Dr Geoffrey Copland CBE

Biography

Geoffrey Copland was the Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the University of Westminster from January 1996 until July 2007, following a series of university posts engaged in research, lecturing in physics, and as a senior manager.

He has held several positions in higher education organisations; including Vice-President of UniversitiesUK and Chair of its England and Northern Ireland Council, Chair of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association, Trustee of Council for Industry and Higher Education, and Vice-Chairman of London Higher. He has served on many national committees related to higher education and sustainable development.   

Geoffrey has been a governor of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance since 2008, becoming Vice-Chair in 2013, and Chair since September 2019. He has also been a trustee of Trinity College London since 2012, vice-chair from 2016 and chair in 2019-2020. 

Other positions include chairman of Thomas Wall Trust, president of ASET (the Work Based and Placement Learning Association) and a trustee of the Quintin Hogg Trust and Quintin Hogg Memorial Fund. He has a strong interest in helping young people to achieve to their full potential, by overcoming barriers to progression wherever possible. Since retirement he has undertaken a number of consultancy projects for higher education including some on university governance. He was awarded a CBE in the 2007 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to higher education.

Geoffrey took over the role of Chair of Trinity Laban from Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC MP on 17 September 2019, handing over to Alan Davey CBE on 2 July 2020 and taking the post of Vice Chair.