Professor Steve West CBE, DL, Vice-Chancellor, President and
Chief Executive of UWE Bristol, has been elected as the next
President of Universities UK (UUK) following a ballot of UUK’s
members.
He will succeed the current President, Professor Julia Buckingham
CBE, Vice-Chancellor of Brunel University London, from 1 August
2021 and will hold the post for two years.
Professor West has been Vice-Chancellor of UWE Bristol since
2008. He trained as a Podiatrist and Podiatric Surgeon in London,
working in the NHS and private/commercial sector before entering
academia in 1984 working first at The Chelsea School of Chiropody
and Podiatric Medicine, The London Foot Hospital and Westminster
University before moving to King’s College London, and
Huddersfield University. He joined UWE Bristol in 1995 as Dean of
the Faculty of Health and Social Care and Professor of Health and
Social Care, and went on to hold a number of senior posts at the
university before taking up the role of Vice-Chancellor.
Alongside being a vice-chancellor, Professor West has served on
the Boards of HEFCE, UUK and the Office for Students, and Chaired
the University Alliance, South-West CBI, West of England Academic
Health Science Network and West of England Local Enterprise
Partnership. He has chaired UUK’s Health Policy Network and
continues to champion the sector’s work to address a wide range
of mental health and wellbeing issues as chair of UUK’s mental
health in higher education advisory group.
Alistair Jarvis, Chief Executive of Universities UK,
said:
"Steve is a successful and experienced leader, widely respected
across the sector. His experience spanning health, business and
education will be invaluable as he leads our university sector.
“Steve understands the strengths and diversity of our sector and
has a depth of experience in higher education policy. He is
widely recognised for leading sector-wide efforts to improve
support for student mental health and wellbeing, which is more
important than ever.
“I look forward to working with Steve to champion and enhance the
positive impact of universities and support UUK members."
Professor Steve West said:
“I am honoured to have been selected by my peers to lead
Universities UK. I firmly believe that together we are stronger,
and intend to do all I can to ensure universities work as a team
to ensure the UK’s higher education sector remains world leading
at this time of great change.
“UUK plays an essential role, harnessing universities’ collective
influence to ensure the sector can continue to transform lives
through top class education, research and enterprise.”
Notes to editors
- Professor Julia Buckingham CBE is the current President of
Universities UK and remains in this role until 31 July 2021.
Professor West’s term of office will run from 1 August 2021 until
31 July 2023.
- More biographical information on Professor West, including
his non-executive directorships, national and regional positions,
is available on the UWE
Bristol website.
- The President is elected from and by the membership of
Universities UK for two academic years and is only eligible for
re-election by special resolution. The president chairs all
Universities UK Members' Meetings, the UK Board and the Executive
Committee meetings.
