I am delighted that Sandie Okoro OBE, a Birmingham graduate and one of the country’s preeminent lawyers and equality rights champions, has become our new Chancellor.
Sandie is a proud University of Birmingham alumna, graduating with a degree in Law and Politics. She followed in the footsteps of her mother in choosing to study here - a tradition that is now being continued by her son.
Her Birmingham degree helped Sandie to become a highly respected trailblazer in the corporate legal sector. To hear her talk about breaking glass ceilings and aiming high is inspirational and reflects both the attitude and passion of our University and our commitment to championing equality, diversity and inclusion.
Sandie was appointed following an extensive search, which included ideas from staff, students and alumni about the qualities and experience you wanted to see in our next Chancellor. Thank you for sharing what was important to you.
Sandie will build on the important work of our previous Chancellor, Lord Karan Bilimoria of Chelsea CBE. Many of you will have met him at our House of Lords events, graduations and other special occasions. He opened the University’s India Institute, catalysing our relationships with India for both education and research. He has inspired thousands of students in Edgbaston and Dubai. He shared many other special occasions with us, including the discovery of a Qur’an manuscript believed to be among the oldest in the world, the opening of our Dubai campus in 2022, and showcasing the University’s hydrogen train at COP26, which was visited by King Charles. He leaves behind an enduring legacy. Read more from Karan and Sandie.
Sandie becomes our new Chancellor at a moment of great success for the University, when the world is showing how much it really values Birmingham graduates like you. During 2024, we rose four places to 80th in the QS World University Rankings, and a report by independent research company High Fliers revealed that Birmingham graduates are the most sought after by the UK’s leading graduate employers.
A London Economics report we commissioned in 2023 found that, five years after graduating, alumni from Birmingham are more likely to be in sustained employment or advanced study than graduates from any other Russell Group university in Britain. We want to keep making you as proud of where you chose to study as we are of all Birmingham graduates throughout the years.
As we approach 2025, the 125th year since the University was founded, we are preparing a wide range of events and opportunities to celebrate the University’s achievements. Alongside our annual Global Alumni Gatherings, we would love for you to join us in person or online.
I hope to see you at one of our events soon!
Professor Adam Tickell
Vice-Chancellor and Principal