Steve West (podiatrist) explained

Honorific-Prefix:Sir
Steve West
Office1:3rd Chairman of the University Alliance
Term Start1:2012
Term End1:2016
Predecessor1:Janet Beer
Successor1:John Latham
Office2:Vice-chancellor of the University of the West of England
Term Start2:January 2008
Predecessor2:Sir Howard Newby
Birthname:Steven George West
Birth Place:London, England
Alma Mater:University of Westminster

Sir Steven George West (born March 1961[1]) is a British podiatrist, the vice-chancellor, president and chief executive officer of the University of the West of England[2] since 2008. He holds a number of national and international advisory appointments in higher education, healthcare policy and regional government.

Career

West trained as a podiatrist and podiatric surgeon in London, working in the NHS and private/commercial sector from 1982. He entered academia in 1984 as a lecturer, then senior lecturer, at The Chelsea School of Chiropody and Podiatric Medicine, The London Foot Hospital and Westminster University. He developed his research interests at King’s College London in the Department of Bioengineering. In 1990 he took up a post as Associate Dean and Head of the Department of Podiatry at Huddersfield University, and became Dean of the School of Health and Behavioural Sciences in 1992.[3] [4]

In 1995 he joined the University of the West of England as Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Care and Professor of Health and Social Care. In this post he merged three Colleges of Health into a new faculty, establishing one of the largest faculties of Health and Social Care in the UK.[3] [4]

In 2005, Professor West became Pro Vice-Chancellor at the university, with the planning and resources portfolio. Then in 2006 he became Deputy Vice-Chancellor and was later appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor in August 2007.[3] [4] In May 2008 he took up post as Vice-Chancellor, at the age of 46.

In 2018 West was criticised for claiming over £43,000 in expenses for items like chauffeur-driven car trips to London in an 18 month period.[5]

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, Fellow of the Faculty of Podiatric Medicine of the Royal College of Podiatry (FRCPodM) and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Other roles

In June 2013, West was appointed as the first chair of the West of England Academic Health Science Network.[6] The network is one of 15 across the country that promote innovation in the National Health Service, bringing together bodies including health commissioners and providers, universities, and industry.

Professor West is chair of the UK Mental Health in Higher Education Advisory Group[7] and a non-executive director of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board.[8] He is currently the president of Universities UK, 2021–2023.[9]

From 2017 to 2021, West was chair of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership,[10] and consequently a non-voting member of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA).[11] [12]

West's other previous external commitments include non-executive director for the Office for Students,[13] chair of University Alliance,[14] president of Bristol chamber of commerce, chair of the West of England Initiative, and president of the South West CBI.[15] He also served as President for the Anchor Society,[16] a charity for the care of older people in the Bristol area, in 2018.

Personal life

West's leisure-time interests include scuba diving.[17]

West has been a member of The Society of Merchant Venturers since 2014.[18]

Honours

West was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to higher education and was made a deputy lieutenant of Gloucestershire in 2012.[19]

He received honorary degrees from the University of Bristol (Doctor of Laws, 2014)[20] and Taylor’s University, Malaysia (2016, Doctor of Education).

He was knighted in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to health and education.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Steven George WEST. Companies House. en. 2020-04-24.
  2. Web site: Vice-Chancellor – Structure and governance. 2021-05-24. www.uwe.ac.uk. en-GB.
  3. Web site: Profile of Professor Steve West CBE, Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Officer – Vice-Chancellor. 2021-05-24. www.uwe.ac.uk. en-GB.
  4. Web site: West, Prof. Steven George, (born 27 March 1961), DL; Professor, since 1995, and Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Officer, since 2008, University of the West of England, Bristol. 2021-05-24. WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. en. 10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u249566. 978-0-19-954088-4 .
  5. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-uwe-chiefs-43000-expenses-1260782.amp
  6. Web site: Steve West. 2021-05-24. West of England Academic Health Science Network. en-GB.
  7. Web site: New guidance on mental health and wellbeing – supporting staff and students more important now than ever. 2021-05-24. www.universitiesuk.ac.uk.
  8. Web site: BNSSG ICB - Our Integrated Care Board - Chair and Non-Executive Members . 28 June 2022 .
  9. Web site: 12 March 2021 . Professor Steve West CBE, DL elected as next UUK President . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210524153801/https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/news/Pages/prof-steve-west-elected-next-uuk-president-march-2021.aspx . 24 May 2021 . Universities UK . Internet Archive.
  10. Web site: LEP Board: Professor Steve West (Chair). dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210117215747/https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/lep/lep-board/prof-steve-west-chair/. 17 January 2021. West of England Combined Authority. Internet Archive.
  11. News: West of England Metro Mayor is sworn in . ITV News . 8 May 2017 . 12 February 2022.
  12. News: Mediator appointed in bid to break deadlock between regional leaders . Postans . Adam . Bath Echo . 12 November 2021 . 12 February 2022.
  13. Web site: 2018-03-20. Our board and committees. 2021-05-24. Office for Students. en-GB.
  14. Web site: Professor Steven West. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130214093235/http://www.unialliance.ac.uk/about/who-we-are/vice-chancellors/professor-steven-west/. 14 February 2013. University Alliance.
  15. News: UWE vice chancellor to head up LEP . Farrell . Stephen . Insider . 25 April 2017 . 12 February 2022.
  16. Web site: Anchor Society, Collections from Former Presidents .
  17. Web site: West leads West of England University. Higher Education and Research Opportunities. https://web.archive.org/web/20080926042157/http://www.hero.ac.uk/media_relations/18221.cfm. 2008-09-26. dead. 2008-01-08.
  18. Web site: Our Members. 2020-06-15. The Society of Merchant Venturers. en-US.
  19. Web site: Profile of Professor Steve West. University of the West of England. 24 April 2020.
  20. Web site: 16 July 2014 . Professor Steven West . 2023-02-20 . University of Bristol . en-GB.