The Chair of Court is responsible for the leadership of Court, the governing body of the University, which, together with the Principal and Vice-Chancellor is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the University and ensuring the delivery of its key objectives. These include overseeing the student and staff experience, the quality of the learning, teaching and research, and the long-term sustainability and financial health of the University.

The Chair is ultimately responsible for the effectiveness of Court and its operation, ensuring that its members work together effectively and that they and wider stakeholders have confidence in the procedures laid down by the University for the proper conduct of public business.

The Chair is responsible for ensuring that the Court establishes oversight, focuses on those issues which it needs to discuss, and discharges its primary responsibilities set out below:

• The Chair plays a key role in the strategic development of the institution without becoming involved in day-to-day executive and operational management which is the responsibility of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor.
• The Chair maintains a constructive working relationship with the Principal, Vice-Chancellor and the University Secretary. These relationships are mutually supportive with each office recognising the separation and distinctiveness of the others’ roles and the checks and balances incorporated within each by the institution’s constitution.
• The Chair ensures that the Court conducts its own affairs and applies the highest standards of corporate governance in accordance with the prevailing code of good higher education governance and observes the principles of conduct as defined by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
• The Chair also ensures that the University is well connected at board level with its external stakeholders and is expected, on occasion, to represent the University.