Appointments

BPP

Graham Gaddes

The new chief operating officer of private higher education provider BPP has revealed that it was the opportunity to "influence the future of education on a global basis" that attracted him to the position. Graham Gaddes joins BPP from Kaplan, another private provider, where he was managing director of UK regional operations. As BPP's chief operating officer, he will aim to ensure that the company has firm foundations that can support growth. Mr Gaddes, who studied accounting and business finance at the University of Manchester, said: "The bottom line is that we are a people business, be they our students, our clients or our employees. As we expand, there will be an ever-increasing set of career opportunities open to our employees (both academic and non-academic), and I want to ensure that learning and development programmes are in place for staff as well as students." Mr Gaddes rejected the view that private providers are deleterious to the sector. "I share (BPP chief executive) Carl Lygo's view that there is room for quality private provision. After all, [this] is where university provision in Europe started. Bologna was first a private university."

University College Falmouth

Phil Moore

Relocating to University College Falmouth to become its pro rector of research and innovation and the director of its Academy for Innovation and Research had been "a leap of faith", said Phil Moore. "When you move to Cornwall, [you realise that] it's a long way from anywhere. I was based in the East Midlands with a family, so...it's a life-changing decision." Professor Moore joined Falmouth in January from De Montfort University, where he was director of research. Despite his science-based background, he suggested that it was his research past that attracted Falmouth's attention, as it connects to the broad areas covered by the Academy for Innovation and Research. "My objective in the role is to create very active [and] vibrant research and innovation activity at the college. Our ambition is...to be in the top five specialist arts universities in the world." Professor Moore graduated with a BTech in production engineering and management from Loughborough University before receiving his PhD from the same institution.

Flinders University

Gill Troup

The depute principal of a UK university is swapping the wintry climes of Scotland for the hazy heat of South Australia, which she admits will "undoubtedly be warmer. And I am told the wine is better." Gill Troup, who is currently at the University of the West of Scotland, will move to Flinders University in May to take up the position of vice-president of strategy and planning. Looking forward to taking on a policy and strategy role, she wants to "compare and contrast the UK/European systems with how Australia is developing its approach", she said. Despite having to move to the other side of the world, Ms Troup is undaunted by the challenge. "If it is possible for Edinburgh to import the director of the International Festival from Australia, I am sure reverse transfers can work if you are willing to throw yourself into the life and culture of the place you choose to live (in)," she said. She brings a wealth of experience to Flinders, having previously worked at the universities of Edinburgh and Dundee, plus Glasgow Caledonian and London Metropolitan universities. In addition, she was the Scottish government's policy lead in higher education, student funding and science and research strategy immediately prior to joining West of Scotland. Ms Troup holds a BA and an MSc from the University of Edinburgh and an MA from the University of Aberdeen, plus an MBA earned part-time from The Open University and Glasgow Caledonian University.

University of the Arts London

Philip Broadhead

The University of the Arts London's incoming deputy rector has said his appointment represents the "fulfilment of a long-term ambition". Philip Broadhead, currently pro-warden for students and learning development at Goldsmiths, University of London, added: "I really like working in a creative atmosphere...and want to consolidate all the progress made by the university and my predecessor. I think my aims can be best summed up as: working with staff and students to develop academic, creative and professional partnerships across the university, within the UK and beyond." Dr Broadhead obtained an undergraduate degree from the University of Leeds before completing a PhD at the University of Kent, focusing on the Reformation in Germany. In today's problematic times, he said, the humanities must not be discarded. "We should not lose sight of the importance of the cultural and creative sectors for the wider economy and society," he added. "My vision for University of the Arts London is for it to be recognised by students, researchers and the wider population as playing a central and indispensable role in the development of the arts, design, fashion, communication and performance." He will take over the role from Elizabeth Rouse when she retires in August.

OTHER CHANGES

Bournemouth University has announced the appointment of Tiantian Zhang as head of its Graduate School. Professor Zhang, who took up the post in January, joined from the University of Bedfordshire, where she was director of the LIRANS Institute of Research in the Applied Natural Sciences. She was the first person to be awarded a doctorate by Bedfordshire (when it was known as the University of Luton).

Christian W. Haerpfer, professor of politics at the University of Aberdeen, has been made the institution's first established chair of politics and head of its department of politics and international relations.

The University of Leicester has appointed Marianne Pape the education and outreach officer for its arts centre, Embrace Arts. In the role, Ms Pape will forge new links with young and disabled people, schools, families and local groups. Prior to her appointment, Ms Pape was arts in the community officer for the Borough of Poole.

Sir Brian Greenwood, Manson professor of clinical tropical medicine at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, has won the Canada Gairdner Global Health Award in recognition of his work tackling diseases such as malaria. He said the award "will help to give me authority in advocating for getting the vaccines we have evaluated used in developing countries".

The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama's head of creative programming, Andrew Miller, has been appointed to the board of the Arts Council of Wales. Mr Miller joined the institution in 2011 following a varied career at Channel 4, the BBC and ITV.

The Reverend Eddie Wynn, who served in the RAF, including a tour in Afghanistan, has been appointed the University of Wolverhampton's senior chaplain.