As Professor Tim Ibell prepares to step down as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering & Design, colleagues have thanked him for his leadership and contribution to shaping progress across the Faculty.
Since becoming Dean in 2021, Tim has championed a culture built on generous leadership, collaboration, inclusion and excellence, while helping to create the conditions for colleagues and students to thrive.
Under his leadership, the Faculty of Engineering and Design has delivered significant progress in support of its long-term ambitions and financial security, introducing new approaches to teaching, utilising space and streamlining governance.
Alongside this work, Tim has supported the Faculty in strengthening its culture and commitment to inclusion, embedding principles of generous leadership and quality. He is particularly proud of the Faculty’s progress in widening participation and the proportion of female representation across professors, academics and students, which he credits to Davide Mattia and Despina Moschou’s leadership in this area.
Over the last five years, the Faculty's research profile has also grown significantly, with the creation of interdisciplinary, global-challenge-led research centres, resulting in strengthened international partnerships, research culture, grant capture and research outputs.
Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Phil Taylor, said:
Tim has led the Faculty of Engineering & Design through a period of significant achievement and positive change. He has done so with humility, integrity and a deep commitment to people. His emphasis on collaboration, generosity and collective success has helped create an environment in which colleagues and students can flourish.
On behalf of the University, I would like to thank Tim for his outstanding service as Dean. His leadership has helped strengthen the Faculty's position across education, research and culture, and I know colleagues will join me in wishing him every success for the future.
Professor Tim Ibell said:
It’s been a genuine pleasure and a privilege to serve as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Design, and it’s so important to me that any successes we’ve seen as a Faculty are recognised as the result of the commitment, talent and hard work of colleagues across all job families. I have played only a small part in enabling others to do great things.
Tim steps down as Dean in September 2026, when we welcome Professor Ian Craddock, but will remain with the Faculty of Engineering and Design as Professor of Structural Engineering in the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering.