John Middleton

(Elected 2013)

John Middleton is an independent management consultant. In his career he has delivered many large-scale and high-impact capital and revenue projects. After initially working for them as a consultant, in 2006 John joined the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation as the Head of Economic Development. During his time there he became closely involved in the early discussions between Birkbeck and the University of East London about the possibility of developing a new campus in Stratford, east London.

More recently he was the Joint Chief Executive at The Legacy List, the Mayoral charity for the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, launched in September 2011, and from there became Principal Advisor to the London Legacy Development Corporation. In that role he initiated a number of projects including establishing a network of universities with interests close to the Park so they could more easily work collaboratively in the scoping and delivery of large scale projects in east London.

A one-time Vice-Principal (Director of Resources) of Newham Sixth Form College, John has lived and worked in east London for 15 years. He said: ‘It is hugely significant for east London that a higher education institution of the quality, history and reach of Birkbeck has chosen to come to Stratford. I have been delighted to work with the College’s former Vice-Master, Philip Dewe, to develop relationships in east London and to see the new campus, University Square Stratford, come into being is a joyous experience.

‘I have been a strong advocate of the values and ethos of Birkbeck since I first became involved with the College. I left school with only one A-level, so to be invited to be a Fellow of Birkbeck exactly 30 years later is an extraordinary, and very moving, thing to happen. It is unbelievable that as a Fellow I am now in the same category as my old Professor, Peter Mortimer, from my time at Lancaster University!

‘As a Birkbeck Fellow my strong wish is to continue to demonstrate the values of Birkbeck and introduce these to my network and connections for many years to come.’