Executive
The Vice-Chancellor leads the organisation, acting under explicit delegations and answers to the Chair and the Board of Governors. With the Executive Team, the Vice-Chancellor develops the strategic approach for the university.
The Executive Team ensure delivery of the University’s mission and individually carry out specific responsibilities determined by the Vice-Chancellor
Professor Michael Driscoll, BA CCIM FRSA
Vice-Chancellor
Born and brought up in Warrington, Michael Driscoll attended Trent Polytechnic (now Nottingham Trent University) to study for a BA in Economics. After four years at Sheffield University in research posts, he was appointed as a lecturer in Economics at Birmingham University in 1977, where he remained until joining Middlesex Polytechnic as Professor of Economics and Head of School of Economics in 1989. During his time at Birmingham, he spent three years on secondments at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development in Paris.
Professor Driscoll was appointed Dean of Middlesex University Business School in 1991, Pro Vice-Chancellor in 1993 and Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 1995. In connection with his role as Vice-Chancellor, Professor Driscoll is on the Board of Universities UK, he has chaired the Universities UK Strategy Group on Sustainable Development, been a member of the IT Strategy Group and is a member of the Longer Term Strategy Group. He is a member of the London Higher Steering Committee which represents all of the 41 HEIs in London and Chairs the National Higher and Further Education 2012 Steering Group.
Professor Margaret House, BSc PhD
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic
Margaret House first joined Middlesex Polytechnic as a PhD research student in 1978 and returned as a post doctoral research fellow in 1986. She was appointed Dean of the School of Health and Social Sciences in 2002 and became Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic in 2005.
Professor House has gained a national and international reputation for research into the management and monitoring of river water quality. She was responsible for the development of the House Index of Water Quality. Her present research ranges between modelling the impact of forestry on Loch Ness; the role of ethnic minorities in the implementation of Agenda 21; and water harvesting in Spain. She is a member of the Higher Education Academic National Teaching Fellow Award Panel.
Margaret is responsible for academic strategy as well as quality assurance, learning and quality enhancement, and academic partnerships. This includes working with UK schools and colleges in supporting and developing a range of awards and qualifications. She leads for the University on the development of collaborative links with local and national partners. Margaret is also Chair of the Teaching and Learning Committee which oversees the University's approach to innovative teaching, learning and assessment.
Professor House is the Executive lead on student experience and employability. She is also responsible for the Dubai Campus and the Institute for Work Based Learning.
Melvyn Keen MA Oxon FCA
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Finance and External Relations
Melvyn Keen joined Middlesex University in September 2001. He has an engineering degree from Oxford and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
After qualifying as a chartered accountant he became a consultant with Accenture and Price Waterhouse Coopers where his work for a range of blue chip organisations included the implementation of financial systems, change management programmes and business process reviews. He has also held senior financial roles in industry and professional practice and was interim Finance Director at Cambridge University before joining Middlesex.
As well as his oversight of financial strategy, Melvyn is Deputy Chief Executive and is responsible for the Mauritius Campus. Melvyn also has responsibility for business development, fundraising and alumni.
Professor Waqar Ahmad, BA PhD
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise
Waqar Ahmad’s portfolio covers research, the management of the University's academic Schools, and knowledge transfer. In addition he acts as the champion for equal opportunities and ethics across the University.
Waqar’s previous academic career was at Leeds (Professor and Director of the Centre for Research in Primary Care), Bradford and York universities. For three years, he was the Chief Social Scientist in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), where he launched the ODPM/ESRC Fellowship and Studentship Scheme and the ODPM Research Networks; this model of research partnership between Whitehall and the ESRC has since been emulated by several government departments.
Waqar has served on the ESRC Strategic Research Board, been chair (e.g. RCUK New Dynamics of Ageing), member of numerous ESRC research programmes, NHS R&D committees, and the Disability and Social Care Committee of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. He chairs the Ethnicity committee of the ESRC funded English Household Longitudinal Survey (EHLS), and serves on the EHLS’ Scientific Advisory Committee and on the MRC’s National Prevention Initiative. Waqar’s personal research has been funded by, among others, RCUK, NHS R&D, the JRF, BHF, Cancer Research Campaign and the Department of Health.
Professor Ahmad is a major contributor to literature in sociology of health and social policy, with outputs published in leading journals (Sociology, Sociology of Health and Illness, Social Science and Medicine, the Lancet), and highly cited books (‘Race’ and Health in Contemporary Britain). He serves on the editorial boards of Sociology of Health and Illness, Critical Public Health and Health and Social Care in the Community. His latest book (with Hannah Bradby), Ethnicity, Health and Health Care, was published by Blackwell Publishing (2008). Waqar is currently working on an edited book on Muslims, ‘Britishness’ and Citizenship (working title) and a study of British Muslim elite.
Steve Knight MA FCIPD FCMI
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Director of Corporate Services
Steve Knight joined Middlesex University in June 2005 following a career in the Royal Air Force and the Ministry of Defence, during which he had responsibilities for the delivery of a wide range of corporate services in both the United Kingdom and overseas.
He is responsible for steering the professional support services strategies for the University, including the estate development strategy. He is also responsible for the delivery of major University infrastructure projects, including campus developments. He has responsibility for the effective delivery of Corporate Services for Middlesex University including Estates and Facilities Management Services (including Project Management Services), Learning Resource Services, Human Resources Services, Computing and Communications Systems Services, and Academic Registry Services. He also leads on the development of outsourced back-office support functions.
Steve is also responsible for the office of the Clerk to the Board of Governors and is the Executive lead on value for money within the University.
Katie Bell BSc
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Global Marketing and Recruitment
Katie joined Middlesex University in 2009 following a career in brand marketing for Nestle UK and GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, most recently as Vice-President of Global Digital Marketing at GlaxoSmithKline. Katie has also been the Director of the European University Business School in Barcelona, Spain.
Katie is responsible for admissions, global marketing and corporate communications, including all student recruitment. Katie also has responsibility for the University's network of international offices.
