Commonwealth secretary general Kamalesh Sharma is to be the new Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, it was announced today.
The international statesman and former Indian High Commissioner to London takes over from former US senator George Mitchell who announced he was standing down in March after President Barack Obama appointed him as his special envoy to the Middle East.
Speaking after his appointment, the chancellor-designate said: “I am enormously proud to be invited to serve Queen’s University and look forward to contributing towards strengthening its internationalist outlook.
“Queen’s is a forward-looking institution which recognises that in today’s world there are no borders; rather we are all part of a common humanity.
“The university’s research has made a dramatic impact on the world. I hope that I will be able to help the University, its staff and students, and the wider community it serves, become even better connected to the world in which we live.”
Pro-chancellor Sir David Fell, chair of the University’s governing body which made the appointment, said: “Kamalesh Sharma is a worthy successor to Mr Mitchell.
“He is an exceptional figure who has served his country at the highest level and whose leadership skills have been recognised by the 53 member states which make up the Commonwealth.”
Reuters