Graeme Davies

For those of a similar name, see Graeme Davis (disambiguation).

Sir Graeme John Davies FRSNZ^[1] (7 April 1937 – 30 August 2022) was a New Zealand engineer, academic and administrator. During his career, he was Vice-Chancellor of three universities: the University of Liverpool, the University of Glasgow and the University of London.^[2]

Sir Graeme Davies
Born	(1937-04-07)7 April 1937 New Zealand
Died	30 August 2022(2022-08-30) (aged 85)
Nationality	New Zealand
Alma mater	University of Auckland St Catharine's College, Cambridge
Known for	his pioneering work merging the polytechnic and university sectors in the United Kingdom and establishing the Higher Education Funding Council for England, and for his leadership of the leading universities of Liverpool, Glasgow and London.
Scientific career
Fields	Materials engineering, Metallurgy
Institutions	University of Cambridge, University of Sheffield, University of Liverpool, University of Glasgow, University of London

Early life

He was the son of Harry John Davies and Gladys Edna Davies (née Pratt). He was born in New Zealand and attended Mount Albert Grammar School in Auckland. He later attended the University of Auckland when he obtained a BE in Aeronautical Engineering and PhD in Materials Science.^[2] His doctoral thesis was entitled The work-hardening behaviour of polycrystalline copper during interrupted tensile testing.^[3]

Career

Davies taught metallurgy at the University of Auckland (1960–1962), the University of Cambridge (1964–1977) and the University of Sheffield (1978–1986) where he was Professor of Metallurgy.

He moved in 1962 to the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, initially as a TI Research Fellow. He was made a Demonstrator in 1964 and a Lecturer in 1966. Some details of his time in the Department are provided in a book covering its history.^[4] He also became a Fellow of St Catharine's College, Cambridge, serving as Dean and as a Tutor.

Davies became Chief Executive of the Universities Funding Council (UFC), and also of the Polytechnic and Colleges Funding Council (PCFC), and then of their successor, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). He was also a Fellow^[1] of the Royal Academy of Engineering^[1] and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand, the Royal Veterinary College, the UCL School of Pharmacy, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, St George's, University of London, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply. He was awarded Honorary Doctorates by thirteen universities.

Davies became an Honorary Fellow of St Catharine's College, Cambridge in 1989.^[2] Davies also served as the Chairman of Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), Ltd. He also held roles including Emeritus Vice Chancellor of the University of London; Chairman of the British University Vietnam, the Foundation for Liver Research, Governor of the University of Lincoln, of Taylor's University, of the British Institute of Technology and E-commerce, and Trustee of Regent's University London.

Davies was Member of the Council of the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers, and was Master from 2005 to 2006. He was also the Chairman of the NZ-UK Link Foundation and the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils, and a Governor of the University of Hertfordshire, of the University of Seychelles, and of Shrewsbury School. For five years he served as a Member of the Public Interest Body of Pricewaterhouse Coopers.

Davies was knighted in 1996 New Year Honours for services to the Higher Education Funding Council for England.^[2] He died at his home on 30 August 2022, at the age of 85.^[5][6]

Publications

• Solidification and Casting (1973)
• Texture and the Properties of Materials (co-ed, 1976)
• Solidificacao e Fundicao das Metals e Suas Ligas (jtly, 1978)
• Hot Working and Forming Processes (co-ed, 1980)
• Superplasticity (jtly, 1981)
• Essential Metallurgy for Engineers (jtly, 1985)
• Herding Cats (jtly, 2010)

See also

• List of Vice-Chancellors of the University of London