My role
As Vice-Chancellor and President of our University I have responsibility for directing all university activities and developments, ensuring the wellbeing, health and safety of our students and colleagues, leading on and progressing our commitments towards equity and inclusivity without racism and harassment. I also have statutory reporting duties on behalf of the University to the Office for Students.
My work provides me with the opportunity to stimulate and facilitate widespread engagement in teaching, research, enterprise, business support and knowledge exchange activities as well as seeking out and developing innovative ideas, superior quality and progressive practice to enhance the University's capability.
I work closely with the University Executive Board, to ensure we are providing a first-class education for our students, and that we continue to build strong relationships with industry through our enterprise and research, making a difference to many professions in the UK and globally.
Background
I was previously Chief Executive Officer of the BRE Group, which focused on research, standards and training to enable a safer and sustainable built environment around the world.
External roles
I was President and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) during 2019/20, which has some 170,000 professional members around the world and extensive knowledge services activities.
I am currently the Deputy-Chair of London Higher, the organisation representing the 39 or so London Universities, where I also founded and Chair the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Network focused on students and colleagues who collectively face many challenges - especially around mental health and wellbeing.
I was Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) from 2021 to 2024. IOSH is the chartered body that represents the safety and health profession.
I have conducted five independent reviews for UK Government since 2012. These include UK Forests and Woodlands; Public Sector Food Procurement; two on Flood Resilience; and Consumer Protection on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies. I served on the Government’s Grenfell Expert Panel focused on broader UK people fire safety. I also served as Non-Exec Director of Defra from 2015-2018 and Talent Advisory Group on development of civil servants. I co-Chaired the EPSRC Tomorrow’s Engineering Research Challenges Report in 2022.
From 2006 to 2012 I was part-time seconded to the Olympic Delivery Authority where I co-created the sustainable development strategy and led on the sustainable procurement of products.
I was awarded the OBE in 2012 for services to research and innovation in the construction industry. I am a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, the Chartered Institute of Building, the City and Guilds Institute, Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers, the Chartered Association of Building Engineers and the Institute of Chartered Foresters. I have Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Edinburgh Napier, Hertfordshire, Loughborough and Bath.
I am a former National Cycling Champion and coach, which included the women's triathlon team for Athens in 2004.