Bulletin No. 2, 2009

66th Congregation   29  P rofessor Alison F. Richard P rof. Alison F. Richard became Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge in 2003, where her talent for drawing people together has inspired and united the university and its 31 colleges. She is the first woman to hold the position full-time. She has led significant advances within the university in developing strategic interdisciplinary academic initiatives, and in international strategy, the organization of graduate education, and institutional governance. Her consensus-building approach has been crucial to the success of Cambridge’s 800th Anniversary Campaign to raise £1 billion to strengthen and diversify the financial underpinnings of collegiate Cambridge. A distinguished anthropologist, Professor Richard has had a close involvement with Madagascar since 1977 and is active in forest conservation and the development of social and economic opportunities there. She has visited CUHK on many occasions and has served as an external expert of the University.