I am delighted to introduce an honorary Master of the University who has been an inspirational leader in student support and wellbeing at the University of Bath and beyond. Anthony Payne was Director of Student Services at the University of Bath from 2014 to 2022, overseeing the transformation of the department into a sector-leading operation, and in the process becoming one of the most successful leaders the University has had.

Anthony was born in North Wales but emigrated to Australia at the age of 15 as one of the famous ‘£10 poms’. After working for 15 years in hospital social work, he was appointed Head of Student Services at the University of Tasmania and later the Director of Equity and Diversity at Deakin University in Melbourne. During this time, he was responsible for the design of the Australian Disability Clearing House of Education and Training, which, twenty years later, is still the go-to source of training for supporting disabilities in post-16 education.

Anthony joined the University of Bath in 2014 as Head of Student Services. Over the next eight years he oversaw its transformation from a relatively small operation lost in the corridors of Wessex House, to a large, complex department that has been the pillar of the University’s approach to student support. By the time Anthony retired, Student Services was leading the sector and proudly spanned both sides of the central University Parade.

Among the many achievements under his watch, a few stand out as truly transformative: - The establishment of the Wellbeing Service offering 24/7 individual professional support for students, available in multiple languages. At the time it was almost unheard of in the sector; today it is standard good practice, with many universities adopting the Bath model. - A new focus on enabling academic staff to support students, understand relevant issues and signpost them to available support. The 4321 number for staff perfectly captured Anthony’s brilliance in finding simple but highly effective solutions. - The pioneering of an inclusive approach, before the word was in common use. His initiatives included developing the first comprehensive Disability Policy, including Disability Action Plans for students, a new Safeguarding Unit, and within that, the University’s sector-leading #NeverOK campaign against sexual harassment.

His greatest test came with the COVID pandemic in 2020, when Anthony’s vast experience and knowledge made him a key figure in a small University team that designed an operational response to the crisis to safeguard and support the student population. Whilst the pandemic was difficult for everyone, the support offered at Bath was extraordinary in comparison with other universities, in no small part due to Anthony’s expertise.

Anthony is extremely modest. When asked about the secret to his success he cited the influence of his wife Lisa, fighting injustice whilst also caring for people who are suffering and building a team of brilliant people to work with. He held high expectations of his colleagues, but was always supportive and caring. He also led by example, for instance taking responsibility for answering emergency student calls over the weekends, holidays and out of office hours.

While his professional achievements would be enough for most people, Anthony has also achieved much outside his field: he was the Vice-President of Oxfam Australia; he attained near self-sufficiency on a 30-acre holding in Tasmania; and he has climbed to the base camp of Mount Everest, not once but twice. Predictably for someone who jokingly spoke of his retirement plans on an almost daily basis, he has worked non-stop since retiring: as an accomplished carpenter, an environmental volunteer and a fruit and vegetable grower extraordinaire.

Anthony leaves an extraordinary legacy at the University of Bath. Thousands of past and present students have benefitted from his work, and thousands more will do so in the future.

I present to you, Anthony Payne, who is eminently worthy to receive the degree of Master of the University, honoris causa.