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RT. HON. THE BARONESS CHAPMAN OF DARLINGTON
Teesside University's National Horizons Centre (NHC) hosted Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he unveiled plans to relieve pressure on the NHS.
Two new senior leaders at Teesside University are making history as the first women to be appointed to their positions. Rt. Hon. The Baroness Chapman of Darlington, the former MP for Darlington and a leading figure within the Labour Party, has been appointed as the University's new Chancellor.
Rt. Hon. The Baroness Chapman of Darlington, the former MP for Darlington and a leading figure within the Labour Party, has been appointed as the University's new Chancellor.
Ada Burns has taken over as the new chair of Teesside University's Board of Governors. Together, the pair will help drive forward the University's strategic ambitions.
Baroness Jenny Chapman was the member of parliament for her hometown of Darlington between 2010 and 2019, during which time she served on the Labour front benches as Shadow Minister for Prisons, Shadow Minister for Childcare and Early Years and Shadow Minister for Exiting the European Union.
In 2020, she was made a life peer and sits in the House of Lords as the Opposition Cabinet Spokesperson, as well as Shadow Minister of State at the Cabinet Office.
Baroness Chapman said: ‘Teesside University’s mission to raise aspirations among our young people and provide them with ambition, inspiration and opportunity aligns with the causes I have fought for throughout my political career. I am proud to join Team Teesside and am committed to doing all I can to help the University continue its remarkable work.’
with ambition, inspiration and opportunity aligns with the causes I have fought for throughout my political career. I am proud to join Team Teesside and am committed to doing all I can to help the University continue its remarkable work.
Prior to joining Teesside University as a governor, Ada Burns was the first female chief executive in Darlington Borough Council’s 150-year history.
The NHC, which opened in 2019, is the University's £22.3m centre of excellence for the biosciences and healthcare sector. Mr Sunak toured the facilities and met student nurses and paramedics from the University's School of Health & Life Sciences.
Originally from Ireland, Ada moved to the region in 2005 and has been a Teesside University Board member since 2019.
‘I’m very proud to be the chair of the Board of Governors,’ said Ada.
‘The Board plays an important role in agreeing where we are going as a university and makes sure we deliver on the mission that we have set. Dr Warren Harrison is Teesside's new Pro Vice-Chancellor (International).
'This institution transforms lives and is transforming economies in the Tees Valley, and globally.'
Formerly the Dean of Teesside University International Business School, Dr Harrison succeeds Dr David Bell, who retired at the end of March.
He also took time to hear about the industry-focused research taking place at the NHC – including the utilisation of ground-breaking technology to diagnose and detect cancer cells and the development of innovative medical diagnostic equipment – praising the commercial application of this work [See page 26].
commercial application of this work [See page 26].
During his visit, he outlined his Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, which included thousands more hospital beds, 800 new ambulances and the opening of ‘virtual wards’ which will see frail and elderly patients and those with respiratory conditions treated in the home. The use of video technology and wearable devices to monitor patients were central to the plans, with officials saying that up to 20% of hospital admissions are avoidable with the right care in place. The plans link well with Teesside University’s strengths and ambitions around community-focused and integrated healthcare, as well as the use of innovative technologies and practices emanating from NHC research.
The plans link well with Teesside University’s strengths and ambitions around community-focused and integrated healthcare, as well as the use of innovative technologies and practices emanating from NHC research.
Professor Paul Croney, OBE, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, said: ‘We were delighted to have the opportunity to brief the Prime Minister about the groundbreaking research, partnerships and training that form the basis of this national centre of excellence.’