Simon Fanshawe installed as Rector
The author, broadcaster and activist has officially been installed as the 55th University Rector.
The Principal and other University representatives joined Mr Fanshawe’s family and friends at a ceremony at the University’s Playfair Library on Wednesday 16 October.
Following his installation, the new Rector hosted a discussion on artificial intelligence with Professor Kenneth Baillie, Academic Consultant in Critical Care Medicine, and Professor Sotos Tsaftaris, Canon Medical/RAEng Chair in Healthcare AI.
I am very honoured to have been made the 55th Rector of the University. In addition to an intellectual love of Edinburgh – the so-called ‘capital of the mind’ and ‘heart of the Enlightenment’ – and of the value of Higher Education, I also spent a good part of my childhood here. It is a great privilege and during my time here, I pledge to work with the University community to embrace and promote the free exchange of ideas, bring about improvements to student experience and support, help build a greater sense of academic community and facilitate bridges across any divides between members of our community.
Rector role
The Rector’s primary role is to preside at the University Court, championing the views of students and staff during Court’s decision-making processes.
In recent times, Rectors have also served as a point of contact for the University community.
Created in the 19th century by the Universities Scotland Act 1858, the Rector is nominated and elected by students and staff and is not an appointment of the executive or governing body of the University.
Previous Rectors include Scottish bacteriologist Sir Alexander Fleming, television presenter Muriel Gray and former Prime Ministers Sir Winston Churchill and Gordon Brown.
Mr Fanshawe took up his office in March 2024 following an uncontested election. He replaced Debora Kayembe, a human rights lawyer, who held the position of rector from 2021.
Varied career
Mr Fanshawe is a consultant and practitioner in the field of diversity, author, broadcaster and activist.
He was one of the six original co-founders of Stonewall in 1989. In 2011, he co-founded the international charity Kaleidoscope, which campaigns for the human rights of LGBTI+ people around the world.
A former comedian, he won the Perrier Award for Comedy at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1989 and he served on the Board of the Fringe Society from 1986 – 2012.
Mr Fanshawe has previous experience of working in higher education and was formerly Chair of the Governing Council of the University of Sussex from 2007 to 2013.
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Image credit - Neil Hanna