Coventry University Vice-Chancellor to advise the government on business and trade

Coventry University’s Vice-Chancellor has been handed an influential role in the Department for Business and Trade.

Professor John Latham, CBE, has been named a Non-Executive Board Member at the UK Government department.

As an expert from outside of government, Professor Latham, who was recognised with a CBE in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours for his services to Higher Education, will provide independent advice, support and scrutiny on the department’s work, while continuing his role at Coventry University.

A double graduate of Coventry University, Professor Latham has considerable experience working for several private sector organisations, including JHP Group, Jaguar and BT.

He has a background in information technology and telecommunications and in 2015 was presented with an Honorary Lifetime Fellowship of the British Computer Society in recognition of his services to the IT industry.

He remains active in the IT sector today as Chair of the Universities UK/JISC Software Negotiations and Strategy Group.

No stranger to the international stage, Professor Latham has held high-profile roles at regional, national and European levels, promoting innovation, technology and economic development and has served as a long-term advisor to the European Commission.

His other current Ministerial appointments include Non-Executive Director for Qualification Wales and an Advisory Panel Member to the Minister of Home Affairs of Singapore.

Professor Latham was a member of the UK’s National Growth Board which was responsible for the oversight of the UK’s European Structural Funds Programme. He previously worked as a Non-Executive Director of Health Education England (HEE), where he chaired the Audit and Risk Committee and following the transition of HEE to NHS England.

He is a Non-Executive Director for the NHS England Workforce Training and Education Committee and an independent panel member on the advisory assessment panel for the recruitment of members to NHS Bodies.

Additionally, Professor Latham has experience of helping companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products and services from his previous Non-Executive Director position at InnovateUK.

Finally, He holds Honorary Doctorates from Stellenbosch University in South Africa and the British University in Egypt for his services to Higher Education globally.

Find out more about Professor John Latham.