Karen O'Brien

Professor Karen O'Brien joined Durham University as Vice-Chancellor and Warden in January 2022, overseeing its educational and research mission. Prior roles include Head of Humanities Division at the University of Oxford and Vice-Principal for Education at King’s College London.

• Oxford scholar and philanthropy-driven academic leader
• Architect of £150m Schwarzman Centre for Humanities
• Founder of Oxford's Institute for Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

Her research focuses on Enlightenment-era literature and intellectual history, with significant contributions to higher education policy and ethics in technology. Awards include:

• British Academy Rose Mary Crawshay Prize
• Fellowships from RSA, English Association, and Oxford/Cambridge colleges

A regular media commentator (BBC Radio 4/World Service), she emphasizes global research growth and sustainable development goals.