Professor Joy Porter

Professor Joy Porter believes there are two key factors that go to make up a great 21^st-Century university. The first is exceptional leadership, and the second is the ability to attract the cream of the world’s academic talent.

The University of Birmingham possesses both, she observes, commenting that it is ‘a great place to do interdisciplinary research that crosses conventional boundaries.’

These were the two main reasons why the Professor of Indigenous and Environmental History at Birmingham took the decision to apply to be one of the University’s 125^th Anniversary Chairs.

‘What I love about the University is the campus and how it is run,’ she says. ‘It makes all the difference to have leadership that has strategy and ambition, and a determination to transform the world; we really need that right now.’

In her opinion, Birmingham offers synergies and ‘a constellation of support’ that she feels is exceptional. People here are at the forefront of their fields, she remarks. ‘Colleagues across the breadth of the academic spectrum are doing amazing work.’

With the world facing profound challenges – technological, ecological and cultural – she is proud to work in an institution at the forefront of understanding how to tackle the huge issues facing humanity.

Before joining the University of Birmingham, Professor Porter completed a series of high-profile projects addressing global themes impacting the Indigenous world. Her published work and digital outputs have reorientated how the Indigenous and non-indigenous world understand one another.

She is Principal Investigator of the internationally collaborative Treatied Spaces Research Group at Birmingham, a group she founded, which is dedicated to interdisciplinary indigenous environmental themes in relation to global challenges and whose mission is to advance understanding of treaties and Indigenous concerns across disciplines and sectors. It brings together educators, indigenous groups, museums, creative artists, NGOs and policymakers to make treaties and environmental concerns central to education, policy, and public understanding

“Our work is about advancing understanding of the importance and agency of Indigenous peoples for all our futures. This takes many forms, including in relation to histories of global diplomacy, in relation to contemporary debates on water governance and critical minerals, or how we relate to UK historic houses and their grounds.”

Professor Porter next large project began in September 2024, a three-year, multi-partner international research initiative to re-envisage how historic houses are perceived and valued entitled ‘Historic Houses Global Connections’. It uses choice modelling econometric techniques to help private owners and the Natural Trust decide on how they can make historic houses more inclusive and global spaces.

The start-up resources the group has received is allowing it to generate research on a new level,’ she explains. ‘I admire the ambition of the senior leadership’s thinking for Birmingham as a global institution and am delighted to have this chance to make a step-change in what we are able to aim for and achieve.’

A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, she didn’t think twice about applying for her latest role. ‘125^th Anniversary Chair and Fellows - level investment does not come up very often, making this a golden opportunity for anyone keen to accelerate their research.’

The University embodies strategic ambition, she points out, and is positioned to make change that matters across the globe.

Professor Porter admires the institution’s ability to integrate talented people and thoughtfully position individuals and teams for global impact; ‘everyone working together – it produces a real buzz and a positivity that makes for both intellectual excitement and a sense of belonging.’