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Professor Bob Allison was brought up in North Yorkshire and educated at Northallerton Grammar School, before studying at Hull University and King’s College London, where he was awarded a PhD in 1986. Bob’s career has included academic posts at University College London, the University of Durham and the University of Sussex.
Professor Allison was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Loughborough University in 2012, serving in that role for nine years. During Professor Allison's time at Loughborough, the University rose up into the top 10 in every national league table and was named University of the Year an unparalleled five times. He oversaw opening of the University's London campus on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the development of the UK's most rapidly growing Science and Enterprise Park. Known to students as VC Bob, he was the driving force behind the Loughborough student experience, widely recognised as one of the best in the UK.
Since stepping down from his role at Loughborough, Professor Allison has developed a portfolio of responsibilities. Recent appointments include being a Trustee of the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the St Philip’s Centre, Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Air Ambulance Service and Children’s Air Ambulance, Trustee of the HSSMI Foundation whose goal is to boost UK manufacturing. Bob is the Senior NonExecutive Member of Chapter at Leicester Cathedral, where he also has the title of Honorary Canon Professor. Most recently Professor Alison joined the Council of City University of London as an independent member, where he also chairs Audit and Risk Committee. Bob is honoured to be the President of Leicestershire Scouts.
During his career Bob Allison has received the Cuthbert Peek Award from the Royal Geographical Society, the Charles Lyell Award from the British Association of the Advancement of Science, and the Jan de Ploey Prize from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. He was awarded the Outstanding Leadership Award from the Council for Advancement and Support in Education. Professor Allison was appointed Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours.