Dame Julie Lydon DBE, OBE

Experience

Julie became Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Wales on 11 April 2013, having previously held the role of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glamorgan from April 2010 until her retirement on 31 August 2021.

Following completion of an honours degree in Economics, she worked for the Tube Investments group for ten years in a variety of management roles. She has a strong reputation of academic leadership, including the successful negotiation and delivery of a merger which resulted in the formation of her current university and in curriculum design, widening access, partnerships, and quality. The University has undertaken and delivered on a number of significant developments – including a major programme of campus realignment which saw the closure of a campus, the movement of approximately 25% of the student and staff population and investment to enable organic growth, research and innovation developments.

At a UK level, Julie led work on behalf of UUK and in partnership with the CBI to explore opportunities and developments to increase flexible learning opportunities including work-based learning. The findings informed the Augar Review (2020) and Westminster government’s plans for expansion of learning opportunities and individual learning accounts. She was instrumental in gaining support from VCs and Chairs of Welsh universities, staff trades unions, NUS Wales and HEFCW for the ground-breaking work on governance (Camm Review published in autumn 2019).

Her research interests and publications are in the fields of organisational change and collaboration within higher education. She was Chair of Universities Wales (2017-21), Vice President Wales (2017-2021) and a board member of Universities UK (2015-2021), University Alliance (2010- 2021), National Council for Universities and Businesses (2014-2021), HESA (2014-2021), CBI Wales (2010-2021) and Newport Economic Network (2010-2021).

Julie was awarded a Damehood in the Queen's New Year's Honours in 2022 for her services to higher education.