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New Chair of UCAS Board

Professor Sir Steve Smith, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Exeter, has been appointed Chair of the UCAS Board. Professor Smith is currently serving his second term as a UCAS Board member having served from 1 August 2006 to 31 July 2009; and then again from 1 August 2011 when he rejoined the Board as a Universities UK nominated member and Deputy Chair.

Professor Smith replaces Professor David Eastwood who stood down as a Board member and Chair at UCAS' September Board meeting [on Friday 21 September 2012].

Professor Neil Gorman, Vice Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University takes up the role of Deputy Chair, to replace Professor Smith. Professor Gorman has served on the Board since 1 August 2005.

The outgoing Chair, Professor Eastwood, is Vice Chancellor of the University of Birmingham. He had served on the UCAS Board since August 2009 holding the role of Chair for just over a year. Professor Eastwood is taking on a new role as Chair of the Russell Group.

Other new Board members [September appointments] are:

  • Professor Janet Beer, Vice Chancellor, Oxford Brookes University: nominated by Universities UK to fill the vacancy created by Professor David Eastwood's resignation.
  • Allan Foulds, Headteacher, Cheltenham Bournside School and Sixth Form Centre: nominated by ASCL (Association of School and College Leaders) to fill the vacancy left by the recent death of John Morgan.
  • Dr Jim McGeorge, University Secretary, University of Dundee: elected by the institutions in Scotland in full membership of UCAS to replace Steve Cannon (his term of office came to an end in June 2012) as the Scottish representative on the Board.

Mary Curnock Cook, Chief Executive of UCAS said: 'I am pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Sir Steve Smith as the new Chair of the UCAS Board and the appointment of Professor Neil Gorman as Deputy Chair.

'Professor Smith has been a Board member for just over a year and brings a wealth of experience in the sector which will be invaluable. Our thanks go to Professor David Eastwood for his service over the last three years and we wish him every success in his new role as Chair of the Russell Group.'

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