Professor Dame Judith Petts
Biography
Professor Dame Judith Petts retired in September 2024 as Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Plymouth, a post she held for almost 9 years. In a 45-year career in higher education, senior roles included as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Transfer at both Birmingham and Southampton Universities.
She has held numerous external appointments including as a member of the Council of BBSRC (2014-18) and NERC (2000-6); the Science Advisory Council of Defra (2011-16), and the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (2006-11). She was a Director of the Heart of the South-West Local Economic Partnership (2016-24). She chaired the Universities UK Climate Action Steering Group. She is a member of the Board of the Marine Management Organisation and a Trustee of the Marine Biological Association.
She was appointed CBE in 2012, for services to Scientific Research, and Dame Commander in the King’s Birthday Honours 2024, for services to Higher Education and Sustainability.
Non-executive Board Member, MMO
Non-executive Board Members of the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) have collective responsibility for the strategic direction and overall performance of the organisation, ensuring that it is properly and effectively managed and providing stewardship for the public funds entrusted to it.