Academic Governance at ADE UK is led by the Academic Board. This Board is overall accountable for the development, management, oversight, monitoring and quality of all education programmes across ADE UK.
The Academic Board is the senior academic authority and guardian of academic standards, integrity and quality at ADE UK. With delegated responsibility on behalf of the Corporate Board, the Academic Board is the custodian of ADE UK’s Academic Framework and Assessment Regulation, of all policies relating to academic matters, and oversees the development, management, monitoring and quality of all academic programmes.
There are a number of sub-committee reporting to the Academic Board each with its own clearly stated Terms of Reference (ToR) and schedule of business which enables the monitoring of academic activities via the use of data and information.
This committee structure and the composition and terms of reference of each committee are periodically reviewed (at least annually) and any changes passed to the Corporate Board for approval.
Academic Board
Professor Tony Harris Executive Director and Principal
Professor Tony Harris is the Principal of ICMP, a Professor of Music Education, and an Executive Director on ICMP’s Corporate Board. He joined ICMP in 2016 following 11 years at Nottingham Trent University where he was Head of Teacher Education. Tony is also a non-executive member of the Academic Boards of Met Film School and the Royal Northern College of Music, Chair of the Brent Music Academy, and a Trustee of Birmingham Newman University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Jonathan Whiskered Dean - ICMP
Jonathan is ICMP’s Dean and an experienced senior academic leader, educator and songwriter. As a member of the executive team, he has been integral to the management and strategic development of the institution, including our robust response to the challenges of the pandemic, the steady growth of our portfolio, and the development of our learning, teaching and assessment practices.
Sophia Phoca Dean - SAE
Sophia is SAE's Dean and an experienced senior academic leader.
Angela Morley Head of Student Services
Angela is Head of Services at ADE UK and has overall responsibility for Disability & Wellbeing. Angela chairs Access and Participation Committee and is the institutional lead for Safeguarding and Prevent.
Ken Foreman Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching
Ken is an Associate Dean at ICMP and chairs the Learning, Teaching and Assessment Committee. He is also Programme Leader for the BA(Hons) Music Business Programme. Ken has over 35 years’ experience in the music business as an artist, producer, composer, consultant and artist manager.
Dan Green Head of Academic Development
Dan is a lecturer, popular musicologist, instrumentalist, songwriter, and currently undertaking doctoral studies at the University of York St John under the supervision of Dr Mark Marrington. He is conducting sociocultural research to explore the history of the UK singles chart and its influence on popular taste. His research interests are predominantly focused on the commercial music industries and practices.
Stef Jones Academic Registrar
Stef is the Academic Registrar at ADE UK overseeing Governance; Academic Quality; Assessment; Student Systems, Records and data; and Access and Participation. Stef chairs the Academic Standards and Quality Committee.
Sophie Daniels Head of School
Professor Sophie Daniels is the UK’s only female (Associate) Professor of Songwriting. At ICMP in London, she founded the UK’s first BA songwriting and currently runs the UK's most successful Masters Songwriting Programme. Her prior career was in commercial music working at; BBC Music, Sony Music UK and Syco.
Also a Director at The F-List, and a writing and recording artist as ‘Liberty’s Mother’, exploring feminist themes in songwriting. Her work explores internalised sexism in songcraft and music production working with award winning artist and producer Dr. Catherine Davies.
Sophie speaks internationally on songwriting, education and equality, and appears regularly on BBC6 as a ‘Six Musicologist’.
James Rees Head of School
James is the Head of School of Music Production at ICMP and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He joined ICMP in 2024, bringing over 15 years of experience in music education, including leadership roles in further and higher education. Prior to this, he served as Associate Dean of Music Production at BIMM University and Programme Leader for Creative Music Production at ICMP. A passionate music producer, songwriter, and performer, James actively creates and releases music, combining professional practice with academic expertise.
Dan Ashman Learning and Teaching Manager SAE UK
Bio coming soon.
Shelly White Programme Leader, Film and Media SAE UK
With over 11 years of experience as a Post Production Supervisor at the National Film and Television School, Shelley has overseen the post-production of more than 300 short films, many of which have earned prestigious accolades, including BAFTAs and student Oscars.
Lisa Satchell Head of Events
Lisa oversees the events programme at ICMP, from Open Days to Freshers Week and Live Music Showcases to Graduation Ceremonies. With a background in music and a drive for education, she's dedicated to nurturing young creatives in their musical journeys. As the Gender Equality Champion, Lisa advocates for inclusivity and supports women, non-binary, and trans identities in the industry.
Nick Roan, Academic Manager - SAE
Nick is the Academic Manager at SAE Glasgow, bringing over 14 years of experience in education. With a strong background in audio production, Nick has worked extensively in music production, composition, and sound design for multimedia. He is particularly passionate about systems design and quality assurance, striving to create robust frameworks that enhance learning experiences. Nick is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, reflecting his commitment to excellence in teaching and academic leadership.
Gus Granchelli, Student President
Gus Granchelli is the President of The ICMP Students’ Union, Leader of the Student Body and Chairman of our Students’ Senate. With some background in Youth Politics, he is also the Vice Chair for Campaigns & Membership for Putney at The Labour Party. Gus oversees the Students’ Union representation and leadership across ICMP life.
Bruce Armstrong, Non Executive Board Member
Bruce has worked in Higher Education for 35 years. Formerly Kingston University’s Dean of Students, with responsibility for student admin processes, student services and wellbeing, he has acted in a number of roles since his retirement, including that of Interim COO and Registrar at a private HE institution, as well as holding non-executive positions in both higher and further education organisations.