The first female vice-chancellor in Wales has been appointed at the University of Glamorgan. Julie Lydon, the current deputy vice-chancellor at the institution, will replace David Halton who retires from the post next spring. Speaking about her appointment, she said: "My intention is to ensure that the university continues to thrive by building on our strengths of providing high-quality and distinctive academic services which enable students to meet the needs of employers, not only in Wales but internationally."

A former chief scientific adviser to the Government has been appointed chancellor of the University of Liverpool. Sir David King, who advised the Government on issues ranging from flooding to obesity, is also director of the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment at the University of Oxford. He has published more than 450 papers on chemical physics, science and policy and is an adviser to European Union Commissioners on building science capacity in Africa.

A researcher in the field of control engineering has been named deputy vice-chancellor at Northumbria University. Ian Postlethwaite will take on responsibility for improving the institution's business and research focus. A member of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council's materials, mechanical and medical engineering strategic advisory team, Professor Postlethwaite joins from the University of Leicester, where he was pro vice-chancellor for research.

Nairn Wilson, professor of restorative dentistry and dean and head of the King's College London Dental Institute, has been appointed to the role of deputy vice principal for health at the institution. Professor Wilson will take charge of operational management for the college's health schools in his new position, following Robert Lechler's secondment to the role of executive director at King's Health Partners, a collaboration between the university and three London NHS foundation trusts.

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Nick Lee has become one of the youngest in his field to be appointed to a professorship. The 34-year-old has been named professor of marketing and organisational research at Aston University's Business School. His work centres on the sales force, particularly the influence that managers can have on employee behaviour, attitudes and wellbeing in the workplace. Professor Lee is also the co-editor of the European Journal of Marketing.

A journalism professor at the University of Bedfordshire has been selected to represent the UK in a United Nations body. Ivor Gaber joins the Intergovernmental Council of the UN's International Programme for the Development of Communication, which promotes the growth of communications and information in developing countries. Professor Gaber will be part of a panel that awards money to appropriate projects in developing countries, mainly those in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

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The University of Salford has appointed Chris Larkin its director of communications. Mr Larkin is co-founder of the organic baby food manufacturer So-Baby, and has previously worked in communications and branding for Marks & Spencer Money and Nationwide Building Society. In his new role at Salford, he will manage internal communications, media relations, corporate marketing and online branding.

A professor's work in promoting Greek cultural heritage has been recognised with an international prize. Sir John Boardman, emeritus Lincoln professor of classical art and archaeology at the University of Oxford, was awarded the inaugural Onassis International Prize in Humanities for his work. He will travel to Paris to receive his award on 14 December. Sir John is one of two laureates to receive the prize, the other was the French archaeologist Jacques-Yves Empereur.

Steven Miles has been appointed professor of urban culture and director of postgraduate studies at the University of Brighton's Faculty of Arts. A specialist in the fields of the sociology of consumption and cultural policy, Professor Miles joins Brighton from the University of Liverpool. In his new post, he will be involved in further developing postgraduate provision and will contribute to debates about the evolution of the post-industrial city.

The University of Portsmouth's Business School has appointed Lisa Jack professor of accounting. Professor Jack's focus is on research into the accounting aspects of the agricultural production of food. Her work is aimed at producing research that will advise policymakers and help to promote fair returns for those working in the industry.

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Brian Webster has taken on the position of head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at The Robert Gordon University. He joins from the University of Southampton, where he was deputy head and director of education in the School of Health Sciences. At Southampton, he was responsible for 250 members of staff and looked after the school's educational contracts, worth about ? million. He takes over from Jennie Parry, who recently retired.

The University for the Creative Arts has a new director of research and enterprise. Kerstin Mey will work to strengthen PhD research, develop successful funding bids and build links with relevant organisations outside the university. She previously held a chair in fine art and worked as director of the Art and Design Research Institute at the University of Ulster.

The University of Reading's Paul Williams has been selected as a Royal Society University Research Fellow for his work in the field of climate change. Dr Williams was awarded the fellowship from the UK's national academy of science to investigate ways to improve climate modelling by applying new techniques that have proved to be successful in the field of weather forecasting.

Carolyn Roberts has taken up the role of director at the University of Oxford's Environmental Sustainability Knowledge Transfer Network, an association that brings universities and businesses together to develop new environmental technologies. Professor Roberts is a water resources specialist and was an adviser to Gloucestershire County Council following the serious flooding of the county in 2007. She was formerly professor of environmental sciences at the University of Gloucestershire and is also a vice-president of the Institution of Environmental Sciences.

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