Bridget Edminson has joined Sussex as General Counsel

Jane Harvell, Interim Director of the Library

Dr Ian Carter, Director of Research and Enterprise

BRIDGET EDMINSON JOINS THE UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX AS GENERAL COUNSEL

The University of Sussex has appointed Bridget Edminson as its first General Counsel.

As the University’s General Counsel, Bridget will provide legal advice across the whole range of the University’s activity such as commercial contracts, intellectual property, information governance, real estate, construction projects and finance. She will also advise on legal risk, manage outsourced legal services and provide training to promote an understanding of legal compliance at Sussex.

Bridget is currently Deputy Director at the Government Legal Department, where she has headed the General Law Team within the Ministry of Defence Legal Advisers (MODLA) since 2013. She regularly advises on over 40 areas of law - including planning, housing, health and safety, litigation, Freedom of Information and Data Protection issues.

She joined the Ministry of Defence in 2004 and in 2009 became head of the division responsible for employment law, training and learning at work. She was also a member of the MOD’s outreach programme, which involved working with students from disadvantaged backgrounds to help them prepare for job applications, interviews and the workplace.

Bridget will report to the University’s Chief Operating Officer, Tim Westlake. Commenting on the appointment, Tim said: “Upon joining Sussex last year I realised very quickly that the governance of the whole institution would benefit from having our high-level legal advice and decisions taken in-house. Not only does this make economic sense, but it also allows us to be more agile and flexible in making decisions for the best of our community.

“Bridget has worked in some extremely complex environments and has valuable experience in overseeing the implementation of large-scale projects, handling situations with sensitivity and using unquestionably sound judgement. She’s also a Sussex alumna, and that makes her appointment even better.”

Bridget added: “To be re-joining Sussex as General Counsel more than 20 years after obtaining one of my law qualifications on that special campus, is an exciting move for me. The new strategic vision outlined to me demonstrates what an ambitious future the team at Sussex has for generations of students to come, and I’m really looking forward to helping make that vision a reality.”

Bridget has also held other public-sector legal roles within the MODLA, Ofgem and HM Customs and Excise dating back to 2000. Before this, she worked as a criminal defence barrister for three years.

Bridget will join the University’s Leadership Team in the summer term.

JANE HARVELL APPOINTED AS DIRECTOR OF THE LIBRARY

Jane Harvell has been appointed as Director of the Library, following eight months in the role on an interim basis.

As Director of the Library, Jane is responsible for running the one of the University’s most important services for students, an operation that is open 24-hours a day, 7 days a week in term time. The Library’s collection incorporates over 800,000 books and 58,000 journals, both print and online, across all subject areas.

Jane will also be responsible for the Library’s Special Collections, housed at The Keep; these include many 20^th-century literary archives including the papers of Leonard and Virginia Woolf and the archives of Rudyard Kipling, as well as the Mass Observation Archive, which charts the cultural history of Britain from the 1930s to the present day.

The library building is a modernist icon, which has been a central feature of academic life. Designed by Sir Basil Spence, the Grade II listed building is central to the successful learning, teaching and research of the University and the whole of the Sussex community.

Jane joined the University of Sussex in 2005 as a research manager in the Library, rising to the Library’s Head of Academic Services and Special Collections in 2009.

Jane has over 25 years of experience working with research and teaching collections, with previous roles at the British Library, LSE, the Guildhall and Barbican libraries prior to joining Sussex.

She is currently Chair of the Mass Observation Archive and has written and spoken on digital scholarship, alternative methods of providing core collections and providing support services during a period of limited budgetary resources. She is particularly interested in the opportunities offered by exploring alternative and innovative ways for libraries, archives and publishers to work together to support both students and researchers.

Commented Tim Westlake: “Jane has showed such strong leadership in the past few months since stepping into the role on an interim basis and I am very aware of how much she is respected by colleagues across the University.

“The Library is often considered the jewel in the crown of Sussex, and I’m confident that Jane, with her talented team, will ensure it continues to thrive and move with the times.”

Jane added: “For me the Library encapsulates everything that is wonderful about Sussex. From Basil Spence’s architectural design and the wonderfully rich and eclectic range of literature we house, through to the exciting changes we’re bringing on board to make the Library as relevant to students today as it was in the 1960s. I’m thrilled to be running such an important part of the University; I know how precious it is to our whole community.”

Jane will take up her new post immediately and report into Tim Westlake.

DR IAN CARTER TO LEAVE THE UNIVERSITY

Ian Carter, the University’s Director of Research and Enterprise, will be leaving the University next term having significantly supported the research effort and success at Sussex.  Ian has played a pivotal role in the University’s past REF submission and ensuring that our research endeavours are impactful and long-lasting.

Commented Tim Westlake: “I mirror the Vice-Chancellor’s thanks to Ian for his contribution to Sussex and wish him all the very best in the future.”

David Cole, Director of Planning, will lead the Research and Enterprise division on an interim basis from 1 June. Research continues to be a strategic priority for the University. As such, David will also lead a review of the division, to ensure that services that support research are aligned with the institution’s strategic objectives.