The Hon. Alice Walpole OBE has been appointed the new Director of Goodenough College. She is a former United Nations Assistant General Secretary. She commenced in this post on 12th April 2021. Prior to her UN role, she enjoyed a long and distinguished career with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in which she specialised in multilateral diplomacy and conflict resolution. Alice's most recent assignment was as Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, an appointment she held with great distinction from 2017-2021.

In announcing this appointment, Chairman of Goodenough College Stuart Shilson said: 'Alice was chosen from an extremely strong field of candidates from a wide range of public, private and not-for profit sector backgrounds. She brings a wealth of relevant experience to the position including considerable expertise in leading and managing complex organisations, an international outlook, and skills in building and sustaining effective networks across government, business, academia, and the arts . . . Alice is an energetic and inspirational leader, a persuasive and effective communicator and someone who can deliver change whilst staying true to the College's values and spirit of service.'

For her part, Alice Walpole underlined how much she looks forward to her new role: 'What appeals to me most is the opportunity - working closely with Goodenough's staff, Members, Governors, Fellows and Alumni - to shape and support a unique life experience for the College's Members at a historic institution at the heart of one of the world's great cities; to lead and promote an intellectual community, so as to enable each of its members to maximise their potential; to establish the best possible environment in which academic excellence and enriching experience can flourish.'