Professor Ginny Gibson to retire December 2017
Monday, 23 October 2017
Professor Ginny Gibson, Deputy Dean of Henley Business School, has announced her retirement at the end of 2017.
Ginny first came to Reading as a post-graduate student in real estate in 1980 and then returned to the Department of Land Management and Development as a lecturer in 1985. Over the past 32 years, she has held many roles within University and at Henley making a contribution across various fronts.
Ginny built her career across both research and teaching. She developed a new research area, corporate real estate, working with colleagues in the US and Europe. She won a number of fellowships; worked with a range of organisations including BT, Barclays, Boots, and the Office of Government Commerce; and won several prestigious awards including CoreNet Award for Significant Contribution to the corporate real estate field (2011), Elected honorary fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (2008), and ACES (Association of Chief Estates Surveyors) Honorary Fellowship (2004) for services to property management in the public sector
She also quickly took on teaching and learning roles including becoming programme director for the undergraduate degree in Land Management in the early 1990s, developing a new post-experience Masters in the late 1990s, and in 2002 becoming one of the first Faculty Directors of Teaching and Learning (now TLDs). She was instrumental in creating the systems on which we all now depend and her work on the revision to the Periodic Review process was commended by the QAA. She was an active QAA reviewer and led a significant HEFCE funded project.
During the last decade, Ginny has played an active role in the transformation of Henley Business School following the merger with the University, developing a compelling strategy and international brand, revitalising the academic and support functions, introducing new programmes and significantly increasing student numbers and revenue.
Finally Ginny has made contributions to the wider University from the start of her career from involvement in the University wide management lectures in the late 1980s, to participation in the Springboard programme as a role model to chairing the most recent review of Senate.
On her retirement, Ginny said:
“Reading has given me amazing opportunities to keep reinventing myself. I have been able to build both a strong research profile and develop significant leadership and management capabilities. When people ask why I have stayed so long- there is one easy answer...it has always been about the people and a cause I believe in. As I move into another phase of my life journey, Reading and Henley have given me the time and space to grow and on which I plan to continue to build.”
Professor John Board, Dean of Henley Business School, said:
“Ginny has been a great colleague over her many years at Reading. All acknowledge her contribution within the University and her decision to retire will leave a considerable gap to fill. Her impact on the complex project to bring Henley Business School into real existence after the merger between the old Henley Management College and the University was remarkable and impactful. I and colleagues at Henley wish Ginny well as she moves into the next exciting part of her career.”
Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell said:
“It is hard to overstate the contribution that Ginny Gibson has made to the University of Reading and the Henley Business School. She has been an outstanding servant, and one who has been passionately committed to our success. Her loyalty and willingness to take on a multiplicity of tasks – sometimes all at once! – are a great example to us all.
“Ginny’s work for the University has ranged across so many different areas that it is impossible to highlight one in particular. Yet, we know that her influence has been legion as successive generations of students and staff can testify. We are going to miss Ginny enormously, but we wish her a long, happy and fulfilling retirement.”