Geoff Layer

Professor Geoff Layer is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, a role he has held since August 2011. Previously, he served as Pro Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at the University of Bradford. His career has been marked by significant contributions to higher education policy, widening participation, and inclusive education. He holds notable national and regional roles, including Chair of the Disabled Students’ Commission, Chair of the Student Loans Company Stakeholder Forum, and Chair of the Advance HE Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Regionally, Layer is a Director of the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, Vice-President of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, and Chair of Universities West Midlands (UWM). His academic and professional background includes leadership roles at HEFCE, such as Director of Action on Access and Director of the HEFCE Innovations Co-ordination Team. He has published extensively on inclusive education and holds fellowships from the Royal Society of Arts, the Higher Education Academy, and Leeds College of Music.

Layer’s educational background includes studies in the North East of England and Soham, Cambridgeshire. Beyond academia, he is a Sunderland Football Club supporter and plays cricket for Sheffield Collegiate Cricket Club.