New Pro Rector for International Affairs at Imperial College London

Dr Simon Buckle appointed Pro Rector for International Affairs

Imperial College London News Release

Wednesday 29 June 2011

Imperial College London has today named Dr Simon Buckle as its new Pro Rector for International Affairs.

Dr Buckle will be responsible for the College's strategic international interests and will work closely with the Pro Rectors for Education and Academic Affairs, Research and Enterprise to identify and advance new opportunities. Currently Director of Climate Policy in Imperial's Grantham Institute for Climate Change, he will also become Pro Rector for International Affairs on 1 October 2011.

Rector Sir Keith O'Nions said: "Collaborating with world-class researchers, attracting the best students from all corners of the globe and reaching out to our supporters, including our alumni from across 190 countries, are among the priorities for the College's international strategy. Simon's track record of leveraging networks and producing the most value from international connections makes him the ideal candidate to champion Imperial's international activities and I am delighted that he has agreed to take on this role."

Dr Buckle joined Imperial in 2007 to support the establishment of the Grantham Institute, helping to position it as a leading source of scientific and technical expertise making valuable contributions to the development of thinking on climate change policy. In 2008-9 he played a leading role in Imperial's successful bid to create the European Institute of Innovation and Technology's Climate Knowledge and Innovation Community (Climate KIC).

Dr Buckle said: "I feel extremely privileged to be have been appointed to this role in such a vibrant and successful community. I look forward to working with colleagues and international partners – both new and existing - to help shape and drive forward the international dimensions of the College's strategic vision."

Prior to his current position at the College, Dr Buckle held positions in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Bank of England and the Ministry of Defence. Most recently, he was Deputy Head of Mission in the British Embassy in Kabul and then Global Issues Counsellor in Paris. Earlier in his career he was a postgraduate researcher at Imperial College London, investigating quantum optics in the Department of Physics.

Dr Buckle will succeed Professor Mary Ritter, who has led the international remit as Pro Rector since 2005 and will retire on 30 September 2011.

Paying tribute to Professor Ritter's achievements, Rector Sir Keith O'Nions said: "Over the past seven years Imperial's global profile has risen significantly. We now boast collaborative PhD programmes with world-class institutions in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. We are developing and delivering a course overseas for the first time through the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine in Singapore. We are leading international networks to find innovative solutions to global problems, such as Europe's Climate KIC. And our campuses have become enriched through the presence of increasing numbers of international students. I thank Mary for her vision and enthusiasm, which have helped to position Imperial so centrally on the global stage."

A full biography of Dr Buckle is provided in notes to editors and a photograph is available on request.

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About Dr Simon Buckle

Dr Buckle joined Imperial College London in 1985 as a postgraduate researcher, investigating quantum optics in the Department of Physics. From there he joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as a Fast Stream entrant in 1986 and went on to hold a range of increasingly senior diplomatic positions, also spending time working in the Bank of England and the Ministry of Defence. Most recently, from 2005 06 he was Deputy Head of Mission in the British Embassy in Kabul and from 2006-07 he was Global Issues Counsellor in Paris where, amongst other responsibilities, he was in charge of the UK's Science and Innovation Network in Europe. He was awarded a CMG in 2007.

Dr Buckle returned to Imperial in 2007 as Director of Climate Policy supporting the establishment of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change.

Dr Buckle holds a BSc in Physics and Philosophy from Bristol University, an MSc in Financial Economics from the University of London and a DPhil in Theoretical Physics from Sussex University. He was made a Fellow of the Institute of Physics (IoP) in 2001. He is a member of the Institute of Physics' International Development Committee and was recently elected as a Committee member of the Institute's Environmental Physics Group.

About Imperial College London

Consistently rated amongst the world's best universities, Imperial College London is a science-based institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research that attracts 14,000 students and 6,000 staff of the highest international quality. Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and business, delivering practical solutions that improve quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture.

Since its foundation in 1907, Imperial's contributions to society have included the discovery of penicillin, the development of holography and the foundations of fibre optics. This commitment to the application of research for the benefit of all continues today, with current focuses including interdisciplinary collaborations to improve global health, tackle climate change, develop sustainable sources of energy and address security challenges.

In 2007, Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust formed the UK's first Academic Health Science Centre. This unique partnership aims to improve the quality of life of patients and populations by taking new discoveries and translating them into new therapies as quickly as possible.

Website: www.imperial.ac.uk