image: Professor Mark E Smith CBE
Credit: John Cairns
Diamond Light Source, the UK’s national synchrotron, is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Mark E Smith CBE, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Planning and Resources at the University of Oxford, as its new Chair. He succeeds our interim Chair Professor Michael Fitzpatrick.
Professor Smith brings a wealth of experience and expertise in both scientific research and senior leadership roles. He is a renowned nuclear magnetic resonance and materials physicist. His research has focused on the development of solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques to inorganic materials, publishing more than 400 papers and book chapters.
He studied natural sciences at Churchill College, Cambridge, before completing a PhD in Physics at the University of Warwick. After research appointments in Germany and Australia, he held academic roles at the Universities of Kent and Warwick, where he was appointed Professor of Magnetic Resonance in 2002.
Alongside his research career, Professor Smith has held numerous senior leadership positions in higher education. He held several executive positions at the University of Warwick, including Deputy Vice-Chancellor. He was Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University from 2012 to 2019 and President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton from 2019 to 2026.
He was awarded a CBE for Services to Research and Higher Education in the 2019 Birthday Honours.
Professor Smith’s is currently Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Planning and Resources at the University of Oxford, where he leads planning, resource allocation and the university’s estate and capital programme.
Professor Smith has contributed extensively to national higher education and research policy through appointments including Senior Independent Member of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Council, Chair of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), board member of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, and member of the Board of Jisc. He serves as Chair of Advance HE and as a council member of Research England.
Speaking about his appointment, Professor Smith said: “I am really honoured to take on the role of Chair at Diamond Light Source given its national and international scientific importance. Diamond is a major contributor to the scientific, engineering and industry research and innovation landscape.
I am particularly looking forward to working with colleagues across Diamond and its stakeholders to help shape its future direction and ensure that its resources, expertise and capabilities are aligned to its strategic priorities. I hope that the experience and perspective I have gained through senior leadership roles at four research-intensive universities will enable me to make a valuable contribution in this role. Above all, I look forward to supporting Diamond’s continued success and helping to ensure that it remains at the forefront of international research and innovation.”
Professor Gianluigi Botton, CEO of Diamond Light Source, said: "We warmly welcome Professor Smith to the role of Chair of the Board of Directors. We look forward to working with him as he helps to guide and advise the organisation as we enter our 20th year of operations and continue with the Diamond-II upgrade. Professor Smith’s extensive experience in university leadership, as well as appointments at high-level research institutions will translate into invaluable contributions to the direction of Diamond.
On behalf of everyone at Diamond, I would also like to thank Professor Michael Fitzpatrick for his time as interim Chair and his continued dedication to Diamond as a valued member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the AFRC."
Method of Research
News article
Subject of Research
Not applicable