across the globe for education, and surrounded by the presence of the next generation who are just beginning their journey into the teaching of art and design. Their energy and curiosity remind us of the responsibility we carry and the legacy we build.

For some of you, today will also be a personal milestone, as you are formally recognised and honoured for your contributions. Your work, commitment, and vision are what make this community thrive. And for Council you are engaging in shaping that reality in your regions and roles.

With that in mind, I am delighted to welcome you once again and to invite you to join us in firstly celebrating not only our individual achievements but the collective strength of NSEAD—past, present, and future.

Past Presidents - awarding medals:

I invite the Past Presidents to the front, firstly we will honour those who didn’t receive their medal at the end of their tenure, (with my sincere apologies) and then secondly to award the senior fellowships.

I would like to make a personal thank you if I may, to Jon, for drawing to my attention that we had run out of medals and that 4 past presidents did not receive medals, and so I’m pleased we rectified that anomaly – thank Jon for organising the making of the new medals and I will now bestowed upon the members – I would like to announce a new category of member just for you Jon, the title of ‘keeper of the chain’ seeing you look after this for me and future others so well. If I do say they are rather wonderful medals, but Jon when I get mine can I have grey ribbon, green clashes with my eyes!

So, we thank the following for their Presidential service and call

Marlene Wylie

Liz MacFarland

Rachel Payne

Peter Gregory

Senior Fellows - awarding certificates:

It is my privilege to honour the first Senior Fellows. Today we come together to celebrate the most senior members of our Society—those whose service, commitment, and dedication to NSEAD have shaped who we are and continue to inspire what we do.

The title of Senior Fellow is not given lightly. It is a recognition of years of hard work, leadership, and loyalty to the Society and to the wider community we serve. It is an honour you have truly earned, and one that reflects the respect we hold for you as individuals and as a collective of past presidents – what is the plural of a group of presidents? A pomp of presidents, a quorum of presidents, a gaggle – I don’t know I’ll have a think.

But today is not only about recognising what you have achieved. It is also about looking forward, with confidence, to the role you will continue to play. Your experience, wisdom, and guidance are invaluable as NSEAD moves ahead, building on our tradition while responding to the challenges of the present and future.

Please Michele can you invite the new Senior Fellows to receive their medals.

Marlene Wylie

Liz MacFarland

Rachel Payne

Peter Gregory

Andrew Mutter                   

Ged Gast

Jon Childs

We are proud to honour you, our Senior Fellows, and to affirm that you are, and always will be, central to the strength and vitality of our Society. Our Senior Fellows, please let's give them a warm congratulations and lets celebrate their legacy and leadership achievements.