Vice Chancellor’s appointment approved


The University board approves the appointment of Professor Graham Upton as interim Vice Chancellor.


Professor Upton took up post last month. He is an established senior academic and university leader, who held senior positions at the University of Birmingham and the University of Wales, before serving ten years as Vice Chancellor at Oxford Brookes University. He is a highly respected education consultant and adviser with national and international links.


The University now has an established business plan and is making good progress with implementing the financial recovery programme.


The Venerable Peter Ballard, Chairman of the University of Cumbria Board of Directors, said: “Applications to our university remain buoyant and our staff and students continue to excel in their academic endeavours. Professor Upton joins the senior team to build on this important work. While the University of Cumbria still has challenges to meet in a difficult economic environment, we are confident that under the leadership of Professor Upton, and with the support of the whole community, the University will progress and flourish.”


Professor Graham Upton. interim Vice Chancellor


Chris Bonington inspires Cumbrian business leaders


Cumbria’s Everest hero Sir Chris Bonington inspired business leaders to reach for their goals during a motivational masterclass on team leadership.The 75-year-old mountaineer and best- selling author wowed his West Cumbrian audience with a three-and-a-half-hour talk at Energus near Workington.


During an impressive address to small company owners from Allerdale and Copeland, Sir Chris, arguably Britain’s most famous living climber, drew parallels between the challenges of staging a successful climbing expedition and running a competitive business.


“Life – and business – are like a game of poker,” said Sir Chris, who famously conquered the world’s highest peak in the Himalayas at the age of 50. Successful players - like successful businesses - minimise their losses when they receive bad hands and cash in when the good hands arrive.”


Urging company bosses to see the recession and global slowdown as a “moment of opportunity”, Sir Chris reminded them of the need for sound leadership and agreed goals. “It’s imperative that companies are led well and that people work together as a true team.”


He used dramatic slides from his famous expeditions around the globe to illustrate his talk which was hosted by the University of Cumbria Business School’s Centre of Leadership Performance at Energus.


“The images certainly help me to illustrate my theme and if they help to engage the audience, even better,” he said.


Chris Bonington with West Cumbrian business leaders


Business School Project Leader Rachael Sterret was delighted by the warm reception given to Sir Chris by business leaders. “The feedback was tremendous and dozens of people came up to say how inspiring his talk really was,” she said. “Sir Chris is renowned for the quality of his motivational speeches which are informed by his own experiences in mountaineering over the years. As a member of the Norwegian Everest Expedition in 1985 the expedition placed eighteen climbers and Sherpas on the summit in three separate ascents. This needed superb planning, organisation and teamwork. These are the qualities required by small businesses if they are to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment.”


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