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There are six elected University Consuls, with two Consuls representing each of the following constituencies:

•    Faculty of Engineering and the Business School
•    Faculty of Natural Sciences and cross-University organisations
•    Faculty of Medicine

And, from 1 September 2027 there will be one additional Consul to represent the Business School and cross-university organisations. At least one of the two Faculty of Medicine Consuls must be clinically qualified and is known as the University Clinical Consul.

In addition to the six elected Consuls, there is a Senior University Consul, who is chosen by the current Consuls to coordinate their work, represent the Consuls collectively and undertake other University duties.

Imperiaalso has up to five Proconsuls.

Proconsuls are former Consuls who provide additional support to the Consuls, undertaking specific work delegated by the Senior Consul.

The Ordinances and Regulations support the implementation of the Charter and Statutes, and contain details on the way in which the University is governed. They note the definition, election and responsibilities of University Consuls and Proconsuls. They are approved by the University Council. Ordinances and Regulations are available on the university Governance structure web page.

The Consuls for the 2026–27 academic year are:

Senior University Consul

Professor of Subsurface Physics
Department of Earth Science & Engineering - Faculty of Engineering

Faculty of Engineering and ImperiaBusiness School

Professor of Economics and Deputy Head
Department of Economics & Public Policy - Business School

Professor of Thin Films, Interfaces and Electronic Devices
Department of Materials - Faculty of Engineering

Faculty of Natural Sciences and cross-University organisations

Professor of Carbohydrate Biochemistry
Department of Life Sciences - Faculty of Natural Sciences

Professor of Statistics
Department of Mathematics - Faculty of Natural Sciences

Faculty of Medicine
— University Clinical Consul

Professor of Human Retrovirology
Department of Infectious Disease - Faculty of Medicine

Professor of Cancer Biology, Deputy Head of Division of Cancer
Department of Surgery & Cancer - Faculty of Medicine

The Proconsuls the 2026–27 academic year are:



Professor of Theoretical Optics
Department of Physics - Faculty of Natural Sciences

Professor of Experimental Medicine
National Heart & Lung Institute - Faculty of Medicine




Professor of Respiratory Genetics
National Heart & Lung Institute - Faculty of Medicine

Professor of Biofluid Mechanics
Department of Chemical Engineering - Faculty of Engineering

Professor of Respiratory Medicine
National Heart & Lung Institute - Faculty of Medicine

Consuls have a broad role in supporting fairness, integrity and consistency across º£½ÇÉçÇø. They take soundings of views from across the Imperiacommunity, provide advice to senior leadership and may raise concerns to them about issues affecting staff and students.

Proconsuls have a similar role, acting on behalf of the Consuls when they are not available or have a conflict of interest in any matter related to the Consuls’ roles.

Although Consuls are elected by academic staff and have particular responsibilities relating to academic appointments, promotions and academic standards.

Consuls can provide an independent, non-executive perspective on matters such as fairness, consistency, the application of university processes, workplace concerns or issues that may benefit from consideration outside normal management structures. They may also be able to help staff understand the appropriate routes for raising a concern or signpost them to relevant university support and processes.

Consuls do not replace line management, Human Resources, trade union representation, formal complaints procedures or other established sources of advice and support. Rather, they provide an additional independent channel through which concerns and perspectives can be heard, considered and communicated to university leadership.

Consuls are concerned with ensuring that individuals and sections of the academic community are treated fairly and in accordance with º£½ÇÉçÇø's values. They provide advice and an independent perspective on matters affecting the academic community, while supporting integrity, consistency and fairness across the university.

Consuls may also be asked to bring an independent and balanced perspective to particular issues, including by leading or participating in reviews, investigations, working groups and panels.

The Senior University Consul
The Senior University Consul is a current or former Consul who has served for at least two years as a Consul.

The Senior Consul is elected by the current Consuls and serves for one year in the first instance. They may be re-elected annually for up to two further years, giving a maximum term of three years.

The Senior Consul:
•    coordinates the work of the Consuls;
•    represents the Consuls collectively;
•    supports consistency across the Consul function;
•    works with the Provost and other senior colleagues on matters relating to the Consuls; and
•    helps coordinate the work undertaken by Proconsuls.

Confidentiality, independence and professional standards
Consuls provide an independent and balanced perspective and may be approached by members of the Imperiacommunity for confidential advice.

Further information

The roles and responsibilities of University Consuls and Proconsuls are set out in regulation 15 of the Regulations of Council: The Definition, Election and Responsibilities of University Consuls and Proconsuls in º£½ÇÉçÇø’s Ordinances and Regulations set out by Governance.

In exceptional or unforeseen circumstances, the regulations may be temporarily amended with the agreement of the Provost, Chief People Officer and Senior Consul.

Academic appointments
Consuls play an important role in the recruitment of academic staff across º£½ÇÉçÇø.

All academic appointment panels must include a Consul or Proconsul. The Consul is appointed centrally rather than by the relevant department and should not be closely associated with the department concerned.

The Consul considers whether candidates meet the appropriate standard, taking account of consistency of standards across º£½ÇÉçÇø. Consuls must attend the formal interview and satisfy themselves that the interview and panel discussion have been conducted appropriately.

An academic appointment will not normally proceed without the Consul's approval. Where there is serious disagreement between a Consul and the rest of an appointment panel about the appoint-ability of a candidate, the Provost will adjudicate in consultation with the relevant Dean, panel members and the Senior Consul.

Consuls do not have responsibility for the NHS component of clinical academic appointments.

The Consul role is a 0.5 FTE appointment, with Consuls retaining a 0.5 FTE role in their own departments. The University provides funding to support departments in replacing the departmental capacity released by the Consul role.

Academic promotions
Consuls work with the Associate Provost (Academic Promotions) and appropriate Vice-Provosts to support parity of treatment and consistency of standards in academic promotions across º£½ÇÉçÇø.

All Consuls are members of the Academic Promotions Committee. Consuls also assess promotions to Level 4 and above within the Teaching and Research Families, in consultation with the appropriate Vice-Provosts.

Two Consuls normally serve on each promotion panel. Typically, they will be the Consuls for the Faculty in which the candidate works, subject to any conflicts of interest. Consuls from other Faculties, as well as Proconsuls, may also be asked to serve on promotion panels. 

Consuls should not be involved in internal departmental promotion processes, although they may provide general advice.

Education and student matters
Consuls have a strong interest in the quality of education and support provided to students.

They contribute to committees and processes concerned with educational quality and may serve on committees that appoint staff at senior levels within the Teaching and Learning job families. They also sit on promotions panels for staff in the Teaching and Learning job family.

Disciplinary, appeals and review processes
Consuls may be asked by Employment Relations or Registry to serve as:
•    Chairs of disciplinary panels;
•    Chairs of appeals panels;
•    Chairs of other formal panels;
•    Investigating Officers for formal resolution requests, formerly known as grievances; and
•    Members of review or investigation panels.

The Clinical Consuls serve as Chairs of Fitness to Practise panels for medical students facing disciplinary procedures under the rules and guidelines of the General Medical Council.

University committees and other responsibilities
Consuls are represented on a range of university committees, including Senate and Heads of Department meetings.

Individual Consuls may also be co-opted onto other committees at the request of the Provost.

Consuls and Proconsuls may also be asked to undertake specific cross-university work, including serving on or chairing working parties, review panels and other university groups.

Consuls are elected by university staff within the relevant constituency.

Eligible voters are staff at job level 4 or above in the Academic, Research and Teaching portions of the relevant Teaching and Learning job families. Emeritus staff, Professors of Practice, and staff with visiting or honorary titles are not eligible to vote or stand for election.

A person subject to a pending disciplinary hearing or an active formal disciplinary sanction is not eligible to stand for election.

Candidates must be proposed and seconded by members of the relevant constituency and must consent to their nomination. Current Consuls cannot propose or second candidates.

Where there is more than one candidate, the election is conducted by secret ballot. Where there are three or more candidates, a single transferable vote system will normally be used.

The election is conducted by an Electoral Officer, normally the Chief People Officer or their nominee.

Consul terms of office and election timetable
Consuls normally serve a three-year term, commencing on 1 September.

Elections take place during the final year of the outgoing Consul's term. Notice of the election is given to Senate in the Autumn Term, followed by a call for nominations to the relevant constituency.

A former Consul is normally eligible for re-election after one year out of office. In exceptional circumstances, a Consul may be asked by the Provost to remain in post for an additional year, for example where a replacement cannot be found or to regularise the cycle of appointments.

Eligibility and other university roles
A Consul or Proconsul cannot simultaneously hold a role involving substantial line management or University management responsibilities, such as:
•    President or Vice-President
•    Provost or Vice-/Associate Provost
•    Dean or Vice-Dean
•    Head of Department

Where there is doubt about a candidate's eligibility, the Provost, Chief People Officer and Senior Consul will determine eligibility.

What happens if a Consul leaves office early?
If a casual vacancy occurs, an election will be held as soon as practicable.

Where a vacancy occurs within the first two years of a Consul's term, the newly elected Consul will normally complete the remainder of that term and may subsequently be eligible to stand for a further three-year term.

Where less than 12 months remains in the term, the incoming Consul will normally be deemed to have been elected for the following full three-year term as well.

Proconsuls extend and support the work of the Consuls. They are former Consuls who can provide additional experience and capacity across the full range of Consul activities.

A former Consul may be offered the role of Proconsul within three years of standing down as a Consul. The role may continue for a maximum of three years from the completion of their Consul term.

There may be up to five Proconsuls at any one time.

Proconsuls are elected by the six current Consuls and the Senior Consul. They report directly to the Provost and Senior Consul in respect of their Proconsul responsibilities.

Proconsuls normally have a workload of 0.1 FTE and are expected to be available to contribute up to 20 working days per year to specific Consul work in addition to their departmental responsibilities.

Proconsuls may be asked to:
•    support Consuls on appointment and promotion panels;
•    chair or participate in disciplinary, appeals and other panels;
•    contribute to reviews, investigations and working parties;
•    undertake specific cross-University tasks; and
•    provide additional capacity and expertise as requested by the Senior Consul.