Sir John Tusa

Sir John Tusa was born in Czechoslovakia and came to the UK with his family in 1939. He read history at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Sir John worked in all parts of the BBC both as a producer and increasingly as a radio and television presenter. From 1979 to 1986 he was a main presenter of BBC 2’s Newsnight. From 1986 to 1992 he was Managing Director of BBC World Service, during which the foundations of BBC World Service Television were laid.

He was Managing Director of the Barbican Centre from 1995 to 2007. He is currently chairman of the University of the Arts London.

He has written books on broadcasting, arts policy and the nature of creativity.

Sir John is Chairman of the Wigmore Hall Trust and is a Trustee of The Turquoise Mountain Trust Foundation.