Bristol Old Vic Theatre School is governed and led by a Council of Management, Chaired by Ryan Densham since December 2006. The Council has a wide range of appropriate and valuable skills for helping to lead the School. Current members are:
Peter Bailey is Deputy Technical Director at the RSC, having trained at the School in the 1970s. He has had 40 years experience in theatre from the Bristol Old Vic Company in King Street Bristol through West End, UK provincial, European, Japanese and New York theatres.
Peter brings to the Council a wide experience of theatre, particularly in respect of the technical training.
Ryan Densham (Chairman) is a chartered accountant, now retired from 21 years partnership of Price Waterhouse, now PwC. He is engaged in various charitable activities within his native Bristol.
Ryan’s interests include sailing, fishing, golf, and Bordeaux wine. He has been chairman since 2006.
Paul Gough is Deputy Vice Chancellor ( Academic) at The University of the West of England (UWE), having been Executive Dean of UWE’s Faculty of Creative Arts, Design and Media. A painter, broadcaster and writer he has worked for BBC, ITV, and C4 on a range of creative Arts programmes. Research roles include the HEFCE Research Capability Fund panel.
Professor Gough adds a valuable link with UWE to the Council.
David Halton retired from the position of Vice Chancellor of the University of Glamorgan in 2010, having inter alia merged the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama into the University. He was previously Deputy Vice Chancellor at UWE and is an honorary professor of 5 Chinese Universities and has 3 Doctorates from 3 other UK Universities.
With interests as a musician, running and ornithology Professor Halton brings a wide range of strategic planning in Higher Education to the Council.
Mike Henry is a Chartered Surveyor and a Director of Jones Lang LaSalle, the world’s largest firm of real estate consultants. He has been President of the British Property Agents’ Association and is currently responsible for the Corporate Real Estate sector in the South West for his firm. Mike is also a Governor for Redland High School for Girls.
With interests in music, wine, golf and old British Motorcycles Mike brings valuable property experience to the Council and sits on the Finance Committee.
Andrew Nisbet is the founder and Chairman of Nisbets PLC, a major distributor of catering equipment. He has a variety of further interests in Bristol and has held significant positions including chairmanship of ‘Young Bristol’. He is shortly to become High Sherriff of Bristol.
Andrew brings enormous commercial experience to the Council and not surprisingly is a member of the Council’s Finance Committee.
Bhupinder Sandhu is currently Consultant Paediatrician and Gastroenterologist at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, and Honorary Professor at the Universities of Bristol and UWE ( having served also as deputy chair of the Board of Governors), and President of the Commonwealth Association of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. She was awarded Asian Woman of Achievement award in 2002.
Professor Sandhu is one of the longer serving members of the Board, and enjoys travel, coastal walking, art galleries and theatre.
Paul Spaven is a Chartered Surveyor and partner of Tuffin Ferraby Taylor, building and property consultants. He has been an RICS spokesman through lecturing, building pathology and expert witness and mediation work.
With diverse interests in scuba diving, skiing, classical ballet and motorcycling Paul brings building expertise on the School’s property to the Council.
Victor Tettmar (Company Secretary) is a solicitor and managing partner of the UK commercial law firm of Bond Pearce. He manages the firm from its Bristol office, with offices in all the principal West Country cities. He has also been President of the Insolvency Lawyers Association.
BOVTS is very fortunate to enjoy a company secretary with such a wide range of legal services available to assist the School