Ann Healey
Director of Academics (AUP)
Our Creative Community
Behind every great creative journey is someone who has walked the path before. Our academics are exhibiting artists, creative directors, fashion practitioners, published researchers, consultants and entrepreneurs whose experience spans galleries, studios, universities, cultural organisations and global brands. They bring that experience directly into the learning environment, helping students connect creative ambition with professional success.
Meet your Creative Mentors
Clare Payne
Deputy Dean of Arts and Design
Hannah Michelle Marti-Wearing
Senior Lecturer
Jose Bucoy
Academic Administrator
Dylan Chetwin
Academic Administration Officer
Guglielmo Pontoglio
Lecturer
Hugo Hansell
Senior Lecturer
Julie Gretta Ross
Senior Lecturer
Madison Stevens
Lecturer
Minas Minatsis
Lecturer
Sara Pelle
Academic Progress and Success Mentor
Shaping Creative Futures
At VCAD, our academic community comprises practising artists, designers, researchers, and creative professionals whose expertise is shaped by both academic scholarship and active engagement with the creative industries. Many of our team continue to contribute to their disciplines through professional practice, consultancy, exhibition work, research projects, publications, conference presentations, and collaborations with industry partners. Their experience spans a diverse range of creative fields, bringing together contemporary perspectives, specialist knowledge, and real-world.
Our team includes accomplished practitioners who have exhibited nationally and internationally, published research and creative work, contributed to sector-wide discussions, and supported the development of innovative curricula and learning experiences. Alongside their professional achievements, many hold advanced qualifications, professional memberships, and recognised teaching credentials, reflecting a commitment to both their discipline and to enhancing student learning.
This rich blend of creative, academic, and industry expertise creates a dynamic and supportive learning environment where students are encouraged to experiment, challenge assumptions, and develop their own distinctive practice. Through close engagement with staff who remain active contributors to the creative and cultural sectors, students gain valuable insights into contemporary practice, emerging trends, and the opportunities and challenges shaping creative careers today.
Student Creativity In Action
Work in Progress: Foundation Year End-of-Year Exhibition
Work in Progress celebrates the creativity, growth, and achievements of students at Victoria College of Arts and Design as they complete their Foundation Year studies.
Showcasing work from students across Fashion Design, Graphic Design, and Fashion Media and Marketing, the exhibition brings together a diverse range of projects developed through research, experimentation, and creative exploration. As part of their final project, students are presented with nine concepts and invited to select one as the starting point for their work, which is expressed through the transformation of a simple cardboard box.
What begins as an ordinary object quickly becomes something extraordinary. It is inspiring to see where our students’ imagination takes them, particularly when a single concept can generate such a wide range of interpretations and creative responses. Each piece reflects an individual journey, highlighting the ideas, skills, perspectives, and confidence students have developed throughout the year.
More than a showcase of final outcomes, the exhibition celebrates the creative process itself-encouraging curiosity, experimentation, creative risk-taking, and thinking outside the box. At VCAD, students are encouraged to develop their own distinctive voice and approach, and it is always rewarding to see those ideas come to life through their work.
As these concepts are reimagined through the eyes of our students, the exhibition becomes a reflection of their dedication, resilience, and willingness to push creative boundaries. It is a moment to celebrate not only what they have created, but also how far they have come.
Work in Progress is a celebration of creative practice in all its forms and an opportunity to recognise the talent, imagination, and potential of our Foundation Year students as they take the next step in their creative journey.