On 1 January 2020, Imtiaz Dharker, a renowned poet and filmmaker will become the new Chancellor of Newcastle University.
Dharker’s role of Chancellor will be to lead the university as a ceremonial non-resident head of the university.
Imtiaz will succeed Sir Liam Donaldson, the former Chief Medical Officer for England who held the post of Newcastle University Chancellor since 2009.
Imtiaz Dharker is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. In 2014, she was awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry. She is the author of many works of poetry that have a central theme of social justice such as ‘Over the Moon’, ‘I Speak for the Devil’ and her most recent collection ‘Luck is the Hook.’ She concerns herself with issues that face the world in our present day, alike freedom, displacement, conflict and gender.
Dharker has been involved previously in the university through the University’s Centre for Literary Arts, and more widely in the Newcastle community at its Poetry Festival. Her work is studied at both GCSE and A Level standard, and so she is also plays a part in the general education of our students today.
Dharker says that she is “proud to take on this role”, and that she hopes to be “inspired by the people I meet” in this new role, through the “vitality of its academic staff and students”.
This new role places social justice at the forefront of Newcastle’s virtues, it places poetry as a key movement for our society today, and it also shows the themes she writes about are central to the education system.
"Imtiaz embodies the values of social justice we hold dear here at Newcastle. Her commitment to it is evident in her work in all its forms.”
Chris Day, Newcastle University Vice-Chancellor and President
Newcastle University Vice-Chancellor and President Chris Day said: “We are thoroughly honoured Imtiaz Dharker has agreed to be the next Chancellor of Newcastle University.
Imtiaz embodies the values of social justice we hold dear here at Newcastle. Her commitment to it is evident in her work in all its forms.”