Professor Dame Karen Holford DBE was reappointed for a second term to the UUK UK Board from 1 August 2026, having previously served on the Board since 2023. Professor Holford is the Chair of the UUK Membership Committee.
Professor Dame Karen Holford DBE was reappointed for a second term to the UUK UK Board from 1 August 2026, having previously served on the Board since 2023. Professor Holford is the Chair of the UUK Membership Committee.
Professor Holford has been the Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor of Cranfield University since August 2021.
Before this, she was Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Cardiff University. At Cardiff University Professor Holford was Head of the School of Engineering in 2010 and led the College of Physical Sciences and Engineering as the founding Pro Vice-Chancellor 2012 –2017.
Professor Holford has served in many advisory positions across the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and the Royal Academy of Engineering. She currently serves on the Oxford–Cambridge Arc Universities Group Board and was formerly Chair of the Midlands Innovation University Partnership Board.