Steve West (university administrator)

Steve West CBE DL FRSA FRSM
3rd Chairman of the University Alliance
In office 2012–2016
Preceded by	Janet Beer
Succeeded by	John Latham
Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West of England
Incumbent
Assumed office January 2008
Preceded by	Sir Howard Newby
Personal details
Born	Steven George West March 1961 (age 60) London, England
Nationality	British
Children	5
Residence	Wick, Gloucestershire, England
Alma mater	University of Westminster

Steven George West CBE DL FRSM FRSA (born March 1961)^[1] is a British podiatrist, the Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Officer of the University of the West of England^[2] since 2008 and is the current President of Universities UK. He holds a number of national and international advisory appointments in Higher Education and in his discipline, healthcare policy and practice.

Career[]

Professor West trained as a podiatrist and podiatric surgeon in London, working in the NHS and private/commercial sector from 1982. He entered academia in 1984 as a lecturer, then senior lecturer, at The Chelsea School of Chiropody and Podiatric Medicine, The London Foot Hospital and Westminster University. He developed his research interests at King’s College London in the Department of Bioengineering. In 1990 he took up a post as Associate Dean and Head of the Department of Podiatry at Huddersfield University, and later became Dean of the School of Health and Behavioural Sciences in 1992.^[3][4]

In 1995 he joined the University of the West of England as Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Care and Professor of Health and Social Care. In this post he merged three Colleges of Health into a new faculty, establishing one of the largest faculties of Health and Social Care in the UK.^[3][4]

In 2005 he became Pro Vice-Chancellor at the university, with the planning and resources portfolio. Then in 2006 he became Deputy Vice-Chancellor and was later appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor in August 2007.^[3][4]

In May 2008 he took up post as Vice-Chancellor, at the age of 46.^[2] he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, the College of Podiatric Medicine and the Royal Society of Arts.

Other roles[]

In June 2013, West was appointed as the first Chair of the West of England Academic Health Science Network (WEAHSN^[5]). The network is one of 15 across the country that aim to transform health and healthcare by putting innovation at the heart of the NHS. In this role, Professor West brings together a wide range of partners including health commissioners and providers, universities, industry and other stakeholders.

West is Chair of the UK Mental Health in Higher Education Advisory Group^[6] and Non-Executive Director of University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust.^[7] Professor West is the President of Universities UK, 2021–2023.^[8]

West’s previous external commitments include non-executive director for the Office for Students,^[9] Chair of University Alliance,^[10] President of Bristol chamber of commerce, Chair of the West of England Initiative, President of the South West CBI and Chair of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership.^[11]

Personal life[]

West's leisure-time interests include scuba diving.^[12] He lives in Wick, Gloucestershire and is married with five children.

Since 2014, West has been a member of The Society of Merchant Venturers.^[13]

Honours[]

Professor West was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to higher education^[14] and was made a deputy lieutenant of Gloucestershire in 2012.^[15]

References[]

External links[]

• Steve West (VCUWE) on Twitter