Steve West, vice-chancellor of the University of the West of England, has been elected the next president of Universities UK.

Professor West, who has led UWE since 2008, will succeed Julia Buckingham at the head of the sector representative body in August. He was elected following a ballot of vice-chancellors.

He said UUK played “an essential role, harnessing universities’ collective influence to ensure the sector can continue to transform lives through top-class education, research and enterprise”.

“I firmly believe that together we are stronger, and intend to do all I can to ensure universities work as a team to ensure the UK’s higher education sector remains world leading at this time of great change,” Professor West said.

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Professor West, a podiatrist, held roles at King’s College London and at the University of Huddersfield before joining UWE as dean of the Faculty of Health and professor of health and social care. He served in a number of senior posts at the institution before becoming its vice-chancellor.

Professor West has also served on the board of the English regulator, the Office for Students, and chaired the University Alliance mission group. A champion of mental health and well-being issues in the sector, he has chaired UUK’s mental health in higher education advisory group.

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Alistair Jarvis, UUK’s chief executive, said Professor West was a “successful and experienced leader, widely respected across the sector”.

“Steve understands the strengths and diversity of our sector and has a depth of experience in higher education policy. He is widely recognised for leading sector-wide efforts to improve support for student mental health and well-being, which is more important than ever,” Mr Jarvis said.

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com