Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Eric Thomas

I became the University’s academic leader and chief executive in 2001. This was, and remains, a tremendous privilege for me, given the University’s longstanding reputation for great teaching and internationally distinguished research. All that, plus a location at the heart of a lively, historic, beautiful city! No wonder the University of Bristol is at the top of the popularity stakes.

Over time, I have come to understand more clearly what makes this University so special. It comes down to people. First, the academics, who account for Bristol’s position as a world leader in subjects ranging from aerospace engineering to biochemistry, classics to mathematics, clinical neuroscience to policy studies. I know of no university of comparable size with as many members of staff who are Fellows of the top academic societies. Then there are the administrators, gardeners, technicians and many others who support the whole enterprise with such superb commitment. And, of course, there are our students – an extraordinarily diverse body of people united by exceptional ability, motivation and potential.

One of the University’s two main roles is to help our students achieve that potential and become what they want to be and what society needs. Our other main role is to generate new knowledge that improves the world and illuminates our understanding of it. We are acknowledged as excelling in both of these roles, and we intend to do even better – hence the ambitious programme of investment in facilities and staff that we will be continuing over the next few years.

We are a community of scholarship in a creative and dynamic city. We set very high standards and we have a clear vision for the future. This truly is an exciting place.

Welcome.

Professor Sir Eric Thomas, Vice-Chancellor

Professor Sir Eric Thomas has been Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol since September 2001.

He graduated in Medicine from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1976 and proceeded to obtain his MD by thesis in research into endometriosis in 1987. He trained as an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and worked at both the universities of Sheffield and Newcastle. In 1991 he was appointed Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Southampton and then became Head of the School of Medicine there in 1995 and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Biological Sciences in 1998. He was a Consultant Gynaecologist from 1987 to 2001.

In July 2013, Sir Eric was appointed as the new UK Education Champion by the Government as part of its strategy to promote the UK education sector internationally. Sir Eric will also co-chair the new International Education Council alongside the Universities and Science Minister, David Willetts.

In August 2011, Sir Eric became President of Universities UK. He was previously Vice-President of UUK, Chair of its England and Northern Ireland Council and Chair of the Research Policy Committee. Sir Eric is Chair of the Board of CASE Europe and a Member of the Board of CASE and has been appointed to serve as a Commissioner of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission. He chaired the government Taskforce into Increasing Voluntary Giving in Higher Education, which reported in 2004. He was Chair of the Worldwide Universities Network from 2003 – 2007. He was a member of the Board of the South-West Regional Development Agency from 2002 – 2008.

He is a Deputy Lieutenant of the City and County of Bristol and is married with two children.

• Date of birth: 24 March 1953
• Place of birth: Hartlepool, Co Durham
• Nationality: British
• Marital status: Married with two children
• Education: University of Newcastle upon Tyne

Degrees and fellowships

• Doctor of Science (Hon) UWE in Bristol 2010
• Doctor of Science (Hon) University of Teesside 2008
• Doctor of Science (Hon) University of Southampton 2006
• LLD (Hon) University of Bristol 2004
• FRCP 2004
• FRCOG 2001 (M 1983)
• FMedSci 1998
• FRSA 1998
• MB BS (Ncl) 1976, MD (Ncl) 1987

Current major roles

• Vice-Chancellor, University of Bristol September 2001 –
• President, Universities UK 2011 -
• UK Education Champion 2013 -

Current appointments

Higher Education

• Member of Council, University of Bristol 2001 –
• Member, Council for Industry and Higher Education 2003 – (Trustee 2005 –)
• Director, The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) Foundation 2001 –
• Board Member, Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) 2003 – (Chair 2003 - 2007)
• Member of the Board, Universities UK 2006 – (Chair 2011 - )
• Member, Global Advisory Board, University of Chicago Booth School of Business 2007 –
• Chair, HEFCE Implementation Committee for the Matched Donation Scheme 2007 –
• Member of Council, All Party Parliamentary University Group 2008 –
• Member of the Remuneration Committee, Universities UK 2009 – (Chair 2011 - )
• Chair, CASE Europe 2010 - (Trustee 2007 - )
• Member, CASE Board 2010 -

Other

• Trustee, Bristol Record Society 2001 –
• President, Bristol Commonwealth Society 2003 –
• Patron, Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence (ERIC) 2004 – (Chair, Board of Trustees 2006 – )
• Deputy Lieutenant of the City and County of Bristol 2006 –
• Member, At-Bristol Advisory Group 2007 –
• Commissioner of the Marshall Aid Commemorative Commission 2010 –

Recent awards

• Chief Executive Leadership Award 2005 – Council for Advancement and Support of Education (Europe)

Previous senior appointments

• Chair of the UUK Research Policy Committee 2006 – 2011
• Chair, New Members Group, Universities UK 2008 – 2011
• Vice President, Universities UK and Chair of the England and Northern Ireland Council 2009 - 2011
• Chair, Wesport 2006 – 2011
• Member, Health Committee, Universities UK 2002–2006
• Trustee, Greater Bristol Foundation 2003 – 2006
• Member, South-West Regional Sports Board 2003 – 2006
• Director, Academy of Medical Sciences 2005 – 2006
• Chair and Director, The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) Foundation 2005 – 2007
• Member of the Board of the South-West Regional Development Agency 2002 – 2008
• Director, Universities and Colleges Admissions Service 2005 – 2009
• Member, Widening Access and Participation Strategic Advisory Committee, Higher Education Funding Council for England 2007 – 2009
• Member of Bristol Partnership Executive Board 2008 – 2009

Academic

• Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Biological Sciences, University of Southampton 1998 – 2000
• Member (Co-opted), Council of the Academy of Medical Sciences 2005 – 2006
• Executive Secretary, Council of Heads of Medical Schools and Deans of UK Faculties 1999 – 2000
• Head of the School of Medicine, University of Southampton 1995 – 1998
• Research Co-ordinator, School of Medicine, University of Southampton 1992 – 1995
• Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Southampton 1991 – 2001
• Senior Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne 1987 – 1990
• Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sheffield 1985 – 1987

Clinical

• Medicines Commissioner 2002 – 2003
• Member of Council, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 1995 – 2001
• Chairman, Scientific Advisory Committee, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 1998 – 2000
• Convener of Scientific Meetings, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 1992 – 1995
• Non-Executive Director, Southampton and South West Hampshire Health Authority 2000 – 2001
• Non-Executive Director, Southampton University Hospitals Trust 1997 – 2000
• Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Southampton University Hospitals Trust 1991 – 2001
• Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Newcastle General Hospital 1987 – 2000
• Junior medical training posts in Newcastle, Leicester and Sheffield 1976 – 1987

Leadership development

• Member, Duke of Edinburgh's National Leadership Forum (1995)
• Member, Top Management Programme for Higher Education (Higher Education Staff Development Agency) 2000 – 2001

Personal

Interests in golf and Newcastle United