Professor Peter Mathieson ((MBBS(Hons)(Lond), PhD(Cantab), FRCP(Lond), FRCPE, FMedSci)

Principal and Vice-Chancellor

Biography

Background

Professor Peter Mathieson MBBS(Hons)(London), PhD(Cambridge), FRCP(London), FRCPE, FMedSci assumed the office of Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh in February 2018.

Peter Mathieson was born and educated in the United Kingdom. He went to a state grammar school in Penzance, Cornwall and was the first member of his family to go to university. He read Medicine at the London Hospital Medical College and qualified with First Class Honours from the University of London in 1983. After junior medical posts in London, he obtained a research training fellowship from the Medical Research Council (MRC) to study at the University of Cambridge. He was awarded a PhD by the University of Cambridge in 1992. He became Director of Studies for Clinical Medicine at Christ’s College, Cambridge following his PhD. After a further MRC fellowship he moved to Bristol in 1995 as the foundation Professor of Renal Medicine at the University of Bristol and Honorary Consultant Nephrologist, North Bristol NHS Trust. In 1999, he was elected to Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

In 2007, Peter became Head of the University Department of Clinical Science at North Bristol, was appointed as Director of Research & Development for the North Bristol NHS Trust, and was elected President of the Renal Association (the UK’s national speciality association for nephrologists and renal scientists) in a competitive ballot of the membership, being the youngest President in its history. He served the full three year term as President and remained a Trustee for a further two years as Immediate Past-President.

In 2008 Peter was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Bristol, serving most of a sixth year after his initial five year term. He played a major role in the formation of Bristol Health Partners from 2008 onwards and was appointed as its founding Director in May 2012, a role he undertook alongside that of Dean.

In April 2014, Peter assumed office as the 15th President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, a post he held until January 2018.

In 2011 he was awarded honorary life membership of the Australian & New Zealand Society of Nephrology. In March 2015 he was awarded Honorary Fellowship of Hughes Hall, Cambridge and in October 2016 Honorary Fellowship of Hong Kong College of Physicians.

Of the various prizes and academic awards that he has received, he is most proud of being voted "Teacher of the Year" by Cambridge medical  students in 1992; the Milne-Muehrcke award from the Renal Association and the National Kidney Foundation of USA for “most promising young researcher” from UK in 1997; the UK Renal Association Lockwood Award (for contribution to academic renal medicine) in 2004; and being voted “top teacher 2011-12” by Foundation doctors at University Hospitals Bristol.

Responsibilities & affiliations

The Principal is responsible for the overall operation of the University. He is President of the Senatus Academicus and ex-officio, a member of the University Court. He is nominated by the Curators of Patronage and appointed by the University Court. As Vice-Chancellor he confers degrees on behalf of the Chancellor HRH The Princess Royal.

Peter is a member of:

  • Advisory Panel of Cyberport, Hong Kong
  • Board of Trustees of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), headquartered in Washington DC
  • Executive Committee, Universitas21
  • League of European Research Universities Board
  • Russell Group Board
  • Universities UK
  • Board of the Scottish Funding Council
  • Universities Scotland Main Committee
  • Universities Scotland, Lead Member for Health
  • Vice-Convener Universities Scotland's Funding Policy Group
  • University Council for the All-Party Parliamentary University Group
  • Chair of Higher Education and Further Education Strategy Group
  • First Minister’s National Advisory Council on Women and Girls
  • Financial Services Advisory Board
  • Hub for Success Advisory Board
  • Chair of Confucius Institute Council
  • Governing Council of the Chinese Government’s Confucius Institute Headquarters
  • Newbattle Abbey College Trust
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