Academic leadership
Faculty
Academic excellence at LASALLE is shaped by an outstanding and diverse community of educators and mentors. Meet the minds behind the learning—artists, designers, educators and researchers from around the world who bring vision, rigour and heart to every programme.
Deputy President & Provost
Dr Venka Purushothaman
Dr Venka Purushothaman LASALLE College of the Arts
Senior Fellow
Milenko Prvački
Milenko Prvacki
Senior Fellow
Lord David Puttnam

Deans

Dean, Faculty of Fine Arts, Media & Creative Industries
Professor Adam Knee
Dean, Faculty of Performing Arts
Professor Leon Rubin
Professor Leon Rubin LASALLE College of the Arts
Dean, Faculty of Design
Nur Hidayah Bte Abu Bakar
Nur Hidayah Bte Abu Bakar LASALLE College of the Arts
Dean, Learning, Teaching & Research
Dr Wolfgang Muench
Dr Wolfgang Muench

Heads of Schools

Head, School of Spatial & Product Design
Ang Xinwei
academic_ang-xinwei_opt.jpg
Head, Puttnam School of Film & Animation
Chris Shaw
1Chris.jpg
Head, School of Fashion
Dr Circe Henestrosa
circe-henestrosa
Head, McNally School of Fine Arts
Associate Professor Cissie Fu
Cissie Fu
Head, School of Creative Industries
Associate Professor Jonathan Gander
Dr Jonathan Gander
Head, School of Dance & Theatre
Melissa Quek
MELISSA QUEK
Head, School of Contemporary Music
Dr Timothy O’Dwyer
lasalle_headofschool_school_contemporary_music_tim_odwyer

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Chris Shaw | Academic Leadership & Faculty at LASALLE Singapore
Head, Puttnam School of Film & Animation

Chris Shaw

1Chris.jpg
  • MA with Distinction (Computer Animation & Visualisation), Bournemouth University, UK
  • BA Honours (Graphic Information Design), Falmouth University, UK

Chris Shaw started his animation career in 1987 with Walt Disney Animation on the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Chris learned his craft on the job and experienced many different aspects of the animated film process across a variety of departments. In 1989, he started work in Steven Spielberg’s American Tail II in the Animation Department. After completing two animated features, he continued his career as a freelance animator on a variety of TV commercials and clients including BBC News, Paul McCartney, IBM, Reuters News Agency, Lego, Halls, Rice Krispies, Ribena, Barclays Bank and MTV.

In 1996 he was invited to Singapore to co-establish a Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Computer Animation at Singapore Polytechnic. He has since been actively involved in a wide range of productions and educational incentives, including Co-Chair of the Excellence in Education and Training Convention, external moderation, organising and judging the National Software Competition, as well as writing and producing the opening film for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Convention 2000 on education.

Chris joined LASALLE in 2007 as the Programme Leader for Animation—transforming and leading the programmes to their current success. In 2016, Chris was appointed Head of the Puttnam School of Film & Animation, which consists of Film, Broadcast Media, and Animation Programmes. He currently serves on both the Academic Quality Assurance Committee and Management Committee. Additionally, he served on the Academic Committee for the University of the Arts Singapore between 2023 and 2025.  

Chris is currently enrolled on the PhD programme at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where his research is focused on the pedagogical development of imaginative thinking, which can help encourage students to think more imaginatively. 

Read More
Video

  • ‘Fostering Imaginative Thinking in Production Design Through AI and Emerging Technologies’, book chapter in Teaching Production Design for Film, Television, Games & Animation, published by CILECT (2025)
  • ‘Engaging Creative Media Student’s Motivation: The Influence of Autonomy, Peer Relationships and Opportunities in Industry’ in World Journal of Education, vol 8, no. 6 (2018)

Conference papers

  • ‘Imagined Soundscapes: Expanding Visual Narratives in Singaporean Animation’, Inter-Asia Cultural Studies Conference, Walailak University; Thailand (2025)
  • ‘Developing Critical Engagement in Animation: AI in Animation Education for Broader and Deeper Engagement with Social Issues’, Alan Rudge & Chris Shaw, Inter-Asia Cultural Studies Conference, Walailak University; Thailand (2025)
  • ‘Imagination & Sound: Expanding Time and Space in Singaporean Animation’, presentation at Sound and Screen Conference (CILECT), Nanyang Technological University; Singapore (2022)
  • ‘Education for the Creative Industries – A Singaporean Paradox: A Study of Pedagogical Frameworks to Develop Imaginative Thinking for Animation Students’, PhD Winter Seminar, School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (2022)
  • ‘Developing Imaginative Thinking: A Qualitative Study of Animation Curricula in Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL) in Singapore’. The Paris Conference on Education The International Academic Forum (IAFOR), La Maison de la Chimie; Paris, France, (2022)
  • ‘The Animation Industry in Singapore’, Tokyo Anime Award Festival (TAAF); Tokyo, Japan (2018)
  • ‘Identifying an Educational Framework to Develop Imaginative Thinking for Animation Students’, PhD Winter Seminar, School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (2018)
  • ‘Blurring the Edges between Classroom & Professional Practice Using Social Media’, 5th International Conference in Teaching and Learning with Technology (iCTLT); Kobe, Japan (2016)

  • Creative imagination
  • Pedagogical development
  • AI for animation pipeline

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