Professor Keith Jones and Emma Potts

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) to step down for Life Sciences move 

Professor Keith Jones will be stepping down as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) at the end of this academic year, after five years as a member of the University’s leadership, including two periods as interim Provost. He will be taking up the position of Professor of Reproductive Biology in the School of Life Sciences in summer 2025. Keith works on how the female reproductive process is controlled and regulated, and has a particular interest in how ageing affects fertility. 

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, said: “There will be further opportunities to thank Keith for his exceptional service to the University in his senior leadership roles later this academic year. For now, I would like to express my gratitude to Keith for his excellent leadership and dedication to advancing Sussex’s academic goals, and for helping move us towards a future where innovation is the cornerstone of all our research endeavours.” 

Keith said: “I think collectively much has been achieved in research and innovation since I started at Sussex in 2020. For example, the University had an outstanding REF performance in 2021 and this last year has achieved an all-time high in research income at nearly £42M. During my time as both PVC and Interim Provost it has been a privilege to work with many great colleagues, who I would very much like to thank for supporting me in my role.” 

Keith joined the University following posts as Executive Dean in the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Adelaide in Australia and as Head of School in Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton. Prior to these he held Professorial roles at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences and the University of Newcastle Australia, where he was co-Director of the Priority Research Centre in Reproductive Biology. 

Emma Potts’ contract as Interim Chief Operating Officer extended  

Emma Potts’ contract as Interim Chief Operating Officer has been extended to the end of July 2025. Emma joined the University as Interim Chief Operating Officer and University Secretary in February 2024.  

Emma has 35 years’ experience in university administration. She previously worked at Sussex in senior interim roles between 2020 and 2023, including as Interim Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Deputy University Secretary, and as Interim Director of Research and Enterprise Services.  

Recruitment 

Recruitment processes to replace both senior posts will start immediately. The new Pro-Vice-Chancellor will lead the research and innovation ambitions of our new strategy, Sussex 2035: Creating Progressive Futures – flourishing, sustainability, and progress for the whole world, and the new Chief Operating Officer and University Secretary will support and enable the delivery of all of our aspirations under the new strategy.