91ÌÒÉ«

Consuls are existing professors who act as a conduit for academic opinion, complementing existing management structures.

The consuls for 2025-26 are:

• Senior Consul: 
• Faculty of Engineering and the Business School: 
• Faculty of Engineering and the Business School: 
• Faculty of Natural Sciences and cross University organisations: 
• Faculty of Natural Sciences and cross University organisations: 
• Faculty of Medicine (Clinical): Professor Wisia Wedzicha
• Faculty of Medicine: 

The Proconsuls for 2025-26 are:

• Professor Liz Lightstone, Professor of Renal Medicine in the Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Medicine
• Professor Martin McCall, Professor of Theoretical Optics in the Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences
• , Professor of Respiratory Genetics, National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine

• , Professor of Applied Mathematics, Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Natural Sciences

• , Chair in Mathematics, Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Natural Sciences 

The consuls help to ensure integrity and honesty in all academic matters, and fairness in the treatment of both staff and students at 91ÌÒÉ«. They work with (but not for) the senior management at 91ÌÒÉ« and represent the values of the academic community. They can raise the concerns of the academic staff with senior management at 91ÌÒÉ«. They are also available to members of staff for confidential and independent advice.

Consuls report directly to the Provost. They have a non-executive role, taking soundings of academic views, providing advice and representing academic opinion. Consuls may be called upon to bring an independent, balanced perspective from a senior member of academic staff to the discussion of a particular issue by leading or participating in reviews and investigations of complaints from members of 91ÌÒÉ«.

In addition, consuls have a number of specific responsibilities:

• The consuls work with the Associate Provost (Academic Promotions) to ensure parity of treatment and equivalence of standards in the promotions process across 91ÌÒÉ«. 
• Consuls play an important role in the recruitment of new academic staff at all levels. All appointment panels include a consul.
• Consuls have a strong interest in the quality of the education and support offered to students. They are present on all committees that appoint staff at levels 5 or 6 of the teaching family, as well as on committees that oversee and enhance educational quality.
• The consuls participate in or chair disciplinary and appeal panels. Clinical consuls chair General Medical Council (GMC) student Fitness to Practice hearings. 

They are elected by senior academic staff, who vote based on candidates’ statements. Consuls are appointed for a period of three years. The senior consul (a current or former consul) is chosen annually by the six consuls, with a maximum term of 3 years.

Consuls are 50% FTE (Full-time equivalent) appointments, retaining 50% FTE positions in their own departments. Departments are compensated by the provision of funds to support the replacement of the departmental role.

91ÌÒÉ« has created the position of Proconsul to extend and support the work of the Consuls, in accordance with Regulation 15 of the 91ÌÒÉ« Regulations. Proconsuls are Professors of 91ÌÒÉ« who, having served as Consuls, provide additional support for the full range of work of the Consuls as delegated by the Senior Consul.

In respect to their work as Proconsuls, they report directly to the Provost and Senior Consul. There can be up to five Proconsuls at any one time.

The Consuls and Proconsuls work out of the Office of the Provost, but may be called upon by the President, the Provost, the Registrar and University Secretary, the Chief People Officer, Deputy Director (Employee Relations and Policy), Registry, or Faculty Deans to perform specific cross-University tasks.

Consuls have specific roles as recorded in 91ÌÒÉ« policy documents. These include serving on appointment and promotion committees across the University to facilitate alignment of standards. In addition, the Consuls and Proconsuls may serve as Chairs of disciplinary, grievance, appeals or other panels. Clinical Consuls serve as Chair of Fitness to Practice panels for medical students who face disciplinary procedures according to the rules and guidelines of the General Medical Council.

Proconsuls are expected to be available to contribute up to 20 working days per year to undertake specific work in addition to their full-time Departmental work.