Robert Allison (geographer)

Robert John Allison CBE (born 4 February 1961) is a British academic.

Bob Allison was educated at Northallerton Grammar School, before studying Geography at Hull University, gaining a B.A. in 1982. He was awarded a Ph.D. in Geography from King's College London in 1986. In 1986 he was appointed as the Addison Wheeler Fellow at Durham University, moving to a lectureship at University College London in 1989. In 1992 Allison returned to Durham, becoming Professor of Geography in 1999. He also served as Head of the Department of Geography and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Health.

In 2006 he joined the University of Sussex as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research eventually becoming Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Allison was appointed Vice-Chancellor and President of Loughborough University in 2012, serving in that role for nine years, before retiring in 2021.

During Professor Allison's tenure at Loughborough, the University rose up into the top 10 in every national league table and named University of the Year an unparalleled five times. He has overseen a significant expansion at the institution, with the establishment 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 at the Loughborough site.

Professor Allison, known to students a VC Bob, has been a driving force behind the Loughborough student experience, which is widely recognised as the best in the UK. He champions students' involvement in activities that enable them to make the fullest contribution possible to society and is an enthusiastic supporter of Loughborough Sport.

Professor Allison was the Higher Education representative on the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills Enterprise Education Expert Group, the International HE Adviser to the Minister of Education in Brunei, a member of several speciality groups within Universities UK (the collective group for the country's HE institutions) and is a member of the Advisory Committee on Degree Awarding Powers. He has also been a Director of the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership, Honorary Canon Professor of Leicester Cathedral, a governor of the Loughborough Schools Foundation, Trustee of the Oval Learning Trust and Vice-President of Leicestershire Scouts.

Professor Allison is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and of the British Society for Geomorphology. During his career Allison has received several honours and awards, including the Cuthbert Peek Award from the Royal Geographical Society, the Charles Lyell Award from the British Association of the Advancement off Science, and the Jan de Ploey Prize from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. Most recently, he was awarded the Outstanding Leadership Award from the Council for Advancement and support in Education, and Honorary Fellowship of the Manufacturing Technology Centre, High Value Manufacturing Catapult.

Allison was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to higher education.[1]