University of Exeter Chancellor Sir Michael Barber KB has been appointed this week as the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Effective Delivery.
The role will support Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in kickstarting the delivery of ‘five national missions’, of which feature goals to boost the economy, clean energy and NHS.
Following a Direct Ministerial appointment, he holds a part-time, unpaid role. The initial 12-month role will see Sir Michael advising Sir Keir from this month, just as many students will be arriving at the University of Exeter.
Sir Michael became the seventh chancellor at the university in January 2022.
Sir Michael Barber told Exepose: “I am honoured to have been asked to help the new Government on the delivery of their Five Missions. Working with the Delivery Unit, I will be advising the Prime Minister on how best to deliver ambitious, measurable and long-term objectives for the UK.
“This will be a part-time role so that I can continue to fulfil my responsibilities in other important organisations such as the University of Exeter. As a resident of Devon and a life-long advocate for the importance of education, being Chancellor of Exeter University is a huge privilege and I am looking forward to another successful academic year.”
Strategy is something that Sir Michael has been heavily involved with throughout his career at both the university and in supporting previous governments. During Tony Blair’s premiership he established the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit (PMDU) in No10 Downing Street from 2001 until 2005, where he was responsible for ensuring delivery of the government’s domestic policy priorities in sectors such as health, education, crime reduction and justice, transport and immigration.
Previously Chair of the higher education regulator, the Office for Students (2017-2021), more recently he has worked with successive governments in delivering domestic policy priorities following the pandemic. His most recent role was as an adviser to the former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Department of Education (2022-2023).
In accepting the position Sir Michael has stepped down as the Chair of his company Delivery Associates. The company describes its function a ‘global social impact consultancy form’ and has worked with leaders around the world. The company will not work at any capacity with the UK government.
