Sir Dominic Cadbury will retire as Chancellor of the University of Birmingham on 31 July 2013. The University Council has established an Appointment Committee which will undertake the process of identifying his successor as the University's seventh Chancellor.
It is anticipated that the Committee will make a recommendation to Council in September 2012.
The role of the Chancellor
The Chancellor acts as the ceremonial figurehead of the University. The formal responsibilities of the Chancellor are set out in the University’s Legislation|. He/she chairs the Annual Meeting of the University Court; he/she presides at Degree Congregations and confers degrees of the University.
The Chancellor also has an important ambassadorial role for the University, working with the Vice-Chancellor| and the Pro-Chancellor| to represent the University in the external community. He/she is an advocate of the University working to raise the University’s profile and advance its interests nationally and internationally.
It is expected that the Chancellor will be appointed for a period of five years in the first instance.
Consultation
The Appointment Committee has consulted widely with the University community (including staff, students, alumni and members of Council and Court) to receive suggestions of people who might be suitable candidates for the Chancellorship. These were made during December and early January through the web site.
The deadline for suggestions has now passed. The Appointment Committee is very grateful for all the suggestions which have been made; these have been of great assistance to the Committee in its discussions.