New Chancellor of the University of Lincoln Announced

The Rt. Hon Prof the Lord Ajay Kakkar KBE PC, the distinguished surgeon, scientist and crossbench member of the House of Lords, will be installed as the next Chancellor of the University of Lincoln.

Lord Kakkar will succeed Lord Victor Adebowale CBE, who last year announced his intention to step down from the role after almost 15 years of service to the University. The installation of the new Chancellor will take place this September ahead of the University’s graduation ceremonies at Lincoln Cathedral.

Lord Kakkar is Emeritus Professor of Surgery at University College London and an independent crossbench member of the House of Lords, having been created a life peer in 2010.  He is Chairman of King’s Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre.  He was appointed as Chairman of the House of Lords Appointments Commission from 2013 to 2018 and, at the same time, was UK Business Ambassador for Healthcare and Lifesciences. From 2016 to 2022 he served as Chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission.

Lord Kakkar completed his medical degree at King’s College London and received his PhD from Imperial College London and has been a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons since 1992.

In 2008 he was appointed Director of the Thrombosis Research Institute in London.  His research interests include prevention and treatment of venous and arterial thromboembolic disease, and cancer-associated thrombosis; and development of novel anticoagulant drugs.

He served as Chairman of UCLPartners Academic Health Science Partnership between 2014 – 2021.

In 2020 he became Chairman of The King’s Fund, and Chairman of the board of trustees of UK Biobank. He was appointed Chairman of the Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research in 2021 and was recently appointed as Chairman of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851.

Lord Kakkar will become the University of Lincoln’s third Chancellor, following Lord Victor Adebowale CBE (2008-2023) and Dame Elizabeth Esteve-Coll DBE (2001-2008).

On his appointment as Chancellor, Lord Kakkar said “I am deeply honoured and delighted to become the University of Lincoln’s next Chancellor.

“It is a fine academic institution with a considerable reputation for innovative teaching and an admirably student-focussed culture.  In just over thirty years, the University has established itself as both a centre of academic excellence and a happy place where students flourish and are helped to achieve their life goals.

Your proud University motto – “Through wisdom, liberty” – says it all. Striving for greater wisdom must be both the goal of all individuals and society’s ambition. And liberty is the bedrock of our social and political culture which enables our academic institutions to flourish.

“I very much look forward to serving as your Chancellor.”

Professor Neal Juster, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, said: “We are delighted that Lord Kakkar has accepted our invitation to become the next Chancellor of the University of Lincoln.

“He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in diverse fields spanning health, science, justice, business and innovation, and of course, a distinguished career of public service. The Senior Leadership Team and I look forward to working together with him in supporting the University to embrace opportunities ahead and achieve future successes.

“I would also like to express my sincere thanks once again to Lord Victor for his devoted service to the University. His contribution to the progress of the University over the past 15 years, and with it the positive impact on our students, colleagues, graduates, and the communities and industries we serve, has been immense.”