The University of Manchester appoints Professor Duncan Ivison as next President & Vice-Chancellor

The University of Manchester has appointed Professor Duncan Ivison as its next President & Vice-Chancellor. He will formally take up his role as President & Vice-Chancellor on 1 August 2024.

He will succeed Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell who steps down after 14 years in the role at the end of July 2024 when her contract concludes. 2024 is also a significant year as it will mark the bicentenary of the University, 200 years from its earliest origins in 1824.

Professor Ivison was appointed after an extensive global search process that began in March this year and has involved widespread stakeholder engagement across the University including members of staff, Senate, students, alumni, civic leaders, unions and business partners, concluding as planned.

Currently coming to the end of a research sabbatical, Professor Ivison will join from the University of Sydney, where most recently he was Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research). Previously he was Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Head of the School of Philosophical and Historical Inquiry. He is a Professor of Political Philosophy.

Earlier in his career, he was an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney, a Lecturer at the University of York, and a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Australian National University.

He completed a BA in Political Science at McGill University in Montreal, where he grew up and an MSc in Political Theory and a PhD at the London School of Economics.

Philippa Hird, Chair of the Board of Governors at The University of Manchester, has headed the search process with an Appointment Panel drawn from across the University community, including a senior external higher education advisor, together with the support of international search consultant Saxton Bampfylde.

Philippa Hird said: "After a global search process that has drawn interest from a very strong, high-quality field of diverse candidates, we are delighted to have appointed Professor Duncan Ivison as the next President & Vice-Chancellor at The University of Manchester. We wanted the right leader to take forward this world-class university into its third century of success and impact against our three core goals: teaching and learning excellence; an internationally renowned research powerhouse and setting new global standards in social responsibility. The Appointment Panel and Board unanimously agreed that Duncan was the outstanding candidate to take on this role.

"Together with a wealth of experience, Duncan brings a thoughtful and engaging approach. He has a clear sense of the future for the University and an appetite to build on all that has been created to date.

“I would also like to thank all those people from across our extended community who have given their time, perspectives and support to assist us in identifying the right person for the most senior role within this world-leading university and prominent institution in Greater Manchester.”

Professor Duncan Ivison said: "It is an extraordinary honour to join The University of Manchester as President & Vice-Chancellor as it enters its third century. The University is a research and teaching powerhouse, but also an institution - like the city itself - with true heart and soul.

"What inspires me about the university community is not only their deep commitment to excellence, but also their passion for social responsibility and civic engagement.  

“The scale and urgency of the challenges that our city, our region, and our world faces, requires universities like ours to harness our resources for the public good in new and innovative ways, and as never before. This has been a central part of the university’s mission since it was founded, and I look forward to working with our staff, students, alumni, and partners to continue to build on this remarkable legacy for the future.”

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell will continue to lead the University as President & Vice-Chancellor with her customary drive, skill and vigour until summer 2024.

It has been a busy last week or so for the University with widespread, positive external recognition from a variety of sources. The University won the ‘2030 Climate Action’ prize at the prestigious UK and Ireland Green Gown Awards, and has been rated top in the UK and Europe, and third in the world, in the independent QS World University Sustainability Rankings, echoing its performance in the Times Higher Education Impact league table earlier this year.  It became only the second UK university to be awarded a Silver Race Equality Charter award and also the second in the UK to receive a Platinum Watermark for the effectiveness of the ways in which it works to engage society with its activities in research, teaching and culture.

Our current President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell has also been honoured for her lifetime of achievement by the Times Higher Education at its prestigious annual awards ceremony.