Preferred candidate chosen for AHRC Chair

Professor Sir Drummond Bone has been selected as the government’s preferred candidate to be the Chair of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). Sir Drummond Bone is Master of Balliol College at the University of Oxford, Chair of UK Libraries Research Reserve project and Chair of the iGraduate Group. The previous AHRC Chair, Sir Alan Wilson stepped down at the end of December 2013. The House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee will hold a pre-appointment hearing on 27 January 2014 and report on Sir Drummond Bone’s suitability for this post.

About The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funds world-class, independent researchers in a wide range of subjects: ancient history, modern dance, archaeology, digital content, philosophy, English literature, design, the creative and performing arts, and much more. This financial year (2013-14) the AHRC will spend approximately £98 million to fund research and postgraduate training in collaboration with a number of partners. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK.

The House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee will hold a pre-appointment hearing on 27 January 2014 and report on Sir Drummond Bone’s suitability for this post.

Pre-appointment scrutiny hearings enable Select Committees to take evidence from candidates for certain key public appointments before they are appointed. Hearings are in public and involve the Select Committee publishing a report setting out their views on the candidate’s suitability for a post. Pre-appointment hearings are non-binding but ministers will consider the Committee’s views before deciding whether to proceed with the appointment.

The Chairs of the all of the Research Councils are listed as posts suitable for pre-appointment hearings. That list was published in the government’s Response to the Liaison Committee’s First Special Report of Session 2007-08 Liaison Committee, First Special Report of Session 2007-08, Pre-appointment hearings by Select Committees: Government Response, HC 594.