Chairman’s Message

As I reflect on BU’s many successes of 2008, two clear themes emerge – strategic leadership and sustainability.

It was just over a year ago that the University Board voted unanimously to adopt and support a Strategic Plan designed to carry BU forward to 2012 and beyond.

The Plan is far-reaching in terms of what it sets out to achieve on local, national and international stages and provides a clear route map that will put the University on a sound footing for years – and decades - to come.

Most of the stretching targets, agreed in September 2007 for the first year of the Plan, have now been achieved. In particular, the targeted investment in the University’s infrastructure, people and the student experience is bringing dividends.

It is through the unswerving leadership of the Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Curran and his senior management team that this success has been made possible.

As outlined in the Strategic Plan, BU will have built on its achievements in global perspectives and will be one of the greener UK universities by 2012. It is particularly important for us not to lose sight of that goal as future government funding is likely to be influenced by our environmental sustainability. The fact that BU is now part of the UK’s EcoCampus initiative and continues to enjoy its status as a Fairtrade University brings clear benefits.

From a Board perspective, 2008 proved pivotal in terms of governance. The restructuring of Board committees in 2007 was followed by a review of Senate by Board member Professor Tom Husband. The subsequent ‘Husband Report’ called for more harmony between Board and Senate activities and led to the restructuring of the Research & Enterprise and other joint committees to encourage greater engagement and representation for key University staff.

Sadly during the year, we said goodbye to some of our Board members. Two of the longest serving retired during the summer. Between them, Kelvyn Derrick and John Knowles chalked up 18 years of dedicated service to BU for which we are truly grateful. We also bade farewell to Zoya Zuvcenko, Simon Smith and Students’ Union President, Adam Hyland but not before congratulating him on his election to the national NUS executive as Disabled Students’ Officer. Incoming President Fred Ruffle arrived during the autumn alongside new member, the Reverend Dr David Hart. The pair were followed closely by Roy Spragg and Joanna Dawson, to whom we extend a warm welcome. We are also grateful to Lady Joan Appleyard who accepted our invitation to become a Pro-Chancellor of the University.

BU enjoyed much success in 2008 and we look forward to greater achievements for the University and its Board in 2009.

Alan J Frost
Chairman of the University Board

A Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries and the Chartered Institute of Management, Alan J Frost has long experience in the financial services sector. He is an experienced former CEO with a reputation for strategic thinking and successful change management.

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