Nigel Perry MBE FREng is to become our new Chair of University Council from 1 August 2026. Nigel takes over the role from Caroline Johnstone, who has decided to take up an external professional role with a significant supplier of the University which would cause a conflict of interest that does not allow her to continue as Chair of Council.
Nigel has been a lay member of University Council for eight years and is familiar with the University. He has established excellent working relationships internally, including through chairing the external panel which preceded the Science Transformation Project and the most recent review of the University’s Statutes.
Nigel is currently Chair of our Ethics Committee, Due Diligence Panel, and a member of Audit & Risk and Remuneration Committees.
His appointment is for a period of two years, at which point a longer-term Chair is expected to have been appointed, following an extensive recruitment process.
Outside of Durham, Nigel is a Director of the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) having been its founding CEO from inception in 2003 until March 2020. He previously worked for ICI Plc in engineering, project and business roles and with PwC Consulting working on the European high technology sector.
Nigel was awarded an MBE in June 2016 for services to Engineering and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2010.
We look forward to Nigel starting his new role in August.
"This is a significant professional opportunity for Caroline that has emerged since she became Chair, and as such she has taken the difficult decision to resign as Chair of Council. We are very sorry to have to accept that resignation to avoid any conflict of interest, and we remain grateful to Caroline for the huge contribution she has made in the past year. We are, though, delighted that Nigel, who has been a lay member for eight years, is able to seamlessly take over from Caroline as Chair in August and we congratulate him on that appointment."
“I have been privileged to get to know the University, students, staff and our partners in the region and beyond over the last year. While I am sorry to leave this position, I know I will continue to be inspired by Durham University and its people.”
“I am honoured to be taking on this role and develop further the working relationships I have already established in the last eight years as a member of Council.”
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