Vice-Chancellors

Professor John Latham CBE

Chair of the MEU Vice-Chancellors Board and Vice-Chancellor

Coventry University

Professor John Latham CBE is Vice-Chancellor and CEO of the Coventry University Group. He is a double graduate of the university and has a background in information technology and telecommunications. He previously worked for a number of private sector organisations including JHP Group, Jaguar Cars and BT.

He was awarded an Honorary Lifetime Fellowship of the British Computer Society for his services to the IT industry.

Professor Latham has held high-profile roles at regional, national and European levels promoting innovation, technology and economic development. He is a non-executive Director of Health Education England, a council member of InnovateUK and a board member of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership. He is also an advisory board member of the UK’s National Growth Board which is responsible for the oversight of the UK’s European Structural Funds Programme.

Professor Latham is an Extraordinary Professor in the area of enterprise and entrepreneurship at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, where in 2019 he received an honorary doctorate for his services to UK higher education. In the same year he was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours with a CBE for his services to higher education.

Professor Dave Petley

Vice-Chancellor

Nottingham Trent University

Professor Dave Petley joined Nottingham Trent University in October 2025 as Vice-Chancellor and President. He graduated with a BSc in Geography from King’s College London and he holds a PhD in Earth Science from University College London.

Dave’s academic career as a geographer and earth scientist began as a lecturer at the University of Sunderland, followed by five years the University of Portsmouth, where he was a senior lecturer in Engineering Geology. In 2000, he moved to the University of Durham, where he established the Institute for Hazard, Risk and Resilience. During his time there, he was appointed the inaugural Wilson Professor of Hazard and Risk.

In 2012 he became Dean of Research at Durham and he also held the role of Dean of Global Engagement. Following a move to the University of East Anglia in 2014, he was appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise. In 2016, he was appointed as Vice-President for Research and Innovation at the University of Sheffield and then Vice-President for Innovation in 2020.

Dave joined the University of Hull in 2022 as Vice-Chancellor. During his tenure, the University of Hull received TEF Gold, reached a top 20 National Student Survey position, and achieved its highest ever research income.

His research focuses on environmental hazards and risk management, with a focus on landslides. He is recognised widely as a global leader in the study and management of landslides and has advised national and international organisations on the management of slopes.

Professor David Mba

Vice-Chancellor

Birmingham City University

Professor Dave Petley joined Nottingham Trent University in October 2025 as Vice-Chancellor and President. He graduated with a BSc in Geography from King’s College London and he holds a PhD in Earth Science from University College London.

Dave’s academic career as a geographer and earth scientist began as a lecturer at the University of Sunderland, followed by five years the University of Portsmouth, where he was a senior lecturer in Engineering Geology. In 2000, he moved to the University of Durham, where he established the Institute for Hazard, Risk and Resilience. During his time there, he was appointed the inaugural Wilson Professor of Hazard and Risk.

In 2012 he became Dean of Research at Durham and he also held the role of Dean of Global Engagement. Following a move to the University of East Anglia in 2014, he was appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise. In 2016, he was appointed as Vice-President for Research and Innovation at the University of Sheffield and then Vice-President for Innovation in 2020.

Dave joined the University of Hull in 2022 as Vice-Chancellor. During his tenure, the University of Hull received TEF Gold, reached a top 20 National Student Survey position, and achieved its highest ever research income.

His research focuses on environmental hazards and risk management, with a focus on landslides. He is recognised widely as a global leader in the study and management of landslides and has advised national and international organisations on the management of slopes.

David’s role is to lead and develop the strategic vision and aspirations of the University. David has led the development of the University’s Strategy for 2030 and Beyond and works with the University Executive Team to ensure the delivery of the strategic ambitions. The VC is accountable to the Chair and Governing Body for all aspects of the University’s activities.

Before joining BCU, David was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise at the University of the Arts London (UAL). Prior to this, he was Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise, at De Montfort University (DMU). Whilst at DMU he also held the post of Pro Vice-Chancellor/Dean for the Faculty of Computing, Engineering, and Media. He has held several other senior positions at universities including Dean of Engineering at London South Bank University, and Associate Dean at Cranfield University’s School of Engineering.

David is a Principal fellow of the Higher Education Academy and is strongly committed to Social Justice. He is a trustee of the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, a member of Advance HE’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategic advisory group, a member of the advisory board of the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers, and a board member of the Hamilton Commission – a commission set up to increase the representation of Black people in UK motorsport.

David studied Aerospace Engineering and completed a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Cranfield University, for which he was awarded the Lord King Norton Gold Medal for the most outstanding doctoral thesis.

David’s research has been funded via numerous commercial, EU and EPSRC projects and he has published over 300 journal and conference papers.

Professor Neal Juster

Vice-Chancellor

University of Lincoln

Professor Neal Juster is Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, UK.

He is a graduate of the University of Leeds where he obtained a BSc in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Computer Aided Design.

Neal has extensive experience in University management: He was Senior Vice-Principal and Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Glasgow having been initially appointed as Vice-Principal (Strategy & Resources). Previously he was Pro Vice-Principal, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Head of Department in the Department of Design, Manufacture and Engineering Management at the University of Strathclyde and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds. His research interests were in the broad area of computer aided design including rapid prototyping and use of virtual reality in design and manufacturing processes.

Neal a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and a member of the QAA Advisory Committee on Degree Awarding Powers

He is a Director of UL Learning Resources Ltd, Riseholme Park Farms Ltd, ULEX and UoL Services Ltd. His is also Chair of the Members Committee for the University of Lincoln Academy Trust.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell DL

Vice-Chancellor

University of Derby

Professor Mitchell joined the University of Derby as Vice Chancellor in 2015. Her academic background is in psychology and she continues to play an active role in research.

Previously she was Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of West London, where she had special responsibility for academic provision and quality. Before that she had been Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic and Student Support Services and Dean of Students.

Professor Mitchell was a Wellcome Fellow at the Institute of Psychiatry in London for over seven years. She has studied at the Universities of York and London and has worked at the University of Chicago, the Rockefeller Institute in New York and the Friedrich Miescher Institute in Basel.

A Chartered Psychologist, she continues to play an active role in research, supervising and directing a range of research programmes and working with a variety of colleagues from across the university and with external partners at the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust.

Professor Mitchell is a graduate member of the British Psychological Society, a member of the Division of Health Psychology, Chair of the Opportunity Area Board for the city of Derby and a member of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership Board.

Professor Ebrahim Adia

Vice-Chancellor

University of Wolverhampton

Professor Ebrahim Adia joined the University of Wolverhampton as Vice-Chancellor on 1 October 2023.

Formerly Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic Leadership) at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), Ebrahim has a national and international profile and brings to the role a wealth of experience, serving as Chair and member of a number of high-profile boards.

Ebrahim was born and raised in Bolton. He was the first in his family, and one of the few from his school to attend university, which has helped to shape his views on the role of higher education. As a result, Ebrahim has strived in both his professional and personal life to create opportunity and to help transform the lives of individuals and local communities.

Ebrahim’s academic background is in public policy and policy analysis. He taught as a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in Education for 18 years before moving into academic management. As the Provost for UCLan’s Burnley Campus, Ebrahim led on the development of a new campus and increased student numbers ninefold and as the Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Student Experience and Transformation at the University of Bolton he helped to improve both student satisfaction and student continuation.

Ebrahim was appointed as a Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Panel Member by the Office for Students which enhanced his understanding of best practice to support the development of an outstanding student experience that delivers high levels of graduate employability.

Ebrahim has worked closely with the devolved Greater Manchester Combined Authority where he held the role of deputy portfolio for Economic Strategy and Internationalisation and served as a Board Member of the Manchester Growth Company offering him excellent experience and understanding of working in partnership with public and private stakeholders to mutual benefit. He has also held a number of senior Board roles in the NHS, was appointed by the Government to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion and has served as a Rapporteur at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

Professor Philip Plowden

Interim Vice-Chancellor

University of Staffordshire

Professor Philip Plowden was appointed Interim Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of University of Staffordshire on 1 May 2026.

Professor Philip Plowden joined the University of Staffordshire as Interim Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive on 1 May 2026.

He brings extensive leadership experience from across the UK Higher Education sector, having most recently served as Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham City University from 2017 to 2023. During his tenure, he led the University through a period of strategic development, with a focus on academic excellence, student experience, and strengthening its role within the regional economy.

Prior to this, Professor Plowden was Deputy Vice-Chancellor at University of Derby, where he played a key role in institutional strategy and academic leadership.

He began his career in Higher Education at Northumbria University, where he spent almost 20 years in a range of senior roles, including Dean of the School of Law. His academic background is in legal education, and he has held a number of leadership positions spanning teaching, research, and faculty management.

Professor Plowden joins University of Staffordshire on an interim basis to provide leadership and continuity during a period of transition, working closely with the Executive and University Executive Board to support the institution’s ongoing priorities and strategic direction.

Professor Katie Normington

Vice-Chancellor

De Montfort University

Professor Katie Normington joined De Montfort University as Vice-Chancellor in 2021 from Royal Holloway, University of London, where she was Deputy Principal (Academic). While at Royal Holloway she had responsibility for teaching and learning along with research and enterprise, during which time she created an integrated academic strategy bringing together the teaching and research around a set of common principles.

Professor Normington was previously Dean of Arts and Social Sciences and Vice-Principal (Staffing), overseeing the equality and diversity strategy, including instigating a women’s development programme for which she won a Times Higher Education Leadership and Development Award. She joined Royal Holloway as a lecturer from Greenwich University in 1997.

At Royal Holloway Professor Normington chaired a number of institutional change projects such as Student First which focused on the student journey, and a project to re-envisage the structure of the academy, creating new schools to better enable academic strategic developments, devolved leadership and an agile environment.

She was also project sponsor for a number of large building projects including the new Caryl Churchill Theatre, the Boilerhouse lecture theatre and the refurbishment project for Bedford Library and McCrae building to create a School of Engineering, Mathematical and Physical Sciences. She was instrumental in preparations to host athletes at Royal Holloway during the 2012 Olympic games and in celebrating the anniversary of Magna Carta in 2015 and of women’s suffrage in 2018.

Professor Normington is a Professor of Drama and her research focuses on theatre history – in particular, mediaeval English drama and contemporary theatre practice. She has published six books in these areas and continues to write articles within the field.