The Heilbronn Institute is pleased to announce that Professor Geoffrey Grimmett’s successor as Chair of the Heilbronn Institute will be Professor Catherine Hobbs. Professor Hobbs will lead the institute’s external research activities across the UK, and be responsible for sustaining and enhancing the Heilbronn Institute’s profile as an internationally leading research institute.

Catherine Hobbs has a distinguished record of leadership in her previous roles across the UK mathematics community. She is currently Academic Dean in the Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing at Coventry University. Previously, she served as Associate Dean for Research for the Faculty of Environment and Technology from 2018 to 2022, and as Head of Department of Engineering Design and Mathematics at the University of the West of England from 2010 to 2018.