Welcome to new Vice-Chancellor

A very warm welcome to Professor Stephen Toope, who this morning became the 346th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, succeeding Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz

He was formally admitted to the office of Vice-Chancellor at a ceremony held today in the University’s Senate House.

The new Vice-Chancellor was previously Director of the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs. Between 2006 and 2014 he served as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia.

In his inaugural address to the University, Professor Toope, a Trinity College alumnus, said: “This day feels like a return to familiar ground: my time as a PhD student at Cambridge was personally rewarding and career-defining. What I learned then has stayed with me, and served me well, ever since. So I am thrilled to return to serve an institution from which I gained so much.”

The University carried out an international search for the position of Vice-Chancellor. The Search Committee was headed up by the Master of Jesus College, Professor Ian White, who on announcing the outcome of the search, said: “This appointment builds on seven years of Sir Leszek’s visionary leadership. Professor Toope has impeccable academic credentials, a longstanding involvement with higher education, strong leadership experience and an excellent research background.”