University of Birmingham welcomes Sandie Okoro OBE as new Chancellor
More than 300 guests celebrate the distinguished lawyer and alumna's official installation as the University’s new Chancellor.
The University of Birmingham has officially installed Sandie Okoro OBE as its new Chancellor in a special ceremony.
More than 300 guests, including members of staff and students, attended the installation ceremony in the Bramall Music Building, where Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council Mervyn Walker welcomed the distinguished lawyer and alumna as the University’s new Chancellor.
Only the eighth Chancellor since the University was established in 1900, Sandie succeeds Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea CBE and follows in the footsteps of founder the Rt Hon Joseph Chamberlain and former Prime Minister the Rt Hon Anthony Eden, the Earl of Avon.
The University marked the occasion by launching the Chancellor's Scholarships for high-achieving international postgraduate taught (PGT) students for 2025.
It is a very special feeling for me to come home to the University as alumna and Chancellor, as we prepare for the excitement of celebrating our 125th anniversary next year. I look forward to marking this momentous year with the staff and students who make the University of Birmingham such a wonderful place.
Ahead of the ceremony, Sandie spent the day on campus meeting academics and students as well as taking part in a live online link with colleagues at the University of Birmingham Dubai. The ceremony itself featured music from student dectet Birmingham Symphonic Brass and Birmingham University Singers.
Sandie also received a surprise gift during the event to mark her installation - an incredible bespoke brooch created by the University’s research partner Cooksongold, a manufacturer based in Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter, and its sister company Weston Beamor.
The research partnership explores ways to overcome the challenges of 3D printing precious metals. The brooch design features the University’s motto ‘Per Ardua Ad Alta’, Roman numerals to note its 125th anniversary, and a palm tree to represent the campus in Dubai.
There are several references to Sandie herself on the brooch: a scales and sword for law and justice, the national birds of Trinidad and Nigeria to represent her heritage, and even a chain in the style of TV show Peaky Blinders, which she loves
Vice-Chancellor Adam Tickell, Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council Mervyn Walker, and Chancellor Sandie Okoro OBE
Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Birmingham, commented: “As the University of Birmingham prepares to celebrate its 125th birthday next year, we are proud to officially install Sandie Okoro OBE as our new Chancellor.
“Sandie is one of the UK’s most respected lawyers and a high-profile equality rights champion with a remarkable contribution to diversity, equality and female rights. A proud alumna of this University, she is globally recognised as an inspirational and highly respected trailblazer in the corporate legal sector.”
The Chancellor is ceremonial head of the University of Birmingham, presiding at degree ceremonies, celebrating with and inspiring students on their graduation day. They act as an advocate and representative of the University regionally, nationally and globally.
University of Birmingham Chancellor Sandie Okoro OBE commented: “I am both excited and honoured to become the first female Chancellor in the long history of the University of Birmingham - one of Britain’s great universities.
“It is a very special feeling for me to come home to the University as alumna and Chancellor, as we prepare for the excitement of celebrating our 125th anniversary next year. I look forward to marking this momentous year with the staff and students who make the University of Birmingham such a wonderful place.”
Sandie brings a remarkable record of accolades recognising her contribution to diversity, equality and female rights, and is currently Group General Counsel of Standard Chartered where she leads the Bank’s Legal, Group Corporate Secretariat and Shared Investigative Services functions.
She graduated with a degree in Law and Politics from Birmingham before qualifying as a barrister at City, University of London. After switching roles to solicitor, Sandie held posts including Head of Legal for Corporate Services at Schroders, Global General Counsel at Barings and General Counsel for HSBC Global Asset Management. Sandie was also Senior Vice-President and General Counsel, and Vice-President for Compliance, for the World Bank Group.
Sandie was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours for her services to Diversity in International Finance. She has also received a lifetime achievement award from the UK Black Solicitors Network and was named one of the Power 100 Women by City A.M. and 100 Women to Watch by Female FTSE Board.
Notes for editors
Notes for editors
For more information, please contact Press Office, University of Birmingham, tel: +44 (0)121 414 2772
The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 8,000 international students from over 150 countries.
The University is home to over 40,000 students. Around 80% of its students are from state schools. Around 25% of our students come from the West Midlands and more than 40% of Birmingham graduates choose to make their home in the city after graduation.
Sandie Okoro OBE received the Howard University 2019 Vanguard Women Award for her accomplishments as a woman of colour who has blazed the trail and her commitment to mentoring young women and advancing the rights of women and girls globally. Sandie is also the recipient of the Beyond the Glass Ceiling Award presented by the Leadership Institute for Women of Color Attorneys (2019), the Chambers 100 Outstanding Global General Counsel (2019). Sandie is an Honorary Bencher of Middle Temple in the United Kingdom.
Sandie was appointed inaugural Chair of the UK-based charity Women of the World Foundation in June 2021, she received an honorary lifetime Emeritus membership of the Law Societies’ Compact and Forum for Sustainable Development Goal 16 in June 2022 and is a Governor of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Sandie has previously been a council member of the human rights organization JUSTICE, Ambassador for the Law Society’s Diversity Access Scheme and sat on the Equality Standards Panel of the Premier League.
Previous Chancellors of the University of Birmingham include: The Rt Hon Joseph Chamberlain, 1900-1914; The Rt Hon Robert Cecil, 1st Viscount Cecil of Chelwood, 1918 -1944; The Rt Hon Anthony Eden, the Earl of Avon, 1945-1973; Sir Peter Scott, 1973-1983; Sir Alex Jarratt, 1983-2002; Sir Dominic Cadbury, 2002-2013; and Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea CBE, 2014-2024
The formal responsibilities of the Chancellor are set out in the University’s Legislation. They preside at Degree Congregations and confer degrees of the University.
The University plays an integral role in the economic, social and cultural growth of local and regional communities, working closely with businesses and organisations. Its recent Impact Report highlights the significant impact the University makes to the West Midlands and UK economies – totalling £4.4bn and supporting nearly 20,000 jobs.