MEETING staff and students will be an early priority for Lancaster University's fifth vice-chancellor when he takes over the position this summer.
Dr Paul Wellings, a former Lancaster Royal Grammar School pupil has been confirmed as the replacement for Prof Bill Ritchie, who retires this summer.
He joins from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) based in Canberra, where he was deputy chief executive and has pledged to engage with key decision makers and business leaders in the Lancaster area and beyond.
Dr Wellings, 48, said: "Lancaster University has a truly outstanding international reputation across a wide range of disciplines, as evidenced by the recent strong performance in the national teaching and research assessments.
"We have to capitalise on this foundation as there are lots of opportunities for the future.
We have to position Lancaster in the domestic and international markets through a campaign focussed on what makes the Lancaster experience unique.
The university's Pro-Chancellor, Brian Heron, said: "We are very pleased to appoint Dr Wellings who will, I am sure, continue the Lancaster tradition of outstanding Vice-Chancellors enhancing, still further, our reputation as an outstanding international research led university."
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