Professor Jason Riley has been appointed as the Academic Lead for Student Experience, starting from 1 January 2027 for a five-year term. Professor Riley will undertake this part-time appointment alongside his role as Vice-Dean (Education) for the Faculty of Engineering, and his academic role as Professor of Materials Electrochemistry in the Department of Materials.
Professor Jennifer Quint has been appointed as Director of the Early Career Researcher Institute (ECRI), effective from 1 November 2026, for a term of five years.
In this role, Professor Quint will lead ECRI’s next phase of development, building on the strong foundations established by Professor George Constantinides and continuing to strengthen support for Imperial’s early career researcher community.
Brandon Baker has accepted appointment as Vice-President (Advancement) and will join Imperial in autumn 2026.
Reporting to the President, Brandon will lead the Advancement Division, a dynamic professional team that raises funds for scholarships, academic positions, research centres and capital projects, secures philanthropic support for Imperial’s mission, and helps strengthen the university’s global reputation.
Professor Jonathan Mestel has accepted appointment as Associate Provost (Academic Promotions) for an initial three-year term from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2029.
Reporting to the Provost and Deputy President, Professor Mestel will play a key leadership role in supporting Imperial’s commitment to excellence in research and education across science, engineering, medicine and business. He will lead Imperial’s annual academic promotions exercise, ensuring that it is rigorous, fair and recognises the quality of the full range of contributions made by our academic staff to Imperial’s mission.
Following a competitive international recruitment process, Professor Alan Spivey has accepted the appointment of Vice-Provost (Education and Student Experience) for a five-year term, effective 1 June 2026, having served in the role on an interim basis since 1 October 2025.
Professor Omar Matar has accepted appointment as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, with effect from 1 October 2026 for a fixed term of five years.
Anna Caffyn has been appointed as Imperial’s new Chief Financial Officer, and will take up the role in January 2026.
Professor Bernadette Byrne, Professor of Molecular Membrane Biology in the Department of Life Sciences, has accepted the appointment of Associate Provost (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion), with effect from 1 October 2025 until 31 August 2027. (more…)
Professor Alan Spivey has accepted the role of Interim Vice-Provost (Education and Student Experience), beginning on 1 October 2025, for a term of one year.
Professor Spivey will report to the incoming Provost and Deputy President, Professor Peter Haynes. Working closely and collaboratively with key colleagues, he will be responsible for leading the delivery of the university’s strategic aims for the provision of a world-class education for its students, the enrichment of its student experience and to ensure that an ‘Imperial education’ reflects Imperial’s dynamic and enterprising culture.
Professor Nigel Brandon has been appointed as Vice-President (Corporate Engagement).
He will take on this role in October 2026 after he stands down as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering in September 2026.
The Vice-President (Corporate Engagement) is a new role that will focus on developing Imperial’s relationships with executive leaders in key knowledge- and technology- intensive sectors to yield new educational, research, innovation and philanthropic opportunities.
Working in collaboration with senior leaders and teams across Imperial to deliver on their strategic plans, he will support the development of new partnerships and act as an ambassadorial role for their stewardship.
This new role will be focused on ensuring organisations have access to the best Imperial has to offer, from our world-leading research and education, innovation and enterprise and consultancy.
In addition to Nigel’s tenure as Dean, he is a Professor of Sustainable Development in Energy. Previously he was Vice Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Engineering as well as Founding Director of the Sustainable Gas Institute and the Energy Futures Lab.
The search for a new Dean of the Faculty of Engineering will commence in the coming months.