Following 16 years as a member of our University Council, including seven as Chair, Joe Docherty, is stepping down from his voluntary role at the end of this month. As he prepares to hand over the role of Chair, Joe reflects on some of the highlights of his role, in conversation with Lucian Hudson, Executive Director, Communications and External Relations.
I think the memory that most sticks with me is of the telephone conversation I had with the then Vice-Chancellor at the point that COVID had emerged. It was a sunny day in London, and I remember vividly that I was walking from the British Museum down to Embankment when he called me. In that half hour conversation, he told me that he wanted to lock down the University.
Our statisticians were doing their own research into the virus and the data showed how virulent the virus was and that every day mattered. When he called me, there was not even a hint that the country would go into lockdown. Whilst it wasn't a Council decision, he wanted my support, which I gave.
We thought there may have been repercussions at the time, that the decision was not in the corporate interests of the University, but the paramount concern was the welfare of our students and staff. 48 hours after the University, the whole country went into lockdown. That was a very memorable phone call.
I do enjoy the role, but that’s not why I do it. I see it as being a public service. The achievements of the University are the achievements of the people who work there. You can take a reflected joy in times of success, but it’s not your success, it’s a shared success.
What gives me joy, and has always been a feature of my career, is when I have been involved in recruiting people who have gone on to excel and grow in their roles. The University has a strong leadership team, and that is going to be key in navigating through the next few years.
Whilst in the role of Chair, I've worked directly with two Vice-Chancellors and had excellent working relationships with them both. I’ve enjoyed the open, trust-based conversations we’ve had. I think it can be a very lonely job being a Vice-Chancellor, so as Chair you need to be a safe space – someone for others to bounce ideas off.
Overseeing the recruitment of our new Chancellor was also something that I enjoyed, especially as it isn’t something that falls to every chair. I am pleased by the warmth with which her appointment was met and the way in which she has leaned into the role, making it her own.
Without doubt I would say the biggest challenge is the financial crisis facing the higher education sector which has emerged in the last few years. This will be the primary focus of all governing bodies over the next five years.
We are a very popular university with a great brand and reputation, but we are not immune to the challenges. Members of University Council will need to ensure that the executive is supported and has the right balance of skills, experience and capacity to deliver the change that’s needed.
There have been times when Durham has perhaps not engaged to the same extent regionally as it does now but has focused more on being an international player. That is now changing, with the Vice-Chancellor and senior leadership team very much focused on widening access and participation and on being a global university in the North East of England. They are engaging very carefully with the Mayor and the local community to leverage the impact of our activities.
The vision is to embed the University in the region without losing sight of that international focus. These are not in conflict. We have some way to go to achieve this, but I think we are already making ground.
My only regret is to not have seen our students and staff in action more.
I will miss the ability to wander into events and be bowled over. You realise just how brilliant some of our students and staff are in the fields that they excel in; there’s just this talent that is always live. It is a real privilege witnessing and being part of that. If I had any advice for my successor, it would be to see more of the students and the staff doing what they do brilliantly.
Joe’s last Council meeting is on Tuesday 15 July. We would like to thank him for all his work, dedication and enthusiasm throughout his time as a member and then as Chair of Council. We wish him all the best for the future.
Caroline Johnstone has been appointed as our new Chair of Council and will take up the role in August.
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