New Vice-Chancellor of UoB announced

Professor Adam Tickell has been confirmed as the University of Birmingham’s new Vice-Chancellor and Principle.

He will take over from Professor Sir David Eastwood, who is retiring in December 2021.

Professor Tickell has spent the last five years as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sussex.

Professor Tickell has previously worked at Birmingham as Provost and Vice-Principal, and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Transfer) as well as in leadership positions at the University of Bristol and Royal Holloway. Before this, the professor had an academic career in economic geography. The new Vice-Chancellor appears frequently in the national media and works closely with both the Government and major research and funding organisations.

Mervyn Walker, Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council at the University of Birmingham told the university “I am delighted to congratulate Professor Tickell on his appointment.

“This was a rigorous and highly competitive selection process, and the standard was exceptionally high.”

He described Professor Tickell as having “an impressive track-record of leadership in higher education” and recounted how the Selection Committee felt his qualities “would be invaluable to lead the University to become a global top 50 university”. The University of Birmingham is currently ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions.

“Sir David’s legacy provides a truly remarkable platform on which to build, one which allows us to set the even more stretching aim of becoming one of the world’s leading universities,” the Chair of Council said.

“In Professor Tickell we believe we have found the right person to lead the whole University community in achieving these ambitions.”

Responding to his appointment, Professor Tickell told the university “I am thrilled to be taking on this exciting role at a crucial time for the university.”

The new Vice-Chancellor described Birmingham’s “real academic strength, outstanding facilities and strong collaborations”.

“My ambition is for Birmingham to be known as the most innovative, vibrant and exciting place to work or study in the UK,” he said.

Featured image via University of Birmingham press office.

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