University of the Arts London (UAL) has announced the appointment of ten new ambassadors, featuring prominent figures from the creative sector, including the acclaimed artist and designer Es Devlin and celebrated accessories designer Anya Hindmarch. These industry trailblazers will champion and support the university’s mission to inspire and nurture the next generation of talent, building stronger connections between UAL and the creative industries globally.
From stage-designers and fashion frontrunners to advertising pioneers and more – each of UAL’s ambassadors is influential in their respective field. They will leverage their networks and expertise to advocate for UAL, broadening its reach and impact, whilst opening valuable opportunities for students and faculty alike.
David Isaac CBE, Chair of Governors at UAL, said
We are delighted to extend a warm welcome to the ten inspiring creatives who have recently joined UAL’s global community as ambassadors of the University.
These exceptional individuals are not just industry leaders; they are passionate advocates for the creative industries, who will draw on their expertise to work closely with UAL to help empower the next generation of creative professionals: providing them with the tools and support our students need to make a positive impact in the world. This exciting new initiative will enrich our creative community – and bring together supporters from around the world – each of whom is committed to UAL’s goals and will help us deliver them.
Meet UAL’s ambassadors
Anya Hindmarch Dame Anya Hindmarch founded her accessories business in London in 1987 and it has since grown into a global brand known for its luxury, organisation obsessed accessories and groundbreaking work in sustainability. A passionate advocate of British design and arts, Anya is a trustee of the Tate, trustee of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and an Emeritus trustee of both the Royal Academy of Arts and the Design Museum. In 2024, Anya Hindmarch was awarded a Damehood in the King’s Birthday Honours, for her services to fashion and business. She and her brand have received several notable industry awards including a British Fashion Award and a Marie Claire sustainability award. In 2021, Anya published her first book, the Sunday Times bestseller ‘If In Doubt Wash Your Hair’.
Clive Baillie Clive Baillie is a London College of Printing (now London College of Communication) alum. He is the CEO and a founding partner of BLT Communications, one of Los Angeles’ leading creative agencies, specializing in providing marketing materials for all areas of the entertainment industry. His career as a Creative Director has spanned more than three decades, during which time BLT has created many high-profile movie campaigns for all the top Hollywood film studios – including Avatar, The Avengers series, Titanic, Deadpool, Wolverine, The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Harry Potter franchise, and Barbie.
Deirdre Hopkins A former display artist and LCF tutor, Deirdre Hopkins is an Honorary Fellow and leadership donor to LCF and to UAL, endowing the Chair of Fashion in 2001, and the cross-college Chair of Drawing in 2002. Deirdre is a former Trustee of the Rootstein Hopkins Foundation and has continued the work of her late husband Richard Hopkins who established the foundation in 1990. The Foundation has funded a wide range of projects across the Colleges including the Rootstein Hopkins Space at LCF; the refurbishment of the theatre at Wimbledon College of Art and the landscaping and redevelopment of the Parade Ground at Chelsea.
Es Devlin Central Saint Martins graduate and British contemporary artist Es Devlin views an audience as a temporary society and invites public participation in communal choral works. Her canvas ranges from public sculptures and installations at Tate Modern, V&A, Serpentine, Imperial War Museum and the Lincoln Centre, to kinetic stage designs at the Royal Opera House, the National Theatre and the Metropolitan Opera, as well as Olympic Ceremonies, Super-Bowl half-time shows, and monumental illuminated stage sculptures for large scale stadium concerts.
She is a fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, University of the Arts London and the Royal Society of Arts. She has been awarded The London Design Medal, three Olivier Awards, a Tony Award, an Ivor Novello Award, doctorates from the Universities of Bristol and Kent and a CBE and has just been awarded the 2025 Eugene McDermott in the Arts at MIT.
Johanna Ho Fashion designer and founder of PHVLO HATCH and Rosewood Placemaker, Johanna Ho has over 20 years of experience in design and creative management within the fashion and creative industries. Her work emphasizes inclusivity and the empowerment of emerging talents, with a focus on nurturing the next generation and is driven by a strong commitment to sustainability, fashion, and innovation. Throughout her career, Johanna has successfully launched her own brand in markets across Asia, the UK, and the US, gaining valuable expertise in wholesale and retail, budget management, and global design and production processes. She is now committed to using her breadth of experience to foster meaningful connections between creative projects and the talents who will help realise them.
Ho is alumni at Wimbledon School of Arts (foundation course); followed by Fashion BA Hons and Fashion MA both at Central Saint Martins.
John Hegarty John Hegarty has been central to the global advertising scene over six decades working with brands such as Levi’s, Audi, Boddingtons, Lynx, British Airways and Johnnie Walker. He was a founding partner of Saatchi and Saatchi in 1970. He co-founded Bartle Bogle Hegarty in 1982 with John Bartle and Nigel Bogle. The Agency now has offices in London, New York, Singapore, Stockholm, Shanghai, Mumbai and Los Angeles. In 2022 John co-founded The Garage Entertainment, which aims to unlock creative potential through inspiring, distinctive and entertaining products.
Hegarty is London College of Printing (now London College of Communication) alum.
Nick Brien London College of Communication graduate, Nick Brien is a seasoned business leader with over four decades of global experience in advertising, media, and digital marketing. Most recently, he was the CEO of Enthusiast Gaming, a leading gaming media and entertainment company. Prior to that, Nick led the sale of AMOBEE, Singtel’s global AdTech division, to Tremor International.
He also served as the Americas CEO of DENTSU, working with major advertisers like Microsoft and General Motors, and held leadership roles at Hearst Marketing Services, McCann Worldgroup, and IPG, overseeing media networks such as UM and Initiative. Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions at Publicis Groupe’s Arc Worldwide, Leo Burnett, and Starcom MediaVest Group.
Resh Sidhu Resh Sidhu stands at the forefront of creative technology and augmented reality as a globally recognized leader. She co-founded Arcadia Creative Studio at Snapchat in New York, where she spearheads an elite team of AR innovators, overseeing diverse, high-impact projects. With an illustrious career spanning over two decades, Resh’s expertise has been instrumental in various pivotal roles. She served as the Chief Creative Officer at Barbarian, Group Creative Director at AKQA, and Creative Director at the Oscar-winning VFX Studio, Framestore.
Sabrina Fung-Lam Ms Sabrina Fung, a Harvard graduate, is the Group Managing Director of Fung Retailing Group, a non-executive director of Convenience Retail Asia Limited, and the Chief Executive Officer of Asia Retail Company Limited, a company focused on growing international brands in Asia. Amongst other roles, Ms Fung is a member of the board of Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund, the Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong-Europe Business Council and the Hong Kong-France Business Council of Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Ms Fung is an independent non-executive director of Chow Tai Fook Jewelry Group Limited. Internationally, Ms Fung is a member of the McLaren Advisory Group, the Harvard Global Advisory Council, and the Board of Trustees of The Carnegie Hall Corporation in New York.
Shantell Martin Shantell Martin is an artist and academic, working across a wide range of disciplines. Her work centres around making connections between fine art, education, design, philosophy, and technology, exploring themes such as intersectionality, identity, and play. She has presented solo shows at some of the most renowned art institutions, including the Denver Art Museum, 92Y Gallery, the iconic Buffalo AKG Art Museum and the New Britain Museum of Contemporary Art.
