Sir Adrian Webb

Born in Newport, Wales, Adrian attended St Julian’s High School before going to Birmingham University, where he obtained a 1st Class Honours degree in 1965. He obtained an MSc (Econ) at London School of Economics (LSE), where he began his academic career as a Lecturer in 1966; he was appointed Director of Research at the Personal Social Services Council in 1974. He was appointed to a full Professorship at Loughborough University in 1976.

He moved into university management in the 1990s, including various roles at Loughborough University before being appointed as the first Vice-Chancellor of Glamorgan University in 1993; he retired in 2005. He was knighted for services to Higher Education in 2000.

Throughout his career Professor Webb has had numerous advisory and committee roles: in local and central government (including HM Treasury, Department of Health and Social Services, Department of Education); the Economic and Social Research Council; and the voluntary sector. He represented Wales as a member of the Dearing Committee on the future of Higher Education in the UK.

He has had many roles in Welsh public life, including: Chair of the Pontypridd and Rhondda NHS Trust 2005-2008; Non-Executive Director on the Management Board of the Welsh Assembly Government 2003-2008; advisor to the Ethnic Business Support Programme; and Chair of Tenovus (the cancer charity) 2008 - 2011. He was a member of the Beecham Review of the Delivery of Public Services in Wales, published as Beyond Boundaries and Chair of the Review of Post 14 Education in Wales, published as Promise and Performance.

He chaired the Wales Employment and Skills Board from 2008 to December 2011 and is the Wales Commissioner on the UK Commission for Employment and Skills until March 2012; he is a member of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council and chairs the Welsh Committee. He commenced new roles - as Chair, Big Lottery Fund Wales Committee and member of the UK Board; and as a Non-Executive Director, Welsh Government Board - in January 2012. He is a Wales Committee member of RSPB. He was a founding trustee of the Bevan Foundation and is a board member of the Institute of Welsh Affairs (IWA). He is a Visiting Professor at Cardiff Business School.