Chair of Council to receive Hon Doc after 15 years in the post

YORKSHIRE businessman Chris Brown has chaired the Council of the University of Huddersfield for 15 years.  Now, he is to step down and will receive an Honorary Doctorate of the University in recognition of his contribution.  The honour follows the OBE that he was awarded at the start of the year for his services to Higher Education.

Mr Brown was appointed a member of the University of Huddersfield Council – its principal decision-making body – in 1996 and elected its chair in 2004.

Educated at St Peter’s School, York, Mr Brown studied law at Oxford University where he was President of the Swimming Club.  He remains an active competition swimmer with the City of Bradford Swimming Club and has held numerous National Masters titles and British records.

He also holds an MBA from Cranfield, an MA in History from the Open University and a BA in Philosophy from Leeds University. 

Mr Brown worked at Jaguar Cars, Lucas, GEC and FKI before, in 1990, he co-led a buy-in to the Huddersfield-based engineering company David Brown, though there is no family connection.  As Chief Executive, he grew the firm into a worldwide enterprise, with manufacturing facilities in 22 countries, and took it to a successful flotation on the London Stock Exchange in 1993.

Mr Brown is currently Chair of Wakefield Acoustics Ltd (Heckmondwike) and a Director of Bluestone Films Ltd and Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club Ltd. 

In 2016-17, he served as High Sheriff of West Yorkshire and established a special fund aimed at reducing crime and rehabilitating offenders within the county.  Mr Brown is also a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.

He has expressed pride in “the terrific progress the University continues to make as a world class institution” and said that he felt privileged to have been part of the journey.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield, Professor Bob Cryan, has praised Mr Brown’s contribution.

“Chris has been a fine and dedicated chair of our governing council, deeply committed to the University and the educational opportunities that it offers to people from all sectors of our society.”

Mr Brown will receive his Honorary Doctorate at one of the awards ceremonies taking place at the University in July.