Governance
The Royal Academy of Music was established in 1822, granted a Royal Charter in 1830 and a Supplemental Charter in 1998.
The Academy is a registered charity, number 310007, and a company registered with Companies House, number RC000438.
The Academy is registered with the Office for Students as a higher education provider.
The powers, duties and responsibilities of the Governing Body are laid down by the Royal Charter and its Bye-Laws. The Governing Body is also required, where appropriate, to conduct its business in line with the Statutes and Ordinances of the University of London of which the Academy is a member and, in their capacity as Trustees, with the Academy’s charitable objects.
Under the terms of the Supplemental Charter dated 1998 and its Bye-Laws, the direction of the Academy is the responsibility of the Governing Body, which makes rules, orders and regulations deemed useful and necessary for the regulation and management of the institution.
The Governing Body is responsible for overseeing and managing the general business, finances and investments of the Academy, safeguarding its assets, setting its general strategic direction and determining its educational character and mission. It is also responsible for ensuring that academic governance is operating effectively, encouraging student engagement in academic governance; that Academy students receive a high-quality education, value for money and that adequate provision has been made for their welfare and wellbeing.
The Governing Body comprises the President, 10 to 15 Independent Members who are the Trustees and from whom its Chair and Deputy Chairs are drawn, and up to five representative members elected by the staff and students.
The Academic Board is the main academic committee of the Governing Body and draws its members from the academic staff and the students of the institution. It is the body responsible for the academic and academic governance work of the Academy in teaching, examining and in research, and recommending and implementing strategic academic, artistic and policy initiatives.
The Principal is the Chief Executive Officer of the Academy, who reports to the Governing Body and is responsible for implementing its decisions and for maintaining and promoting the efficiency and good order of the Academy. The Principal is the designated Accountable Officer of the Academy.
The Senior Management Team is the Principal’s advisory group and comprises the Deputy Principal, Dean of Students, Registrar and Director of Student Operations, Deputy Principal (Advancement), and the Director of Finance.
Governing Body
The Governing Body’s main responsibilities include approving the mission and strategic vision of the Academy and acting as its principal financial, business and legal authority
Patron
HM The King
President
HRH The Duchess of Gloucester KG GCVO, Hon FRAM
Vice-Presidents
Dame Jenny Abramsky GBE, Hon RAM
Lord Burns GCB, Hon FRAM
Sir Elton John CH, CBE, Hon RAM
Sir Curtis Price KBE, Hon RAM
Members of the Governing Body (Trustuees)
Sir Simon Robey Hon FRAM (Chair)
The Duchess of Wellington OBE Hon FRAM (Deputy Chair)
Lord Blackwell
John Burgess Hon FRAM
Ina De
Alexis Ffrench FRAM
Hamish Forsyth
Professor Jo Fox (appointed 1 February 2024, retired 31 March 2025)
Dame Sarah Healey DCB CVO (appointed 1 September 2025)
Peter Hesketh
Rehmet Kassim-Lakha (retired 31 July 2025)
Professor Sir Wayne McGregor (appointed 18 March 2025)
Dinah Rose KC
William de Winton Hon FRAM
Damian Wisniewski BSc (Eng), ACGI, LRAM, ACA, Hon FRAM
Elected Members of the Governing Body
Dr Cydonie Banting (Administrative Staff, appointed 1 September 2025)
Dr Christopher White (Academic Staff, appointed 22 October 2024)
Gemma Waring Hon ARAM (Administrative Staff, retired 31 July 2025)
Gabriel Alves (Student Union President, appointed 1 September 2025)
Tiffany Qiu (Student Union President, retired 31 July 2025)
Clerk to the Governing Body
Kate Connolly
Principal & Senior Management Team
Access
If you need help accessing the information on this page or need it in an alternative format, please contact the general office on go@ram.ac.uk or call us on +44 (0)20 7873 7373.





