Nicholas David Leimu-Brown (born 4 December 1962) is a British botanist and academic. Since 2010, he has been Principal of Linacre College, Oxford.[1][2] He is also a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner.[3]

Nick Brown
Nick Brown, Principal of Linacre College, Oxford
Born4 December 1962 Edit this on Wikidata
Brockworth Edit this on Wikidata
Alma mater
Academic career
FieldsEcology Edit this on Wikidata
Institutions
ThesisDipterocarp regeneration in tropical rain forest gaps of different sizes
Doctoral advisorTimothy Charles Whitmore

Early life and education

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Leimu-Brown was born on 4 December 1962 in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, England.[4] He completed the International Baccalaureate at UWC Atlantic College in Wales from 1979 to 1981.[5] He then studied geography at the University of Cambridge (Churchill College) between .[4][5] From 1986 to 1990 he studied for a DPhil in Forest Ecology under the supervision of Timothy Charles Whitmore at the University of Oxford (Linacre College).[5][6] His thesis was entitled "Dipterocarp regeneration in tropical rain forest gaps of different sizes".[7] He has also completed a diploma in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.[8]

Career and research

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Leimu-Brown was a lecturer at Manchester University from 1989 and then from 1992 to 2010 he was a lecturer in forestry at the University of Oxford.[4][9][10][11]

In 2010 he took office as the fourth principal of Linacre College, Oxford.[1][2]


Since 2014 he has been a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner acting as chair of awards policy committee.[3]

Since 2015 he has been the chair of the University of Oxford buildings and estates sub-committee and serves on the planning and resource allocation committee of council.[12][13] He also chairs the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter and the Science Area Advisory Boards.[14][15]

Amidst a global climate crisis and whilst many institutes divest from fossil fuel funds, Nick Brown was unsuccessful in 2022 into moving private fossil fuel funds subject to a high court lawsuit, in a deal alleged to be corrupt,[16] to change the academic nature of the college, including name, away from its values of environmentalism and gender equality. [17] The event generated substantial international criticism and attention.[18][19]

Personal life

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Leimu-Brown is married to Dr Roosa Leimu-Brown, a yoga therapist, movement educator and dance artist with a PhD in biology,[20] affiliated with the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford.[21][22] Nick Leimu-Brown's hobbies include sailing.[23]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Dr Nick Brown elected as next Principal of Linacre". News. University of Oxford. 18 November 2009. Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  2. ^ a b "College history | Linacre College". University of Oxford. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Dr Nick Brown – GOV.UK". gov.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "BROWN, Dr Nicholas David". Who's Who 2016. Oxford University Press. November 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  5. ^ a b c "Nick Brown | LinkedIn". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  6. ^ Burley, Jeffery; Mills, Roger A; Plumptre, Robert A; Savill, Peter S; Wood, Peter J; Wright, Howard L (2009). "A History of Forestry at Oxford University". British Scholar. 1 (2): 236–261. doi:10.3366/brs.2009.0007.
  7. ^ Brown, N. D. (1 January 1990). "Dipterocarp regeneration in tropical rain forest gaps of different sizes". Thesis --University of Oxford. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ "Nick Brown". ResearchGate. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  9. ^ "Dr ND Brown". People. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford. February 2014. Archived from the original on 12 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  10. ^ "Oxford Forestry Institute – Annual Report 1994". University of Oxford. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  11. ^ "Plant Sciences Staff". 28 March 2015. Archived from the original on 28 March 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  12. ^ "Buildings and Estates Subcommittee Membership". Buildings and Estates Subcommittee Membership. University of Oxford. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  13. ^ "Connecting Oxfordshire: Local Transport Plan 2015–2031" (PDF). Oxford Futures. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  14. ^ "ROQ Advisory Board (ROQAB)". ROQ Advisory Board (ROQAB). University of Oxford. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  15. ^ "Science Area Advisory Board (SAAB)". Science Area Advisory Board (SAAB). University of Oxford. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  16. ^ "Bikini airline tycoon in £155m legal battle". Retrieved 28 June 2023 – via PressReader.
  17. ^ Turner, Camilla (18 December 2022). "'Bikini airline' tycoon due to have Oxford college named after her embroiled in £155m legal row". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  18. ^ Turner, Camilla (14 June 2022). "Oxford college investigated over £155m gift with links to communist regime". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  19. ^ Hancock, Charlie (10 July 2022). "Linacre name change donation under government investigation". Cherwell. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  20. ^ Leimu-Brown, Roosa (2022). "Roosa Leimu-Brown". Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  21. ^ "Dr Roosa Leimu Brown | Plants for the 21st Century Institute". University of Oxford. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  22. ^ "TEST for Africa". testforafrica.com. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  23. ^ "European Outdoor Conservation Association | About Us | Who We Are". European Outdoor Conservation Association | About Us | Who We Are. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
Academic offices
Preceded by Principal of Linacre College, Oxford
2010–present
Incumbent