Russell Group, UK. University of Bristol vice-chancellor and president Evelyn Welch has been named as the new chair of the Russell Group, taking over from Chris Day in August 2026 to become the tenth chair of the organisation. Evelyn has been vice-chancellor and president of the University of Bristol since September 2022 and will continue in this role. As a professor of renaissance studies, she has taught at University of Essex, Birkbeck College, the Warburg Institute, and held leadership roles at University of Sussex and Queen Mary, University of London. Upon her appointment, Evelyn said: “It is an honour to be named as the tenth chair of the Russell Group. I welcome the opportunity to work with this outstanding group of world-leading universities, and with other higher education mission groups, as we continue to advocate for the importance of universities to the UK’s success, nationally and globally.”