Preeminent lawyer and equality rights champion Sandie Okoro named University of Birmingham Chancellor

Sandie Okoro, a distinguished lawyer and advocate for equality rights, has been appointed the next Chancellor of the University of Birmingham. She will succeed Lord Bilimoria, who is stepping down after a decade of service in this role.

A proud alumna of the University of Birmingham, Okoro graduated with a degree in Law and Politics before qualifying as a barrister at City, University of London. She later transitioned to the role of solicitor, holding significant positions such as Head of Legal for Corporate Services at Schroders, Global General Counsel at Barings, and General Counsel for HSBC Global Asset Management. Okoro also served as Senior Vice-President and General Counsel, as well as Vice-President for Compliance, for the World Bank Group.

As Chancellor, Okoro will be the ceremonial head of the University. In this role, she will preside over degree ceremonies, celebrating and inspiring students on their graduation day. Additionally, she will engage with the community and stakeholders, advocating to enhance the University’s profile and reputation on regional, national, and global levels.

Upon accepting the position, Okoro expressed her deep connection to the University: “The wonderful University of Birmingham is the alma mater to three generations of the Okoros: my mum, me, and my son. My connection to it is very special indeed. I have closely followed the University’s outstanding progress since my days there as a student on a full grant back in the 1980s.”