Neil Robinson joins University of Hull as new Chief Operating Officer

The University of Hull has welcomed Neil Robinson as its new Chief Operating Officer.

Mr Robinson was most recently Head of Operational Performance at the University of Melbourne in Australia.

His responsibilities in that role included driving operational excellence, strategic projects, business continuity and most recently leadership of the University of Melbourne’s Covid-19 response and recovery programme.

Neil has now been appointed as the new COO at the University of Hull, and will play a central role in helping it realise its 2030 Vision and Strategy.

He said: “I am excited to be joining the University of Hull at this time. Our 2030 Strategy sets out an ambitious agenda for the University and the contribution it seeks to make to regionally, nationally and globally.

Prior to joining Hull, he held a range of senior leadership roles at the University of Melbourne - as Head of University Services, as Registrar and Head of Student Services, and as General Manager of two of the faculties there - Engineering and before that Architecture, Building & Planning.

Active outside the University of Melbourne, he is a former President of the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement - a first-response, counselling and research not-for-profit organization; President of the Groningen Declaration Network, an international collaboration around student data technology; and Board Member of Youth Empowerment Against HIV/AIDS, an Australia-wide education and awareness project.

Prior to moving to Australia, Mr Robinson was Head of Public Affairs at Shelter, the National Campaign for Homeless People, and previously held public and parliamentary affairs roles at the National Union of Teachers and in the London, Brussels and Strasbourg offices of the European Parliament.