Internationalising Higher Education

Professor Geoff Petts received his PhD from Liverpool University (1974) and BSc in Physical Geography and Geology from Southampton University (1978). He is currently Vice-Chancellor and Rector, University of Westminster.

Geoff was appointed to a Lectureship at Loughborough University in 1979, was awarded a Chair in 1989, and became Head of Department in 1991. In 1994 he moved to Birmingham University as Professor of Physical Geography and Director of Environmental Research and Management. Two years later, he founded the Centre for Environmental Research and Training and became Head of the School of Geography and Environmental Sciences in 1998. He was Pro Vice-Chancellor at Birmingham from 2001-2007.

His research is at the interface of hydrology, geomorphology and ecology and he has particular interests in regulated rivers, the analysis of environmental flows, and conservation applied to the sustainable development of water projects.

Geoff has held a number of external appointments, including a term as Director of the International Water Resources Association (1992-94), Council Member of the Freshwater Biological Association (2000-2003) and member of the International Council for Science (ICSU) Scientific Committee on Water Research; UNESCO IHP Eco-Hydrology and Management of Land-water Ecotones Programmes; and US Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Long-term Monitoring Programme for the upper Mississippi River. He was awarded the Busk Medal of the Royal Geographical Society in 2007, and the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award of the International Society for River Science in 2009.

Geoff is also a member of Universities UK Funding and Management, and Treasurer's Committees; Chair of PODIUM - the HE and FE board preparing for 2012; a board member of London Higher and, in 2009, published a report on the Social Impact of London Higher Education Institutions.