Who's Who

Who: Then

Who: Now

I was very pleased to see that the STFC has in place a former Dr Who as Director of IT and International Strategy. I believe that this is very forward thinking of the Council. After all, you don't get much more international than Gallifrey, and there's not a lot that Dr Who doesn't know about IT.

I hope this is the first of many such appointments. I look forward to Jude the Apostle being appointed to oversee the Shared Services Centre, and Richard Nixon taking over RCUK's 'Open Access' remit.

About Turn on Adrian Smith Job

After all the speculation and concern over Adrian Smith's job cut at BIS, it's been announced this week that he is going to be appointed to the new, combined role, rather than drafting in a career civil servant. Smith will become Director General of Knowledge and Innovation in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
So sighs of relief all round, though Research Fortnight has noted that Smith has taken over, in his combined role, from Stephen Marston, who was Director General for Universities and Skills. It still remains to be seen, then, what happens in the light of Browne's recommendations over student fees.
Incidentally, is it just me or is there a touch of the former Dr Who Jon Pertwee about the new Director General?