Green Gown Awards 2015 – Leadership Award - Professor Frances Corner OBE - Finalist

Head of London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London

Frances Corner has been Head of London College of Fashion since 2005. Throughout this time she has worked to embed the importance of using education to transform lives across the College. The 'Better Lives’ programme, which has been one of the cornerstones of her agenda, encapsulates environmental, social and economic principles and is widely communicated to all stakeholders – staff, students, industry partners and external audiences.

Following these principles she has established the Centre for Sustainable Fashion; overseen the development of a range of outreach activities, social enterprise projects and community partnerships with schools, community groups and prisons; developed funding and staffing structures to support thriving Social Responsibility, Widening Participation and Sustainability initiatives.

Frances Corner has championed ‘Better Lives’ values across mainstream media, in her book ‘Why Fashion Matters’ (Thames & Hudson, 2014) and through her website, blog and social media accounts.

Top 3 learnings

1 I have seen first-hand how fashion education can drive change, build a sustainable future and improve the way we live

2 Working hand-in-hand with industry energizes our practice and ensures enterprise and employability are embedded in the student experience here at the College

3 I strongly believe that when our students graduate from London College of Fashion they should leave with the confidence and abilities to help shape the world in which we live; to plan and respond to challenges in ways that are inconceivable to us now.

Photo credit - Hill & Aubrey