OBE for University Deputy Chief Executive

Mr Allen has worked in higher education since 1976. He has been Registrar of three universities, Nottingham, Birmingham and Exeter, since 2003. He is the only person to have chaired both the Association of Heads of University Administration (AHUA) and the Association of University Administrators (AUA). He is currently a member of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and has been a Director of the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education and served on numerous other national bodies relating to higher education. In the South West he is a Board member of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership and from 2006-9 chaired a Steering Group of partners to plan and fund Exeter Science Park.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter, Professor Sir Steve Smith, said: “This is incredibly well deserved recognition for a working lifetime spent at the sharp end of developing universities. David has a wonderful track record of modernising and improving higher education for the benefit of students and staff and has made an enormous impact in helping to turn the University of Exeter into a top 10 UK institution. He has also made major national contributions in England and in Wales as the first Registrar ever to be on a funding council.”

Speaking of the award Mr Allen said: “This award recognises the enormous energy and hard work of the professional staff of the University of Exeter and I am delighted to accept it on their behalf.”

Mr Allen was born in Barry in South Wales in 1952. He graduated from Swansea University in 1973 and later as a postgraduate from Cardiff University. In addition to Nottingham, Birmingham and Exeter he has worked in the Universities of Southampton and Wales and the University of Wales College of Medicine. He lives in Chudleigh and is married with five children.