Appointments

Kingston University

Audley Genus

The new YTL professor of innovation and technology management at Kingston University Business School believes that there needs to be more understanding of the "seriousness" of climate change. Audley Genus added that although tough times make most people "more concerned about the roof over their heads and having a job", it was important to get the issue back on the agenda. Professor Genus, who has joined Kingston from the University of Greenwich, where he was a reader in innovation, said that climate change required immediate measures. "What is needed is action across multiple domains that challenge opinions, business models and state policies regarding the significance of climate change and our prevailing ways of generating and using power. What is required is more than radical governmental action. What frustrates me is...the inconsistency and incoherence of policy." Professor Genus earned a BSc in industrial relations from Cardiff University before gaining his doctorate from Aston University. He has held positions at numerous institutions including Aston, Brunel University and Royal Holloway, University of London; at Newcastle University he was departmental head for the innovation and enterprise subject group.

Institute of Education

Steve Denton

The Institute of Education has appointed Steve Denton pro-director of strategy and organisation. Mr Denton - who will oversee professional and support services and also serve as the institute's secretary - said it was "a great honour and privilege to have been appointed to this key position in such a prestigious institution". One of his key aims will be to "ensure that the IoE retains its position as [a] world-leading school for education and related areas of social science", he said. "What I and my colleagues in professional services have to do is to be innovative and receptive to new ideas, to enable us to review what we do and how we do it. This will enable us to...support the academic endeavours of our colleagues and to ensure that our students continue to get an excellent experience." After gaining an LLB from Lancaster University and a postgraduate diploma in management from Thames Valley University (now the University of West London), Mr Denton worked in local government before becoming university secretary and clerk to the board at Thames Valley. In 2001, he joined Leeds Metropolitan University in a similar capacity before rising to become registrar and secretary of the university.

Teesside University

Greg Atkinson

A Middlesbrough-raised academic has returned to his roots to take up a professorial post at Teesside University. Greg Atkinson admitted that his appointment to the Health and Social Care Institute as professor of biological rhythms and health research was a bonus on two fronts. "It is great to return to Middlesbrough to be closer to family, but also to get some good research projects going that impact on the health and well-being of people in the region," he said. Professor Atkinson was an apprentice instrument technician before entering further education. He then gained a BSc and PhD at Liverpool John Moores University. He studies the human body clock and the effect of shift work on health. "There is...good evidence that shift workers have an increased risk of several diseases including hypertension...and some types of cancer," he said. His expertise has been sought by football teams keen to learn how to avoid jet lag in order to arrive at international tournaments in the best condition. "[As] a season-ticket holder at the Riverside [Middlesbrough Football Club's ground], I often shout constructive advice to [manager] Tony [Mowbray]. When Boro get into Europe again, maybe I'll offer my services." He has previously held academic positions at Liverpool John Moores and Loughborough and Durham universities.

Nottingham Trent University

Kathie Moore

The new dean of the School of Social Sciences at Nottingham Trent University said she wants the school to be "recognised as a first choice by students and our regional partners and local communities". Kathie Moore, who joins from De Montfort University, added that it was "critical" for the department to have an excellent academic reputation among students. Ms Moore trained as a nurse and worked in the NHS for 13 years before joining De Montfort, where she fulfilled roles including acting dean of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. She is adamant that health and social sciences complement each other. "The challenges we face in terms of health and well-being have always been best addressed by marrying them to the social context in which such health dilemmas exist; it is a well-trodden route that the greatest health inequalities exist alongside the largest social inequalities," she said. "This drew me to the social sciences initially as a mature student and then to my first academic post, where I chose a health and social science route." Ms Moore gained an undergraduate degree in social science with social policy at Middlesex University, later obtaining a PGCE at the University of Nottingham and an MA in sociological research methods in health at the University of Warwick.

OTHER CHANGES

Norwich University College of the Arts has appointed the actor John Hurt as its inaugural provost. Mr Hurt, perhaps best known for his roles in Alien (1979) and The Elephant Man (1980), will take up the position this autumn. As provost, he will act as the ceremonial figurehead and ambassador for the university college.

Anja Winter has joined the University of Leicester as a member of a research group in the department of biochemistry. Dr Winter, who joins from the University of Cambridge, studied for an MSc in biochemistry at the Free University of Berlin before completing a PhD in biochemistry/structural biology at the University of Edinburgh.

A professor at the University of Nottingham's School of Education has been elected a fellow of the Learned Society of Wales. William John Morgan, professor of the political economy of education, is honoured for a "demonstrable record of excellence and achievement in one of the academic disciplines having made a distinguished contribution to the world of learning".

London South Bank University has named Richard Farleigh, the entrepreneur and former "dragon" on BBC television show Dragons' Den, its new chancellor and has appointed Douglas Denham St Pinnock to its board of governors. Mr Farleigh, who succeeds broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald, will perform a range of duties as the ceremonial head of the university, while Mr Denham St Pinnock will help to ensure its effective management.

The Association for Learning Technology has appointed Maren Deepwell chief executive. Dr Deepwell joined the association in 2008, serving as membership services manager and then operations and services manager. She studied at Goldsmiths, University of London and University College London.