Caroline Johnstone has been appointed as our new Chair of Council, following a robust and competitive appointment process involving our staff and students. She will take up the voluntary role in August 2025.
About Caroline
Caroline has over 40 years’ experience working with large global organisations during periods of change, including turnaround, culture change, delivering value from mergers & acquisitions and cost optimisation, including some 30 years with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and sat on the UK Assurance Board as partner with oversight of people matters.
Significant governance and leadership experience
Over the last 15 years, Caroline has held a number of Chair and Non-Executive Director (NED) roles. She is currently an independent NED and Chair of the Board’s Colleague Engagement Committee for Spirax Group plc, a UK-listed, FTSE100, thermal energy and fluid technology solutions company, with 10,000 colleagues and direct operations in almost 70 countries worldwide. She has also been independent Chair of Synthomer plc, a global speciality chemicals business, and senior independent NED and Audit Committee Chair of Shepherd Group Ltd, with businesses including Portakabin. Caroline has also provided extensive advice to a range of global industrial organisations.
She has also been independent Chair of Synthomer plc, a global speciality chemicals business, and senior independent NED and Audit Committee Chair of Shepherd Group Ltd, with businesses including Portakabin. Caroline has also provided extensive advice to a range of global industrial organisations.
Caroline has experience in the Higher Education sector, having been a member of the Governing Board of the University of Manchester and a member of Council of the University of Leeds.
She studied Accountancy and Finance at Heriot-Watt University and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. She lives in Ripon, North Yorkshire.
The role of Chair As Chair she will lead our Council, which is the University’s governing body and also our Trustee Board. Council has ultimate responsibility for the affairs of the University including its role to advance education, learning and research for the public benefit.
Caroline succeeds Joe Docherty, who is stepping down after nearly seven years of distinguished service as Chair of Council and previously being a member of Council for nine years.
Caroline Johnstone, our new Chair of University Council, said: “I am hugely honoured and excited to take on this role; the legacy and reputation of Durham University is immense, and it is clearly a unique and special experience to those who study, work or interact here, which endures long after they leave.
"As someone who comes from a working-class background, I know from personal experience that University can change lives, be the driver of growth and ideas and develop leaders who constantly challenge the status quo, with integrity, respect and balance.
"I am already planning to get to know the University, students, staff and our partners in the region and beyond. These are undoubtedly tough times for the sector and we will face challenges together but there are also huge opportunities and I will work with everyone at the University to protect the legacy and develop the University for future students, staff and our communities. There has never been a more important time to provide and accelerate learning and research, with integrity, for the benefit of society.”
Caroline was selected as Chair from a range of outstanding candidates after an extensive recruitment process. The panel felt that Caroline’s skills and wide experience in governance and leadership in the private and public sectors, including Board experience at two universities, would be invaluable to the role. This, coupled with her obvious enthusiasm for higher education, make her an ideal choice to lead Durham University’s Council. “She will provide seamless continuity of leadership following the very successful tenure of the current Chair, Joe Docherty.
I welcome the news of Caroline's appointment and look forward to working with her in the coming months during a period of handover. I wish Caroline every success in a role which I have found to be varied and rewarding, as well as essential for effective governance.
I look forward to welcoming Caroline to her new role and working closely with her to ensure the sustainability and success of our University. The University Executive team greatly values our open and constructive relationship with our trustees and the time, wisdom and insight they bring to their roles. We are looking forward to Caroline taking that relationship forward in her role as Chair.
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