In the UK, social and academic institute NatCen Social Research has appointed Professor Sir Robert Burgess as the new Chair of its Board of Trustees, succeeding Professor Dame Janet Finch who retires in February at the end of her nine year term as a Trustee.
Burgess is Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester and Chair of a number of industry bodies and groups, including the Higher Education Academy. He is also an Academician of the Academy of the Social Sciences.
During his career, Burgess has also held national roles including President of the British Sociological Association, President of the Association for the Teaching of the Social Sciences and Founding Chair of the UK Council for Graduate Education. In 2010, he was awarded a Knighthood for services to Higher Education locally and nationally.
Outgoing Chair, Professor Dame Janet Finch said: ‘We are delighted to have attracted one of the UK’s foremost social scientists to lead NatCen Social Research. It’s a particularly challenging time for any research organisation: the pressure on commissioners’ budgets together with substantial social change and wide ranging policy agendas mean that we need to find new ways of meeting our clients’ needs and delivering social research that works for society.‘
NatCen CEO Penny Young thanked Finch her contribution to NatCen since becoming a Trustee in 2002 and then Chair in 2007, adding ‘we’ve been lucky to have her.’
In the UK, social and academic institute NatCen Social Research has appointed Professor Sir Robert Burgess as the new Chair of its Board of Trustees, succeeding Professor Dame Janet Finch who retires in February at the end of her nine year term as a Trustee.