Reappointment of Chair of Council for final term
The last few years have been a testing time for organisations and individuals, with the unprecedented challenge of Covid, and economic and political uncertainty.
It has been the role of Council to oversee how King’s has operated through these complex moments, with an emphasis on supporting the interests and wellbeing of our students and staff.
The Council’s role is to make sure that the university is well run. That includes ensuring King’s financial stability and taking key strategic decisions on behalf of the university. It also appoints the President & Principal to lead King’s College London and deliver on our strategy. As we continue to rebuild after the pandemic, and support the new senior leadership team to improve the student experience, build on our academic excellence and keep innovating, we need an experienced Chair to steer us during this period.
I am therefore pleased to announce that Lord Geidt has agreed to continue his role as Chair of King’s College Council, for a third and final term.
Over the course of Lord Geidt’s tenure as Chair of Council, King’s has grown significantly both in size and reputation.
Council has overseen the establishment and success of our new Business School, the creation of the Centre for Young People’s Mental Health, the development of the Quad Buildings and the London Institute for Healthcare Engineering, as well as the opening of the School for Government and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership. In particular, Lord Geidt played a key role in shaping the College’s response to Covid-19, helping to balance the delivery of high-quality education and the safety of our students.
We conducted a thorough process by the Governance and Nominations Committee, which included looking at the Chair’s record and confirmed that there were no conflicts of interests. This recommendation was put to Council on the 13 July 2022 and was unanimously agreed by all independent members, and appointed and elected staff and student representatives.
Given the exceptional circumstances of recent years, and Lord Geidt’s stewardship throughout this period, Council has approved his third and final three-year term as Chair, the maximum permitted under our governance rules.
We think it’s important that we keep improving the way that Council operates, in particular to ensure more staff and students feel that Council is more accessible for them to engage with. Our next review of governance will start in the academic year 2023-24. We will consult academics, professional services staff, and students in the university about how we work and how we can further improve. We will also outline the process of recruitment of the next Chair, with opportunities for input and engagement by students and staff.
It is a very exciting time for the College, and one of great change internally and externally. With Lord Geidt’s support and counsel as a proud King’s alumnus and Chair, we are well set to take on both the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
If you have any questions about College Council, and how it works, please take a look at our explainer section on our website.
Clare Sumner
Chair of Governance and Nominations Committee