The Pro-Chancellors deputise for Southampton’s Chancellor, presiding over graduation ceremonies and playing an active role in the future development of the University. They also play a key ambassadorial role for Southampton through activities linked to the University’s strategy.
Read more about how the University is governed and run
Jon Sopel
Jon Sopel is a journalist, broadcaster and author who has enjoyed a distinguished career with the BBC.
A graduate of the University of Southampton in 1981 with a BSc in Politics and Sociology, he currently serves as North America Editor based in Washington, DC.
Following his graduation, Sopel remained at the University as Students’ Union President. In 1983, he joined BBC Radio Solent in Southampton as a reporter and producer and went on to become the chief political correspondent for BBC News 24. He also spent three years as the BBC’s Paris correspondent during the late 1990’s and early 2000’s.
In 2005, Sopel fronted The Politics Show on BBC One interviewing key politicians including Prime Minister’s Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and former US Secretary of State Condolezza Rice. He has also co-presented on the BBC News Channel and fronted a number of radio and television programmes including Newsnight, HARDtalk and The Daily Politics. He wrote an acclaimed biography of Tony Blair and is currently working on a book about his time in America.
Prior to his current role, Sopel was the main presenter on the BBC News Channel programme Global.
In 2007, Sopel was voted Political Journalist of the Year by the Public Affairs Industry. In 2013, he was shortlisted for National Presenter of the Year at the Royal Television Society Journalism Awards.
He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by the University in 2011.
Colin Smith, CBE
Colin Smith is former Director and Group President of Rolls-Royce. He is Chairman of UK Industry Aerospace Growth Partnership and a member of the UK Council for Science and Technology. Colin is also a keen supporter of the University of Southampton’s campaign to establish the UK’s first dedicated Centre for Cancer Immunology.
Colin joined Rolls-Royce in 1974 as an undergraduate apprentice before achieving his degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Southampton.
In 2005, Colin became Director – Engineering & Technology when he was also appointed a member of the Board of Rolls-Royce. Prior to this role, he held a number of senior engineering positions including Director of Research & Technology, building on his previous experience as Director of Engineering & Technology for Civil Aerospace. Colin retired as Group President of Rolls-Royce in 2017.
In June 2012, Colin was awarded a CBE for services to UK engineering. He is a Fellow of The Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, The Royal Aeronautical Society, and The Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He was the recipient of a Royal Academy of Engineering Silver Medal in 2002, which recognises outstanding personal contribution to UK engineering.
Colin has been awarded Honorary Doctorates by the Universities of Derby, Loughborough, Nottingham, Oxford, Southampton and Strathclyde.
Philip Greenish, CBE
Philip was Chair of Council, the University’s governing body, from 2018 until April 2024 having served as a lay member since 2012. He is a member of the Audit Risk and Assurance Committee of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the of Audit Committee of the British Academy.
He was Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering from 2003 until December 2017 following his first career in the Royal Navy, from which he retired as a Rear Admiral. He has served as a Council member of two of the UK’s Research Councils and as a trustee of a number of charities.
He was educated at Cheltenham College and Durham University where he read Engineering Science, graduating in 1972, and he is a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies.
He is a Chartered Engineer, an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology. He was a board member of Engineering UK from 2008 to 2018. He holds an Honorary Doctorate from Huddersfield University. He was awarded a CBE in 2003.