Pro-Chancellors are elected by University Court on the nomination of the Board of Trustees. They act as deputy to the Chancellor and may exercise the functions of the Chancellor (except for the conferring of degrees) in their absence.
Peaches is an American British business executive, administrator, and former academic who has been the Lord-Lieutenant of the County and City of Bristol since 2017 and was the UK’s first minority ethnic female Lord-Lieutenant.
Prior to this Peaches was Bristol’s first black female High Sheriff (and second only minority ethnic High Sheriff following on from a predecessor in 1818) in 2010/11.
Peaches moved to Bristol in 1983 and held several roles in marketing before founding a marketing and communications business in 1992. Since the 1990s, she has served in a wide range of roles for public and private organisation across Bristol and the wider region.
Peaches received the OBE in 2009 for services to minority ethnic people in the South West. In 2015 she was recognised for her ‘Outstanding Contribution to Business’ by the Bristol Post and Bath Chronicle. In 2020 she was awarded the CStJ (Commander of the Order of Saint John) for services to faith and humanity.
In 2018 the University of Bristol awarded Peaches an Honorary Doctorate of Law to recognise her achievements and her commitment to public life in Bristol. She has also received an honorary doctorate from UWE.
Peaches said: “I am deeply honoured by my elevation to Pro-Chancellor of the University of Bristol; I greatly appreciate the confidence of the University Court. I look forward to joining forces with the University’s leaders as we propel this well respected and highly regarded institution forward.”
Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, added: “I am delighted to welcome Peaches Golding to the role of Pro-Chancellor at the University of Bristol. This is a key role, and her vast experience will be an invaluable addition to the University. I look forward to working with her more closely over the coming years.”
The University of Bristol currently has two Pro-Chancellor roles. The other is held by Dr Jackie Cornish.
The University Court at the University of Bristol is an advisory and ceremonial body that links the University with the wider community, providing ideas, oversight, and support. It is responsible for key governance functions, such as appointing the Chancellor and engaging with University leadership on strategy and performance.
Court membership is defined in the University’s Statutes and includes core members, elected representatives, alumni, emeriti, civic and community organisation representatives, professional and industry members, and ex officio members such as the Chancellor, Pro‑Chancellors, and Honorary Fellows.
The Court is chaired by Sir Paul Nurse, Chancellor since January 2017, a renowned geneticist and Nobel Laureate awarded the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discoveries related to cell cycle regulation.
The University of Bristol consistently ranks in the world's top 100 and UK's top ten universities in league tables that draw on information about both research and teaching excellence. Bristol is currently ranked 8th in the UK and 51st globally by QS.
The University of Bristol attracts on average eight top-quality applicants for every place, and its graduates are among the most sought-after by employers across the globe.