Appointments

The vice-chancellor of Bangor University is to retire in October 2010. Merfyn Jones became the university's sixth vice-chancellor in 2004, and has also been head of the School of History and Welsh History, professor of Welsh history, dean of the faculty of arts and social sciences and pro vice-chancellor during his time at Bangor. A Sussex graduate, Professor Jones' career has included posts at the universities of Warwick, Swansea and Liverpool. Lord Davies of Abersoch, chair of the university council, said he had been an "outstanding" leader.

The University of Nottingham has appointed Nick Miles as the new provost and chief executive officer of its Ningbo campus in China. Professor Miles is currently head of the department of chemical and environmental engineering at Nottingham and previously spent three years in Ningbo as dean of engineering. He succeeds Roger Woods, who is stepping down after three years in the post. Professor Woods, who has overseen the student and campus expansion of Ningbo during his tenure, will be returning to Nottingham, where he will be contributing to the university's international strategy.

Diana Warwick has been appointed chairwoman of the Human Tissue Authority (HTA). Baroness Warwick was formerly chief executive of Universities UK, and has also held senior roles in the Association of University Teachers and Voluntary Service Overseas. Adrian MacNeil, chief executive of the HTA, welcomed her appointment: "We will value her experience of championing innovation and bringing together multiple stakeholders to achieve success," he said.

Aston University has appointed James Shields as professor of French politics and modern history. The move takes Professor Shields back to the institution where he began his career as a lecturer in 1984. He is currently reader in French studies and warden of Tocil residences at the University of Warwick. He plans to continue his research and teaching in French politics since the Vichy regime, with particular interest in the far right. His most recent book, The Extreme Right in France: From Petain to Le Pen, was published by Routledge in 2007.

Angus Laing has been appointed to the new position of dean of the Business School and economics at Loughborough University. Professor Laing is currently head of school at the University of Glasgow Business School, and has previously held the Beneficial Bank chair of marketing at The Open University Business School, where he was also director of research. At Glasgow he played a leading role in securing accreditation by the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business, developing a network of international partnerships, and building links with the business community.

The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama has made three new appointments. Angela Livingstone has been made head of opera, vocal performance and choral conducting. She has been a regular vocal coach at the college and has also worked as an opera coach, instrumental coach and pianist. John Hardy has been appointed head of contemporary music, composition and creative music technology. He has written original music for more than 140 broadcast features, drama series and documentaries and has won four BAFTA Cymru awards. Janet Smith has been appointed as venues manager, and will oversee the expanded college performing facilities. She is currently general manager of St Donats Arts Centre in the Vale of Glamorgan.

David R. Radford of the King's College London Dental Institute has been seconded to the University of Portsmouth Dental Academy as director of clinical studies, visiting consultant and senior lecturer in integrated dental education and multi-professional care. The new academy aims to build on the work of the School of Professionals Complementary to Dentistry, which opened in February 2005. It will include an outreach programme for fifth-year dental students from King's College London's Dental Institute, who will undertake a ten-week placement in Portsmouth.

The chairman of governors at the University of Chichester has stepped down. Richard Bunker, a former director of education for West Sussex County Council, was appointed to the board in 2001 and has been chairman since 2002. In this role he oversaw the institution's successful application for university title. Mr Bunker is succeeded by Derek Jenkins, who was first appointed to the board in January 2009. Mr Jenkins read physics at Bedford College, University of London, before qualifying as a chartered accountant. He was a tax practitioner for nearly 40 years and retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers as senior tax partner in December 2008.

A paediatrician has been honoured with a lifetime achievement award by the British Paediatric Respiratory Society. The accolade recognises George Russell's role in a field he entered early in his career, when paediatrics began moving towards sub-specialisation. Professor Russell, who has spent most of his career working at the Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital and at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, as well as teaching at the University of Aberdeen, said: "I could see that the commonest causes of admission at the children's hospital were chest complaints and that made me think that specialising in respiratory medicine might be a useful thing to do."

A new head has been appointed to the partnership division at the University of Greenwich. Debi Hayes is currently head of the School of Creative Enterprise and chairwoman of the widening participation committee at the University of the Arts, London. She has previously worked as a senior academic at the University of Greenwich Business School, and also as a strategic marketing consultant in the performing arts, advertising and design sectors. In her new role, she will be responsible for three teams covering work-based learning, regional and academic partnerships and access and widening participation.

A professor of computing science has been named the new director of Imperial College London's Institute for Security Science and Technology. Chris Hankin has worked at Imperial for more than 25 years and has held posts as dean of City and Guilds College, pro-rector for research, and deputy principal of the faculty of engineering. Professor Hankin succeeds Sir Keith O'Nions, who has taken up the post of acting rector of Imperial in the wake of Sir Roy Anderson's resignation in November 2009.