Appointments

Public Management and Policy Association. Michael Bichard, permanent secretary at the Department for Education and Employment has been appointed chair of the policy board by the association; the vice-chair is Karen Caines, director of the Institute for Health Service Management. The executive committee, overseeing day-to-day matters, will be chaired by Mike Fogden, former chief executive of the Employment Service.

University of North London

George Holmes, former head of applied management studies first at Leeds Metropolitan and subsequently Lincolnshire and Humberside University, has been appointed academic director, succeeding Sandra Ashman.

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Paul Olomolaiye, head of the built environment division at the University of Wolverhampton is to become a member of the civil engineering college of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

Kent Institute of Art and Design

Laurence Wood, former head of the school of art and design at West Herts College, has been appointed head of Canterbury school of fine art; Christina Laukkanen, former principal lecturer and programme leader in fashion, will be head of Rochester school of fashion; Kevin Liggett, principal lecturer and programme leader in editorial and advertising photography, is to head Rochester school of photography.

University of Durham

The following have been appointed principals of Durham colleges: John Ashworth, senior lecturer in the department of economics, St AidanOs College; Ian Taylor, founding professor of sociology at the University of Salford, Van Mildert College.

British Academy of Medical Sciences

Colin Robinson, professor of oral biology in the school of dentistry at the University of Leeds, has been elected a founder fellow.