University appoints business engagement and innovation specialist
Stuart Brocklehurst has been appointed to the newly created role of deputy Vice-Chancellor for Business Engagement and Innovation at the University of Exeter.
The university’s 2030 Strategy sets out to use the power of education and research to create a greener, healthier and fairer future, and that requires effective partnerships across sectors and businesses now more than ever.
As a result there will be a brand new role to lead even greater collaboration between academic teams and industry partners.
The university is home to many of the world’s most influential climate and environment scientists with 1,500 staff leading action on climate change, it has recently established a brand new biomedical research centre to help improve treatments and diagnoses in healthcare, and in the South West has created a Social Mobility Commission to boost the prospects for disadvantaged young people across the region.
To deliver progress on climate change, healthcare, education and the economy will mean businesses and universities increasingly joining forces to innovate and implement solutions.
Stuart Brocklehurst will bring his experience and expertise to this new partnership and engagement role.
He joins following a career in business, with past roles including group communications director of Amadeus IT Group and senior vice president at Visa International.
He has been chair of a venture capital trust and sat on the boards of numerous technology companies.
For the last eight years Stuart ran his own business, Applegate, until its sale to the Troy Group in 2022.
He remains a non-executive director of the Troy Group. Stuart has long worked closely with the university, including as an honorary Leadership Fellow of the Business School.
Stuart is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Fellow of the British Computer Society, a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute, a Chartered IT Professional, a Chartered Manager, a Freeman of the City of London, and holds a degree in theology from Oxford.
He said: “Collaboration between business and academia, done right, supports research, drives economic growth and most importantly delivers solutions to the major challenges facing the world.
“With Exeter’s global connections, leadership and unique expertise, the potential is immense.”
Vice Chancellor Professor Lisa Roberts said: “Partnership working is in our DNA and we continue to build excellent relationships with businesses and organisations locally, nationally and globally.
“I believe there is even greater potential in the years ahead though to collaborate with businesses on a greener, healthier and fairer future that benefits communities here in the South West and around the world.
“I want the University of Exeter to play a leading role in enabling the jobs, skills and opportunities required in a critical decade ahead and I’m delighted to welcome Stuart to the team to help us achieve our goals set out in the 2030 Strategy.”
