GEO welcomes new Pro-Vice-Provost (International)

15 January 2020

A change of roles in UCL’s Global Engagement Office sees Professor Dame Hazel Genn hand over the Pro-Vice-Provost (International) function to Professor Deenan Pillay.

Professor Deenan Pillay (UCL Division of Infection and Immunity) is preparing to begin his three-year term as UCL Pro-Vice-Provost International (PVPI), succeeding Professor Dame Hazel Genn as agreed on her appointment in February 2019.

From 3 February 2020, Deenan will take on the PVPI role, providing engaging, inspirational and strategic academic leadership for UCL’s two academic networks, which help to implement the Global Engagement Strategy (GES).

He will ensure continued strong academic engagement for all international objectives, working closely with the Vice-Provost International, Dr Dame Nicola Brewer, including on the consultation on the new GES for the next five years (2020-2025).

Deenan, who has a strong record of global collaboration, is keen to contribute to the consultation and thinking on how global engagement can support UCL’s academic mission, and how the 2020-25 Global Engagement Strategy can add value to the important role that UCL academics play.

Until recently, Deenan was seconded from UCL as Director of the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), where he focused on clinical, population and laboratory-based studies to limit the spread of HIV.

He said: “I thank Professor Hazel Genn for her recent leadership as PVPI. I am looking forward to working with Nicola, the GEO and colleagues across the breadth of UCL excellence to help build further on the first five years of our strategy to ensure sustainable global significance and impact. As a large, world-class, multi-disciplinary institution, we have a responsibility to harness our strengths to address the biggest challenges facing our world.”

Hazel, former Dean of Laws and Founder and Director of the UCL Centre for Access to Justice, took over from Dr Karen Edge and Professor Gudrun Moore, who together became UCL’s first Pro-Vice-Provost International in early 2016.

Hazel said: “I have greatly enjoyed working with UCL’s Global Engagement Office and our excellent network of Regional Pro-Vice-Provosts and Vice Deans International. It has been a privilege to be more involved in UCL’s global engagement. This is an important time as the GEO reviews its strategy and I am confident that Deenan, with his breadth of experience, will make a very important contribution working with the academic team in guiding the next phase of UCL’s GES.”

Nicola added: “Hazel has been a fantastic Pro-Vice-Provost International, providing energetic, visionary leadership during her time working with GEO. We thank her for all she has done and are keen to keep her closely associated with UCL’s next GES! We are delighted to be welcoming Deenan to the role. With his international profile and exceptional academic background, he is brilliantly placed to build on Hazel’s achievements as PVPI.”