Sir Les Ebdon

Former Director of the Office of Fair Access, Les was previously Vice Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire. He is currently Chair of the Council of the University Centre Peterborough and a Board member of the University of East London and of Spurgeon’s College

His illustrious academic career in analytical chemistry took him to Makerere University in Uganda, Sheffield Hallam University and what has since become the University of Plymouth where he became a professor and Deputy Vice Chancellor.

Professor Ebdon was awarded a CBE in 2009 for services to local and national higher education and was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Bedfordshire in 2011. In 2018 he was knighted for his services to higher education and social mobility.

He has been a strong supporter of Grit for over 15 years since a highly successful pilot at the University of Bedfordshire transformed the outlook of the students who took part.