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Brunel appoints Professor Michael Spyer as Chair of Council

Colombo: AECC Global

Professor Michael Spyer has been appointed Chair of Council at Brunel University London, and will succeed current chair Ms Jane Kelly in August 2017.

Following a distinguished career in healthcare, Prof Spyer has held several high-profile roles in Higher Education and served on numerous grant awarding bodies in the UK, Europe and Canada.

Prof Spyer, who has been an independent member of Council since 2013, said he was delighted to have been appointed at such an important time in Brunel’s history.

He added: “I am honoured to have been chosen to lead Council as we all look to a bright future, defined by our new vision. I am really looking forward to helping to consolidate and grow Brunel’s reputation on the international stage, while ensuring the success of the many exciting projects in the pipeline.”

A physiologist by training, Prof Spyer graduated from the University of Sheffield and then obtained a PhD and DSc at the University of Birmingham. He was formerly Dean of the Royal Free Medical School before being appointed as Vice-Provost for Biomedicine at UCL. He subsequently became UCL’s first Vice-Provost (Enterprise). Professor Spyer remains an active scientist who has previously chaired research grant committees and was president of the Physiology Society.

Prof Spyer has held a number of non-executive posts with NHS bodies, including North Middlesex NHS Trust, Royal Free (Hampstead) NHS Trust, the North London NHS Cancer Network Board and North Central London Strategic Health Authority. In 2011 Prof Spyer became chair of NHS London and held this post until April 2013. He has also been a Non-Executive Director of several biomedical start-up companies.  Currently Professor Spyer is Chair of the Council of St George’s  University of London, a post from which he will step down in July 2017.'

Outgoing chair Ms Kelly has served two terms of office as Chair of Council, holding the position since 2011. During this period she has overseen the completion of the construction of the Eastern Gateway Building, rewriting of the University’s statutes, issuing of the supplementary Charter and creation of Brunel’s current Colleges and Research Institutes.

More recently, she has seen the approval of several major capital projects, such as the second Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology building, the Learning and Teaching Centre, and the Design Engineering Centre together with the proposed developments with the Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust. 

Ms Kelly said: “It is with many happy memories that I will leave this wonderful role, in which I wish Mike every future success. During my time as chair, Brunel has seen a wealth of incredible changes and I feel proud and privileged to have played a part in defining the future of the university in this new world.”

Professor Julia Buckingham, Vice-Chancellor and President of Brunel University London, added: “We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Jane for all that she has done in her time as Chair of Council. She has overseen some of the biggest developments in Brunel’s history, and done so with passion and dedication. Her love of Brunel and her commitment to our community of students and staff have been second-to-none.”

“I am thrilled that Mike will now have the opportunity to pick up the baton, taking forward Brunel’s new vision and ensuring that Jane’s good work is continued.”