Movers and Shakers — December 2017

Merry Christmas from all at Dixon Walter!!

Professor Julie Sanders has been appointed as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Newcastle University. Professor Sanders joined Newcastle University in 2015 as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. She takes up the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) Elect post with immediate effect and Dixon Walter are delighted to be assisting the university with the appointment of her successor.

The University of Exeter has appointed Craig Nowell as Director of Campus Infrastructure and Operational Support Services.  He will join the University in March 2018. Craig joins Exeter from Swansea University, where he is currently the Director of Estates and Facilities Management and the Director of Corporate Responsibility.

The University of Sussex has appointed Professor Rorden Wilkinson as its first Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education and Innovation. Starting his position in January next year, Rorden will be responsible for developing the Teaching Innovation enabling strategy as part of the new strategic framework that will be launched early in 2018.

Cranfield University have announced the appointment of Alison Whaley as its new Director of Student Experience. Alison joined Cranfield in 2006. She is currently a member of the Research and Innovation Office, where she has focused on driving forward developments to enhance the research student experience.

The Open University has appointed a new director for The Open University in Wales. Louise Casella, a former member of the Welsh Assembly Government Review of Higher Education, will take up the post in the New Year.

The University of Birmingham Dubai has appointed its first Provost – the University’s most senior academic leader. Professor Glyn Watson, currently holds the position of Interim Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Social Sciences at the University of Birmingham’s UK campus. This appointment is an important milestone for the University of Birmingham Dubai, which will be the first top 100 global university to open a campus in Dubai. Professor Watson will take up his new role from April 1st 2018

Professor Gill Valentine has been confirmed to the role of Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Sheffield. Professor Valentine has been successfully carrying out the role of interim Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor since September 2017, she was previously Head of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Posted by Sarah Walker

Sarah Walker

Higher Education

Posted

As executive recruiters specialising in higher education, we’ve witnessed a fascinating shift in recent months: the growing reliance on interim placements to fill critical leadership roles. This trend has been particularly pronounced over the last six months, as declining international student numbers have put significant financial pressure on institutions and the cost of living also having a detrimental impact on domestic student numbers. These economic challenges, coupled with an ever-changing landscape, underscore the adaptability of the sector and the critical need for skilled leadership during these turbulent times.

Higher Education

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The University of Manchester has appointed Barra Mac Ruairí as the new Chief Property Officer to lead the Estates and Facilities Directorate, joining early in 2025.
Barra is currently the Chief Property Officer at the University of Bristol where he leads the campus division. He is the joint institutional lead for sustainability and works on this as one of the University’s strategic priorities, alongside delivering a world-class physical and digital campus. He has also played a significant role in major projects such as the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, a new city centre campus currently in development.

Higher Education

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Keele University is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Tasnim Munshi as the new Head of the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences.

Professor Munshi joins from the University of Lincoln where she was the Head of the School of Chemistry and had full responsibility for the management of all teaching provision within the School, including leading student recruitment-related activities. Prior to this Tasnim, a Professor of Chemistry, was the Acting Head of School of Chemistry and Forensic Science at the University of Bradford.