We know it takes more than a job title to make a leader. Meet the people appointed by our Board of Governors to lead the University, and learn more about the work they do.
Our Board of Governors carry the ultimate responsibility to approve the mission and strategic vision of the University and assure the effective management of the University as well as planning its future direction. Our Board Appointees are also members of our University Executive Board.
Professor Graham Galbraith CBE
Vice-Chancellor
Professor Graham Galbraith CBE joined the University in 2013 as Vice-Chancellor and in this role is our Chief Executive and Chief Academic Officer. He is also the Chief Accountable Officer to the Office for Students that currently regulates UK Universities.
It's our Vice-Chancellor's job to deliver our University Mission and Strategic Plan by providing a world leading student experience alongside internationally-recognised research and innovation solutions that engage with business and respond to the needs of society.
Professor Galbraith shapes the strategic direction of the University in partnership with the Board of Governors, manages key senior staff including the Board Appointees, Chairs the University Executive Board and leads the development of the key delivery plans which underpin the achievement of the University Strategy. He is also a full member of the Board of Governors.
Passionate about the transformative power of higher education, Professor Galbraith's experience, entrepreneurial outlook and track record of academic achievement provide the leadership necessary for the future success of the University.
Email: vice-chancellor@port.ac.uk
Executive Assistant: shani.thirlwell@port.ac.uk
Tel: 023 92 843191
Professor Sherria Hoskins
Provost
The Provost has strategic responsibility for academic leadership and oversight across a wide range of University matters and is responsible for ensuring that Portsmouth continues to achieve and reach the aims and goals set out in its Vision. This includes academic strategic and financial planning, performance monitoring, quality assurance reviews, together with performance target setting and monitoring and overseeing and leading on staffing issues, including workload planning, promotion criteria and staffing structures and ensuring the University’s commitment to equality and diversity are upheld.
Sherria joined us in 1999 after working at the University of Surrey as a Lecturer. She initially trained and worked at the University of Plymouth, where she gained her PhD in Psychology and went on to become a Senior Research Fellow.
A Principal Fellow of Advance HE, Sherria was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2013 for her contribution to teaching and learning. Sherria was previously Head of Psychology for seven years, then Executive Dean (Science and Health) and led the Medical School Delivery Group.
Her research interests are in understanding learning behaviour and achievement, specifically how learning contexts impact resilience. She led Growing Learners, a group of education research psychologists dedicated to helping teachers create supportive learning environments and develop effective learning strategies in young people. She led two multi University OfS funded projects exploring attainment gaps and learning gain in HE.
Professor Anne Murphy
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education)
Anne joined us in March 2021 as Executive Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences. She was appointed to the role of DVC Education in November 2023. She is responsible for the strategic leadership of all educational matters and oversight across a wide range of University matters ensuring the provision of an excellent education and experience for students. Anne previously worked at the University of Hertfordshire where she was the Dean of the School of Humanities. Her first career was in the City trading interest rate and foreign exchange derivatives.
Her research focuses on early modern financial markets and investment behaviour, and the organisation and management of the 18th-century Bank of England. Anne has published extensively on financial, social and economic history. She won the Economic History Society’s first monograph prize in 2010 for her monograph ‘The Origins of English Financial Markets: investment and speculation before the South Sea Bubble'. Her most recent book is 'Virtuous Bankers: a day in the life of the eighteenth-century Bank of England.'
Email : anne.murphy@port.ac.uk
Executive Assistant : prenita.jonson@port.ac.uk
Telephone: 023 9284 3397
Chris Chang
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement and Student Life)
Chris is responsible for providing strategic leadership in the development and implementation of an ambitious Global Engagement strategy for the University, for extending our global partnerships and reach to make our high-quality brand of education even more accessible worldwide. He has responsibility for UOP Global, the Department of Student Academic Administration, and Academic Partnerships. He is also the strategic lead for student support, health and wellbeing as well as for Equality Diversity and Inclusion.
Before joining the University in September 2016, Chris was Pro Vice-Chancellor Corporate Marketing, International and Development Services at Anglia Ruskin University. He has over 30 years’ experience in the higher education sector and a background as a lawyer. He qualified as a barrister in 1986 and began his career working as an advocate and solicitor at the High Court of Malaya, advising large corporate clients.
Email: chris.chang@port.ac.uk
Executive assistant email: shirley.boff@port.ac.uk
Telephone: 023 9284 3398
Professor Jeremy Howells
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and External Relations)
Jeremy was appointed to the role of DVC Research, Innovation and External Relations in October 2022. He is responsible for providing strategic leadership in the development and implementation of the University’s Research and Innovation Strategy. Jeremy is a leading international researcher in innovation and knowledge exchange. Jeremy is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) and a Visiting Fellow at Kellogg College, University of Oxford. Jeremy has held senior positions at Kent, Southampton and Manchester universities.
Whilst at the University of Manchester, he was also the Executive Director of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Centre for Research in Innovation and Competition (CRIC) and the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research (MIoIR) at the Alliance Manchester Business School where he also held the Eddie Davies Chair of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Jeremy has undertaken research for the ESRC and other UKRI Research Councils, as well as the European Commission, OECD, the UN, the World Bank and UK and international government departments and agencies.
Email: jeremy.howells@port.ac.uk
Executive assistant email: prenita.jonson@port.ac.uk
Telephone: 023 9284 3397
Fiona Hnatow
Chief People Officer – The University of Portsmouth
As Chief People Officer at the University of Portsmouth Fiona is responsible for leading the delivery of our People Strategy 2030 which supports our underlying principle of educating and transforming lives, while driving a culture of excellence where all our people can achieve great things. As a member of the University Executive Board Fiona makes a significant contribution to the strategic direction of the University together with leading a large HR Function with a portfolio including Pay and Reward, EDI, People and Organisational Development, People Operations and Business Partnering.
Prior to joining the University of Portsmouth as Chief People Officer, Fiona was the Director of Human Resources at St Mary’s University, Twickenham. Fiona has also worked in strategic and operational HR leadership roles both in the UK and overseas at Transport for London, the City of London Corporation, Surrey County Council, Pearson plc, WWF-UK and Unilever UK and Ireland.
Email: fiona.hnatow@port.ac.uk
Executive Assistant: lucy.leighton-smith@port.ac.uk
Claire Dunning
Executive Director – Corporate Governance
Claire leads our work in corporate governance and oversees the governance processes of the University and its subsidiary companies. She is also responsible for student complaints, risk management and business continuity, information governance, procurement, internal audit, insurance and all legal and contracting services. Claire is a qualified solicitor and holds a masters in corporate governance.
Before joining the University of Portsmouth Claire worked as a commercial lawyer within a FTSE 250 company
Email: claire.dunning@port.ac.uk
Executive Assistant: julie.reynolds@port.ac.uk
Tel: 023 9284 3199