Former King’s College London president Sir Ed Byrne to lead KAUST

Sir Ed Byrne, the former leader of King’s College London and Monash University, is heading to Saudi Arabia as the next president of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

The neuroscientist, who was vice-chancellor of Monash from 2009 to 2014 and then King’s principal from 2014 to the end of 2020, will replace Tony Chan at KAUST next month.

Since its foundation in 2009, the private postgraduate-only campus in Thuwal has established itself as one of the world’s fastest-rising research institutions, topping the Times Higher Education Arab University Rankings for the first time in 2023.

Sir Ed is now an emeritus professor of neurology at King’s. Previously, he was dean of Monash’s Faculty of Medicine, and vice-provost (health) at UCL.

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“As the university embarks on a new era delivering its Accelerating Impact Strategy, it is an honour to join an academic community at the forefront of translating research into economically productive innovations for the benefit of society across the kingdom and the world,” Sir Ed said of his new role at KAUST.

“Drawing on my extensive career leading top-ranked global universities and visionary approaches to scientific discovery, I welcome the opportunity to lead an institution that is paving the way for future progress and is committed to making the discoveries that will power tomorrow.”

Professor Chan, the former president of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), had led KAUST since 2018. KAUST’s other former presidents are Jean-Lou Chameau (2013-17) and Shih Choon Fong (2008-13).

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com