UCEM appoints a new Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees
Posted on: 3 April, 2025
UCEM is delighted to announce that its new Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees will be Professor Nick Braisby with effect from 3 April 2025. Nick takes over the role from Dr Stephen Jackson who stands down after 9 years on the UCEM Board of Trustees, the latter 6 of which were as UCEM’s first ever Vice Chair.
Professor Braisby joined UCEM’s Board of Trustees in November 2020. He stepped down from his role as Vice-Chancellor of Buckinghamshire New University in 2025, having successfully led the University since 2018. He holds non-executive roles across the higher education and health and social care sectors, and has been a steadfast champion of equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives, including the creation of the national pledge scheme in support of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. Nick is a chartered psychologist and associate fellow of the British Psychological Society. He studied natural sciences at the University of Cambridge, read for a PhD in cognitive science at the University of Edinburgh, and held a British Academy postdoctoral research fellowship at the London School of Economics. Nick was appointed to the Board of Trustees in November 2020, chairs the Nominations and Governance Committee and sits on the Finance Committee, Audit Committee and Academic Assurance Committee.
Nick commented: “I am very proud to serve as Vice-Chair of UCEM, supporting the Board and Executive Team in achieving their strategic aims and ambitions. UCEM is an extremely well-led, pioneering educational institution, and one that makes a real difference. Playing a leading role in education for the built environment, it has enormous impact through its championing of sustainability, diversity, and close collaboration with industry. I am delighted to be helping UCEM in the next exciting phase of its journey.”
Chair of the Board, Peter McCrea OBE, commented: “I am absolutely delighted we have appointed Nick as Vice Chair of the Board. His expertise in higher education will provide a valuable perspective within the institutional leadership team as we continue progress towards realising our long-term vision. Nick has big shoes to fill, and I would personally like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Stephen Jackson for his steadfast commitment to UCEM as he steps down from the Board after nine years. His wisdom and insights will be very much missed.”
UCEM Vice Chancellor, Ashley Wheaton, said: “I am thrilled Nick has taken on the role of Vice Chair of UCEM. As a longstanding Trustee he has a comprehensive understanding of UCEM and of the wider higher education sector which will be invaluable as we continue to evolve into the centre of excellence for built environment education. Nick always provides sound advice and objective judgement and through his highly distinguished career in higher education is a huge asset to the Board of Trustees. I am looking forward to collaborating with him to deliver our vision and am sure he will make a huge impact in this role.”
Ashley further commented: “UCEM is deeply indebted to Stephen for his long service and dedication to the role of Trustee over the last nine years, the last six of which he has spent as UCEM’s first ever Vice Chair of the Board. His support for the leadership team and the many strategic initiatives that have been delivered during his tenure have been unwavering. He has provided expertise, intelligence and invaluable academic scrutiny and he will be very much missed by us all and we are hugely grateful to have benefitted from his experience for so long.”
Outgoing Vice Chair, Stephen Jackson, added: “It has been a privilege and an honour to serve as Vice-Chair for the past six years at a time of significant growth and development at the institution and the achievement of full University status. I shall continue to follow the further evolution of the institution and wish all students and staff every success in the future.”
