Peter Batey, Lever Professor of Town and Regional Planning in the School of Environmental Sciences, has been appointed as Merchant Taylors’ Schools new Chair of Governors.
His appointment follows the retirement of Leo Coligan, who was former Chief Executive of the Trinity Newsgroup.
Born in West Hartlepool in the North East, Professor Peter Batey grew up in the Manchester area and attended Bury Grammar School before going on to study geography at Sheffield University and planning at this University.
After working initially as a planner in local government in the North West, Peter embarked on an academic career some 36 years ago. Since then he has fulfilled a variety of different roles: as Lever Professor of Planning; as Head of the Department of Civic Design; and as Dean of the former Faculty of Social and Environmental Studies.
He recently became Director of the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) North West Doctoral Training Centre, responsible for delivering postgraduate research training in the social sciences across Liverpool, Lancaster and Manchester Universities. Peter served as World President of the Regional Science Association International in 1997-98.
Outside the University, Peter plays an active role in local and regional organisations. This has included a spell as Government-appointed independent Chairman of the Mersey Basin Campaign. The Campaign was a pioneering, 25-year partnership initiative established in 1985 by Michael Heseltine in an attempt to repair the damage done to the North West’s rivers by industrialisation, and to encourage waterside regeneration and community involvement.
Peter has been a Governor at Merchant Taylors’ since 1997. He takes great pride in the achievements of the Schools and believes they are extremely well-placed to continue that success in the uncertain world we now face.
He said: “I am privileged to have this opportunity to provide leadership and strategic direction and I am really looking forward to my new role.”