must be lay members of the council. While there is no formal requirement for alumni representation on the council, six of the appointment lay members (including the deputy chair) were Durham graduates as of the 2024/25 academic year.
The chancellor is the ceremonial head of the university and one of the statutory officers. The current chancelor is Fiona Hill, who was appointed in November 2022 in succession to Sir Thomas Allen and took office in June 2023. The chancellor is appointed by convocation for "a term of up to five years" with "no scope for re-appointment". The role of the chancellor is ceremonial, being to confer degrees and to act as an ambassador for the university; the vice-chancellor and warden is the chief executive officer of the university and is appointed by council after consultation with senate. As warden, the vice-chancellor is responsible for the 15 maintained colleges of the university. Since January 2022 this has been Karen O'Brien, the university's first female vice-chancellor and warden, succeeding Stuart Corbridge who retired in July 2021. The other statutory officers of the university are the university secretary and the chief financial officer, while other (non-statutory) officers established by council are the deputy vice-chancellor and provost, the pro-vice-chancellors, the executive deans of the faculties, and the chief operating officer.
The day-to-day running of the university is in the hands of the University Executive Committee, which is established by the ordinances as a joint committee of council and senate. It supports the vice-chancellor and warden in their statutory responsibility for the performance and strategic direction of the university and is chaired by the vice-chancellor and warden.
Convocation is the assembly of the university, with the purpose of discussing the latest developments and future plans of the university, receiving the university's annual report, and appointing the chancellor. Membership of convocation includes the chancellor, vice-chancellor and warden, …
