UCEA announces Professor Nishan Canagarajah as new chair
University of Leicester Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nishan Canagarajah, has been appointed chair of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA).
Professor Canagarajah was appointed following a unanimous board election and his three year term will start on Monday 1 December.
UCEA is the body that represents the interests and views of 169 UK higher education (HE) organisations as employers.
Professor Canagarajah said: “I am honoured to have been appointed chair and am well aware that this is an extremely pivotal time for UCEA, its 169 member institutions, and the wider higher HE sector. While HE institutions face unprecedented sustainability challenges, UCEA remains steadfast in the expert support it provides to its members.
“UCEA’s overriding objective is to do as much as we can to support all staff within the limits of affordability. And a key strategic priority for UCEA is to support employer aspirations to enhance the employee experience while working collaboratively and constructively with sector partners and trade unions. I look forward to working with other board members to support this agenda.
“On behalf of the board I would like to express our gratitude and admiration to outgoing chair, Professor George Boyne, for his dedication, guiding us through tumultuous times while working tirelessly to achieve outcomes with trade unions for the good of the sector.”
Raj Jethwa, Chief Executive of UCEA, said: “We are delighted to welcome Professor Nishan Canagarajah as UCEA’s new Chair. Nishan has been a member of the UCEA board since January 2023 and brings a wealth of experience to the role, which will be invaluable in steering the board and supporting UCEA’s work on behalf of our members through the changes and challenges ahead. We look forward to his guidance as we move forward.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to UCEA’s outgoing chair, Professor George Boyne, for his dedication and leadership over the past three years. George’s deep commitment has been instrumental in helping UCEA’s members to navigate some difficult and uncharted waters."