The University of Sussex has appointed Professor Adam Tickell as its eighth Vice-Chancellor.  Professor Tickell will join the University on 1 September 2016.

A highly regarded economic geographer, Professor Tickell’s work in developing new political economic geography is amongst the most influential of his generation.  His work has explored finance, English local governance and the politics of ideas.

Professor Tickell is currently Provost and Vice-Principal at the University of Birmingham, having originally joined the institution as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Transfer in January 2011.  Prior to that, he served for two years as Vice Principal (Research, Enterprise & Communications) at Royal Holloway (University of London) and before that, Dean of the Faculty of History & Social Sciences at the same institution.

Professor Tickell was the Research Director in the Faculty of Social Sciences & Law at the University of Bristol before Royal Holloway.  Whilst there, he served as Vice Chair of the Research Grants Board of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and was the Editor of Transactions, Institute of British Geographers, one of the top three journals in Geography globally and among the best-cited social science journals.

Commenting on Professor Tickell’s appointment, Christian Brodie, Chair of the University of Sussex’s Council, said: “Adam has a proven track record of strong leadership, extensive operational experience and a commitment to enhancing the student experience.  His collaborative engagement with national and international networks across industry, politics and academia, will be of significant benefit to the University.

“He is a distinguished academic leader, both as a scholar and within a university context, and is exactly the right person to take Sussex forward as the University builds on its outstanding international teaching and research reputation. 

“Adam’s personal and professional credentials reflect the attributes which made Sussex so special when it was established in the 1960s and what makes it an exceptional institution now in the twenty first century.”

Professor Tickell said: “I’ve long been aware that the University of Sussex is home to many thought-leaders and researchers who are driving positive change throughout the world, and having real influence in their fields of endeavour.  

“Since it was founded, the University has had a distinctive ethos based upon a commitment to interdisciplinary learning, research and scholarship and a global outlook.  Sussex’s high-quality teaching has earned it a well-deserved global reputation in the sector and I’m looking forward to working with staff to see how the University can enhance the great student experience even further.

“Given the many global challenges that we face, universities have a vital role in contributing economically and socially to society. I am both delighted and honoured to be joining the University of Sussex at a time when it is looking to build substantially on its achievements.”

Professor Tickell joins the University of Sussex following a period of significant growth and success.  In recent years the University has achieved a strong financial position, secured a top-20 place across league tables and continued to grow its strength in research and teaching.  The University has recently spent £150 million investing in the buildings and infrastructure of its Falmer campus, with a further £500 million to be spent over the next five years.

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Notes to editors:

For more information, contact the University of Sussex media relations team: Alex Fulton or Jacqui Bealing: + (0)1273 678888, press@sussex.ac.uk

1. Professor Tickell has represented the higher education sector in a number of roles.  This includes: current Chair of Universities UK ‘Open Access Implementation Group’; previous member of the Research Sector Transparency Board (chaired by the Minister for Universities and Science, Jo Johnson); previous member of the Finch Group, on Open Access, and the Open Data User Group reporting to the Cabinet Office.  His report to Jo Johnson on the future development of Open Access policy was published by BIS in February.
2. Professor Tickell has held chairs in Geography at the Universities of Birmingham, Bristol, Southampton and Royal Holloway, University of London.
3. Professor Tickell was an ESRC Research Fellow from 1995-1998, and has held lectureships in Geography at the Universities of Leeds and Manchester.
4. He was a member of the Council of the Academy of Social Sciences until 2015.
5. Professor Tickell’s work is widely published and is one of the most cited in geography.  This includes numerous academic journal papers and reports, edited books and chapters in edited volumes.