The Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor
Robert Allison CBE, the recently retired Vice Chancellor and President of Loughborough
University, to its Board of Trustees. Professor Allison will officially take up the post at the
Trust’s next Board meeting on 25 November 2021.

Having accelerated Loughborough University from an average national league table position
of 27 to the top 10 in just eight years, Professor Allison is an expert in leadership, vision
setting, commercial acumen and delivering transformational change.

As senior ambassador of a leading, research-intensive university, Professor Allison has
established partnerships with higher education institutions around the world. He oversaw a
period of significant expansion, including the opening of Loughborough University London on
the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a project that has returned a surplus of 12% on
operating costs and met Council approved targets two years ahead of plan. During his time
at the University there has been significant expansion of the Science and Enterprise Park on
the Loughborough site, including its designation by Government as an Enterprise Zone and
with it significant investment. He and his colleagues secured two Government funded
national centres: National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine and National Centre for
Aerothermal and Combustion Technology. They worked in collaboration with the Ministry of
Defence, National Health Service and The Black Stork Charity, to secure Loughborough as
the lead university partner with the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre, Stanford
Hall.

Professor Allison was awarded a CBE earlier this year for services to Higher Education, and
supporting young people’s talent, equality and achievement and holds the Council for
Advancement and Support Education (CASE) Leadership Award, for outstanding leadership.

Alongside his role at Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, Professor Allison holds a number of
external appointments including Chair of Trustees, St Philip’s Centre, Leicester, Trustee of
the Oval Multi Academy Learning Trust and Honorary Canon Professor at Leicester
Cathedral. He is a member of several speciality advisory groups in UK higher education,
such as the national Advisory Committee on Degree Awarding Powers.

Professor Allison said: “Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, like Loughborough University, is a
forward-thinking organisation and I am honoured to be joining the Trustees, in particular to
support the Trust’s role in education.”

“I enjoy supporting leadership teams through constructive challenge and I look forward to
working closely with fellow Trustees, the Chief Executive and others to develop and deliver
its strategy. I recognise the importance of bringing an external perspective and will use my
experience to help the Trust implement its ambitious plans.”

Sir Trevor Soar, Chairman of the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, said: “I am very pleased
to welcome Professor Allison as a Trustee of Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. As a charity
with “learning” as one of its core objectives, Bob will bring a wealth of experience and
expertise from the education sector to our Board and I look forward to working with him.”

Professor Allison will replace Murray Hallam on retirement, Murray has served on the Board
of Trustees since 2013 and has contributed significant expertise during his tenure.

ENDS