Professor Sir Steve Smith is the UK Government International Education Champion. He was previously Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter from 2002-2020. In November 2020 he was also appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Representative to Saudi Arabia for Education.
Sir Steve holds a BSc, an MSc, and a PhD in International Relations from the University of Southampton. He served as President of the world academic body in his field (the International Studies Association) from 2003-2004.
Sir Steve was President of Universities UK (UUK) from 2009-2011; Chair of the UCAS Board from 2013 – 2019 ; Board member of the Russell Group (2012-2020); Chair of UUK’s International Policy Network and Chair of UUK’s International Strategic Advisory Board (2015-2020); Member of the UUK Board (2006-2020). He is currently a Fulbright Commissioner, a Non-Executive Director of Unite Students, Chair of the Liveable Exeter Place Board, and a Patron of Exeter College.
From 2007 until 2010, he led for higher education on the Prime Minister’s National Council of Excellence in Education. Sir Steve was knighted in the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to higher education locally and nationally.