Ian Grovesnor

I became an Emeritus Professor at the University of Birmingham in 2021. In my 22 years of employment at the University I have held a range of roles including Professor of Urban Educational History, Head of the School of Education, 2006-08, Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor for Cultural Engagement [DPVC], 2010-14 and Director of the Voices of War and Peace Engagement Centre, 2014-21. In my role of DPVC, I was responsible for developing the university’s overall cultural engagement strategy and established both internal and external partnerships to maximise the value of both the university’s significant cultural assets and its strong civic links.

My appointment as DPVC was based upon my leadership and operational experience in knowledge exchange projects in culture and heritage. In 2014 I was appointed to a second chair as Professor with Responsibility for City and Cultural Liaison and held this post until 2020.

Prior to my career at the University, I was a school teacher in Wolverhampton and Sandwell working in primary, secondary and special schools before taking up posts in higher education at Newman and Westhill Colleges, 1991-97 and Nene College, now the University of Northampton, 1997-98.

Other roles during my academic career have included Co-Convenor of Black Pasts, Birmingham Futures, 1999-2009, Secretary General of the European Educational Research Association, 2008-12, West Midlands Heritage Lottery Fund Regional Committee Member, 2010-16, Board Member of Sampad 2014-24, Chair of Birmingham Museums Trust, 2016-19, and Trustee of Chamberlain Highbury Trust 2016-23. I became a Trustee of the Birmingham Civic Society in 2023, a Committee Member of the Friends of Birmingham Archives and Heritage in 2024 and am a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

Over the years I have published widely and worked with academics in Europe, Australia, USA, Latin America, and Canada. That said I remain a local lad – born in Smethwick, schooled in Halesowen, and living in Birmingham.