The University of Bath is delighted to announce the appointment of two new lay members of Council, the governing body of the University.
Alex Phillips
Alex is a Chartered Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects and a graduate of the University of Bath. His career spans property development, architecture, and the built environment.
With over 25 years of cross-sector experience in the UK and internationally, Alex has delivered over £1.2bn of complex, mixed-use urban projects, including the Perry Barr Regeneration Scheme - originally conceived as the Athletes' Village for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games - and the redevelopment of the Millennium Dome into The O2.
His most recent executive role was as Director in the Cities, Planning & Design portfolio of Arup, where he led a multi-disciplinary team of 240 professionals across town planning, economics and case-making, urban design, landscape architecture, and real estate strategy. Before Arup, he served as Director of Masterplanning at Grosvenor, shaping long-term regeneration strategy across the Mayfair and Belgravia estate.
Alex served as an Independent Governor of Ravensbourne University London for six years, receiving an Honorary Fellowship in 2022.
Outside work, Alex is married with two daughters and enjoys hot yoga, dog walks, and travel.
William Priest
William has more than 40 years’ international leadership experience across engineering, management consultancy, telecommunications, digital infrastructure and the public sector. He began his career working on major overseas development projects in Africa and Pakistan before moving into senior roles with global consulting firms including PwC, PA Consulting and KPMG. He subsequently held executive leadership positions at IBM, Orange and Verizon, leading global teams in strategy, innovation and the development of emerging technologies including cloud, mobility and cybersecurity.
Since 2015, William has held a range of senior UK Government leadership roles, including Crown Representative, Chief Executive of Building Digital UK (BDUK) and Chief Executive of the UK Geospatial Commission.
William currently serves in a number of advisory and board roles across government, including with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Independent Football Regulator and the Cabinet Office. Alongside his public sector work, William is an experienced non-executive director and entrepreneur, having chaired technology company Connexin since 2016 and served on the boards of organisations including Digital Catapult and Bath-based AI company Brevio, a University of Bath spin-out.
An asset to the University
Both appointments were made following a rigorous and open appointment process, and are subject to a three-year, renewable term, until 2029.
The Chair of Council, Sharon Flood, said:
I am very pleased to welcome Alex and William to the University’s Council. Throughout the appointment process, both candidates demonstrated the depth of experience, strategic insight and commitment needed to support the University’s long-term ambitions. Their expertise, alongside their connections to Bath and the region, will be a real asset to Council, and I look forward to the contribution they will make in the years ahead.
Professor Phil Taylor, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said:
Congratulations to Alex and William on their appointments. We are delighted to welcome them to Council. Throughout the appointment process, both demonstrated the expertise, leadership and commitment needed to help shape the University’s future. Their strong links to Bath, alongside their experience in areas that are strategically important to the University, will be a valuable addition to Council, and I look forward to the contribution they will make in the years ahead.