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Sir Richard Heaton

Robinson College has announced the election of Sir Richard Heaton as its new Warden, following Professor David Yates’ 20 years of service in the role.

Sir Richard Heaton will succeed Professor David Yates on 1 October 2021, taking up the role of Warden at a pivotal moment in Robinson’s history as the College prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027.

Sir Richard joins Robinson after a distinguished civil service career during which he worked in departments across government, focusing particularly on justice, the constitution and human rights.

Sir Richard was Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice and Clerk of the Crown in Chancery from 2015 to 2020, and Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office from 2012 to 2015. He read law at Worcester College, Oxford, and joined the Government Legal Service in 1991. He held a number of legal and non-legal roles earlier in his career including at the Home Office, the Attorney General’s Office and the Department for Work and Pensions.  For six years Sir Richard was senior race champion for the UK civil service, promoting progression into and within the service by talented individuals from all backgrounds.

An experienced trustee and passionate supporter of the arts, Sir Richard is currently a trustee at Koestler Arts, which promotes rehabilitation through access to the arts for prisoners and those detained in the criminal justice system.

On the announcement of his election, Sir Richard said:

“Getting to know Robinson College has been a huge pleasure, and I am delighted and humbled to have been elected as its next and third Warden, following the long and immensely distinguished tenure of Professor David Yates. Robinson has a reputation for friendliness, which I have already discovered from many conversations with staff, students and Fellows to be entirely well-founded. Building on its proud and relatively short history, it is also clear that Robinson has a limitless future as a modern, academically excellent, inclusive and happy college in the Cambridge tradition.”

Professor David Yates said:

“It has been a great honour, and an enormous pleasure, to lead Robinson for the past 20 years and I am delighted to congratulate Richard on his election as Warden.”

Read more on the College's website >

Published

13 May 2021