Search for a new Chancellor  

18 September 2014

After five years in office the University’s Chancellor, His Excellency Mr Kamalesh Sharma, has indicated that he will be stepping down on 31 December 2014.

Mr Sharma, the ninth Chancellor of The Queen’s University of Belfast, was a regular figure at Queen’s during Graduation week and a guest speaker at several University events since his appointment in December 2009. Secretary-General of the Commonwealth and a career diplomat, he served as India’s permanent representative to the United Nations and from 2002 to 2004 was the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative to East Timor. He became Indian High Commissioner to the UK before taking on his Commonwealth role in 2007.

The search is now on to appoint his successor, and to this end a Special Committee has been established which includes the Vice-Chancellor, members of Senate, the President of the Students’ Union and the Chair of Convocation.

The Committee is seeking nominations for individuals of international standing and recognition with personal qualities including integrity, sound judgement, charisma and presence.

Though primarily a titular position, the Chancellor fulfils three main roles – a ceremonial one which involves presiding at degree congregations, an ambassadorial role, where the office holder may “open doors” for the University as it seeks to fulfil its mission and finally as an advisor, where he/she is available to the Vice-Chancellor and a small number of other senior University figures as a “sounding board”.

The closing date for nominations, which should be sent to the Registrar’s Office, Lanyon South, Queen's University or by email to universitychancellor@qub.ac.uk, should arrive not later than Monday, 20 October 2014.

The Chancellors of the University since World War II are:

1949-63         Field Marshall Alan Francis Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke

1963-70         Sir Tyrone Guthrie, distinguished theatre director

1970-83         Lord Ashby of Brandon, distinguished educationalist and former Vice- Chancellor

1984-91         Sir Rowland Wright, industrialist – formerly Chairman of ICI Ltd

1992-99         Sir David Orr, industrialist and public servant – formerly Chairman of Unilever plc and of the British Council

1999-09         Senator George Mitchell, US Democratic Representative and former US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland (1995-2001) and for Middle East Peace (2009-2011)

2009-14         Mr Kamalesh Sharma – Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations.

 

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