Sir Graeme John Davies
(7 April 1937 – 30 August 2022) was a New Zealand engineer, academic and administrator. During his career, he was
Vice-Chancellor
A chancellor is a leader of a college or university, usually either the executive or ceremonial head of the university or of a university campus within a university system.
In most Commonwealth and former Commonwealth nations, the chancellor ...
of three universities: the
University of Liverpool
, mottoeng = These days of peace foster learning
, established = 1881 – University College Liverpool1884 – affiliated to the federal Victoria Universityhttp://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/2004/4 University of Manchester Act 200 ...
, the
University of Glasgow
, image = UofG Coat of Arms.png
, image_size = 150px
, caption = Coat of arms
Flag
, latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis
, motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita
, ...
and the
University of London
The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...
.
[
]
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
Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about ...
. He later attended the
University of Auckland
, mottoeng = By natural ability and hard work
, established = 1883; years ago
, endowment = NZD $293 million (31 December 2021)
, budget = NZD $1.281 billion (31 December 2021)
, chancellor = Cecilia Tarrant
, vice_chancellor = Dawn F ...
when he obtained a
BE in
Aeronautical Engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary field of engineering concerned with the development of aircraft and spacecraft. It has two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering. Avionics engineering is sim ...
and
PhD in
Materials Science.
His doctoral thesis was entitled ''The work-hardening behaviour of polycrystalline copper during interrupted tensile testing''.
Career
In 1962 Davies moved to the
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209 and granted a royal charter by Henry III in 1231, Cambridge is the world's third oldest surviving university and one of its most pr ...
, and subsequently became a Fellow and Dean of
St Catharine's College, Cambridge, obtaining an
MA and
ScD.
Davies taught
metallurgy at the
University of Auckland
, mottoeng = By natural ability and hard work
, established = 1883; years ago
, endowment = NZD $293 million (31 December 2021)
, budget = NZD $1.281 billion (31 December 2021)
, chancellor = Cecilia Tarrant
, vice_chancellor = Dawn F ...
(1964–1966), the
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209 and granted a royal charter by Henry III in 1231, Cambridge is the world's third oldest surviving university and one of its most pr ...
(1966–1977) and the
University of Sheffield
, mottoeng = To discover the causes of things
, established = – University of SheffieldPredecessor institutions:
– Sheffield Medical School – Firth College – Sheffield Technical School – University College of Sheffield
, type = Pu ...
(1978–1986) where he was Professor of Metallurgy.
Davies served as Chief Executive of the
Universities Funding Council
The Universities Funding Council (UFC) was a UK body established under the Education Reform Act 1988 replacing the University Grants Committee. It distributed funds provided by central government to universities for the provision of education and ...
(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
A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context.
In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements.
Within the context of higher education ...
of the
Royal Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the
Royal Society of Edinburgh and an Honorary Fellow of the
Royal Society of New Zealand
Royal may refer to:
People
* Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name
* A member of a royal family
Places United States
* Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community
* Royal, Illinois, a village
* Royal, Iowa, a c ...
, the
Royal Veterinary College, the
UCL School of Pharmacy
The UCL School of Pharmacy (formerly The School of Pharmacy, University of London) is the pharmacy school of University College London (UCL). The School forms part of UCL's Faculty of Life Sciences and is located in London, United Kingdom.
The ...
,
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance is a music and dance conservatoire based in London, England. It was formed in 2005 as a merger of two older institutions – Trinity College of Music and Laban Dance Centre. The conservatoire has ...
,
St George's, University of London
St George's, University of London (legally St George's Hospital Medical School, informally St George's or SGUL), is a University located in Tooting in South London and is a constituent college of the University of London. St George's has its o ...
, the
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, is an institute of physicians and surgeons in Glasgow, Scotland.
Founded by Peter Lowe after receiving a royal charter by James VI in 1599, as the Glasgow Faculty, it originally exis ...
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.
Davies also served as the Chairman of
Universities Superannuation Scheme
The Universities Superannuation Scheme is a pension scheme in the United Kingdom with £89.6 billion under management as of August 2021 (up from £67 billion in 2019). It has over 400,000 members, made up of active and retired academic and aca ...
(USS), Ltd. He also held roles including Emeritus Vice Chancellor of the
University of London
The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...
; Chairman of the British University Vietnam, the
Foundation for Liver Research, Governor of the
University of Lincoln
, mottoeng = Freedom through wisdom
, established = 1861 – Hull School of Art1905 – Endsleigh College1976 – Hull College1992 – University of Humberside1996 – University of Lincolnshire and Humberside2001 ...
, of
Taylor's University
Taylor's University (commonly referred to as Taylor's) is a private university in Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. It is often regarded as Malaysia's top private university in Malaysia based on the QS World University Rankings.
It was founded ...
, of the
British Institute of Technology and E-commerce, and Trustee of
Regent's University London
Regent's University London (formerly Regent's College) is a private university located in London, England. It is part of Galileo Global Education, Europe’s largest higher education provider.
Regent's University London was established in 1984 ...
.
Davies was Member of the Council of the
Worshipful Company of Ironmongers
The Worshipful Company of Ironmongers is one of the Great Twelve Livery Company, livery companies of the City of London, incorporated under a Royal Charter in 1463.
History
The Ironmongers, who were originally known as the Ferroners, were in ...
, 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
The Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC) was a UK government body that carried out civil research in science and engineering.
On 1 April 2007 CCLRC merged with PPARC to form the Science and Technology Facilities Co ...
, and a Governor of the
University of Hertfordshire
The University of Hertfordshire (UH) is a public university in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. The university is based largely in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Its antecedent institution, Hatfield Technical College, was founded in 1948 and was ident ...
, of the
University of Seychelles
University of Seychelles, informally also called UniSey, is the primary institution of higher education in Seychelles. It was established on 17 September 2009.
There are three campuses: the main campus at Anse Royale, the Mont Fleuri campus off ...
, and of
Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a public school (English independent boarding school for pupils aged 13 –18) in Shrewsbury.
Founded in 1552 by Edward VI by Royal Charter, it was originally a boarding school for boys; girls have been admitted into ...
. For five years he served as a Member of the Public Interest Body of
Pricewaterhouse Coopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers is an international professional services brand of firms, operating as partnerships under the PwC brand. It is the second-largest professional services network in the world and is considered one of the Big Four accounting ...
.
Davies was knighted in
1996 New Year Honours for services to the
Higher Education Funding Council for England.
He died at his home on 30 August 2022, at the age of 85.
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
References
External links
Profile of Sir Graeme Davies at the University of LondonProfile of Sir Graeme Davies at St Catharine's College, CambridgeUK Centre for Materials Education: Interview with Professor Sir Graeme Davies
{{DEFAULTSORT:Davies, Graeme
1937 births
2022 deaths
Vice-Chancellors of the University of Liverpool
Alumni of St Catharine's College, Cambridge
University of Auckland alumni
New Zealand academics
New Zealand Knights Bachelor
Principals of the University of Glasgow
Vice-Chancellors of the University of London
Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering
Fellows of the Royal Society of New Zealand
New Zealand expatriates in England
21st-century British engineers
20th-century New Zealand engineers
People educated at Mount Albert Grammar School