Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor

The Chancellor is the University’s ceremonial head and one of its most prominent ambassadors, while our Pro-Chancellor plays a major role in the oversight of University business and deputises in many duties in the absence of the Chancellor.

Chancellor

The Chancellor is involved in activities which promote the University to the wider community and plays a key part in some of the University’s important business. These duties include presiding over meetings of the General Assembly and over congregations of the University for the conferment of degrees, but do not involve day-to-day executive management or the running of the University.

At ºÚÁÏÍø³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ, the post is held for seven years. The Chancellor is elected by members of the General Assembly and the Alumni Association, together with all University staff eligible to hold superannuable appointments.

The role is an honorary position and cannot, therefore, be held by anyone in paid employment of the University.

Nazir Afzal, Chancellor

Former Chief Crown Prosecutor for North West England, Nazir Afzal OBE became Chancellor of ºÚÁÏÍø³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ in 2022.

During his legal career, Nazir prosecuted some of the highest profile criminal cases in the UK and was ultimately responsible for more than 100,000 prosecutions each year. Among these was the successful prosecution of the so-called ‘Rochdale grooming gang’, which led to vital changes in child protection.

His expertise in safeguarding and ethics has seen Nazir take up positions including National Adviser on Gender-Based Violence for the Welsh Government; trustee of both the WOW (World of Women) Foundation and the Association of Safeguarding Partners; and the first ever independent Chair of the Catholic Church’s Safeguarding Agency. Nazir also sits on both the National Police Chiefs’ Ethics Committee and the Independent Press Standards Organisation.

In addition to this, Nazir assists the governments of Somalia, Ukraine and Pakistan on Rule of Law reform and dedicates a considerable amount of his time to charitable work.  He has published a memoir, The Prosecutor, and produces the popular true crime podcast Fear of Favour.

In 2005, Nazir was awarded an OBE by the Queen for his work in criminal justice. Two years later, he received the UK government’s Justice Award and most recently he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at Pride of Birmingham 2022.

Tel: +44 (0) 161 306 6010

Email: chancellor@manchester.ac.uk

Former Chancellor Lemn Sissay will be taking up an Honorary Chair in Creative Writing at ºÚÁÏÍø³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ. 

Pro-Chancellor

The Pro-Chancellor plays a major role in the oversight of University business and deputises in many duties in the absence of the Chancellor.

Appointed by the General Assembly, the Pro-Chancellor must not be a paid member of University staff. Term of office is four years, with a maximum of one term of reappointment.

Jim Hancock

Originally from Plymouth, Jim moved to ºÚÁÏÍø³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ in 1967 to study at the University and graduated in 1970. During his time as a student, he spent a year as President of the Students' Union.

Jim’s career was in journalism and broadcasting. He was a Westminster Lobby Correspondent for the BBC and Independent Radio News, but most of his career was spent in the north-west. He was Granada TV’s Political Correspondent from 1987 to 1994 and Political Editor of BBC North West from 1998 to 2006. He is now a conference host and media trainer.

Jim has been a long-standing supporter and friend of the University and has served on both the Board of Governors and General Assembly and is an active member of the Alumni Association.

Tel: +44 (0) 161 306 6010
Email: president@manchester.ac.uk