On Monday, Don met the Chief Executive Officer of the ESRC, and his senior team, in their annual visit to the University. Then he hosted the visit and Distinguished Lecture of Professor Robin Grimes, Chief Scientific Advisor of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

On Tuesday, he welcomed Sir George Buckley, former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of 3M (and Southampton alumnus), who was meeting the whole of UEG as well as some of our enterprising students. Later that day he attended the Beating of the Retreat in London as a guest of First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sir George Zambellas, another alumnus.

Wednesday and Thursday morning are taken up with internal meetings, and on Thursday afternoon Don is meeting Southampton graduate, Jason Cowley (Editor of the New Statesman) in London, before meeting Gill Rider, Chair of Council.

On Friday, as well as internal meetings, Don is meeting Southampton MP John Denham, and Chief Executive Officer of the Worldwide Universities Network, John Hearn.