Sir John Tusa is a British arts administrator, author, journalist and former presenter of BBC's Newsnight. He is the co-chairman of the European Union Youth Orchestra and was formerly the managing director of the BBC World Service and the Barbican Arts Centre. Since 2014, he has been co-chairman of the European Union Youth Orchestra. Tusa received an honorary doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 1993, and was awarded a knighthood in the Queen’s birthday honours list in June 2003.

Sir John Tusa biography

John Tusa was born in Zlín, Czechoslovakia, in March 1936. In 1939, when he was just a child, he relocated to England with his family. His father, John Tusa Sr., also known as Jan Tůša, held the position of managing director at British Bata Shoes. This company was an extension of the Czechoslovak shoe company, known for its innovative approach, which included the establishment of a pioneering work-living community around its factory located in East Tilbury, Essex.

John received his early education at Gresham's School in Norfolk before furthering his studies at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he pursued a degree in history.
Tusa commenced his career in broadcasting in 1960 when he joined the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as a trainee.

Most notably, John hosted "24 Hours," a current affairs television program that provided in-depth analysis and commentary on key events. Tusa's influential presence in media expanded even further when he became the inaugural presenter of "Newsnight" in 1979, a flagship BBC current affairs television program.

John was also the newsreader on BBC's "One O'Clock News" for two years in the mid-1990s. His responsibilities as a newsreader reinforced his position as a trusted source of information for the public. His notable anchoring of the BBC's coverage of the D-Day 50th anniversary celebrations in June 1995 and the momentous Hong Kong handover on June 30, 1997, further underscored his role as a respected news presenter.

Beyond his broadcast career, John ventured into arts and culture administration, further establishing his mark on the British cultural landscape. From 1995 to 2007, he served as the managing director of the Barbican Arts Centre in the City of London. Under his leadership, the Barbican Arts Centre continued to thrive as a prominent cultural institution, showcasing a diverse range of artistic and cultural events.

Tusa's dedication to the arts and culture sector was not confined to his role at the Barbican. He held key leadership positions in various cultural and educational institutions, including chairing the board of the Wigmore Hall in London and assuming the role of chairman at the University of the Arts London in 2007. His leadership helped shape the direction and growth of these institutions, making a lasting impact on the arts and education.

John also served as the chair of the Clore Leadership Programme from January 2009 to 2014. This program played a pivotal role in nurturing future leaders in the arts and culture sector, providing training and support to individuals with the potential to shape the future of the industry.

In February 2010, he took on the role of honorary chairman of theartsdesk.com, an influential online platform dedicated to arts and cultural criticism and analysis. In this capacity, Tusa continued to support and promote the arts in a digital landscape.

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