Professor Dame Judith Petts was the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Plymouth, between February 2016 and October 2024 when she retired. She is now Emeritus Professor. She joined Plymouth from the University of Southampton where she had been Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise and previously the inaugural Dean of the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences (2010-13). Prior to this, she had spent 12 years at the University of Birmingham completing as Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research and Knowledge Transfer (2007-10).

Over more than 40 years, her research has particularly examined the interface between science and policy-making, and the effective use of evidence in decision-making, focusing on environmental risk management and on public engagement. She continues to chair the Energy Programme Board of the Great South West Pan Regional Partnership, having previously been a Director. Prior to that, Professor Dame Judith was a Director of the Heart of the South-West LEP.

She is a member of the Board of the Marine Management Organisation (2024-present), with previous ministerial appointments including as a member of the Council of BBSRC (2014-18); the Science Advisory Council of Defra (2011-16); the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (2006-11), and the Council of NERC (2000-6).

Professor Dame Judith has been a member of NERC’s Innovation Board; EPSRC’s Societal Issues Panel and Strategic Advisory Network; the Royal Society’s Science in Society Consultative Committee, and the Advisory Board of Veolia Environmental Services. She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in The King’s Birthday Honours 2024 for services to Higher Education and Sustainability, and CBE in The Queen’s New Year Honours 2012, for services to Scientific Research. She is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS), of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) and of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).