Professor Dame Sally Davies DBE FRS FMedSci has been appointed as the next Master of Trinity College, succeeding Sir Gregory Winter CBE FRS FMedSci when he steps down later this year.

After a global search for a suitably qualified and experienced candidate, Dame Davies will be the 39th Master of Trinity and the first woman in the role, leading the 40th anniversary of co-education at the College.

Dame Davies is currently Chief Medical Advisor to the government and Chief Medical Officer for England, the first woman to hold this post. She was made Dame Commander of the British Empire for services to Medicine in 2009, and is also a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

“It truly is a privilege and an honour to be appointed Master of Trinity, especially to be the first female Master. I am excited to get started and to continue building the prestigious legacy of this inspiring College,” she said in regards to her upcoming role.

Dame Davies will be responsible for promoting Trinity’s values in higher education and research excellence and take up the role as Chair of Council, the executive arm and trustees of the College.

Professor Grae Worster, Vice Master of Trinity, said that the College is “delighted” to welcome Professor Dame Sally Davies to Trinity.

“Her distinguished career as an academic and consultant haematologist, as well as her extensive experience in public administration, will be of great benefit to the College.”

Dame Davies also led the government’s international campaign on antimicrobial resistance and advised the government in health emergencies including Wave 3 of the flu pandemic in 2010, Ebola in West Africa in 2013-15, Zika, Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2018, and the Novichok attack in 2018.

Professor Catherine Barnard, Senior Tutor at Trinity, added that Dame Davies’ election is “exciting news” for the College. She believed that students and staff “will look forward to working with Dame Sally to ensure Trinity continues to offer the very best environment for learning and research” as Trinity celebrates its 40th year into co-educational education.

In 1975, the statutes at Trinity were changed to allow women to be admitted: the first female postgraduates arrived in 1976, the first female Fellow was elected in 1977 and the first female undergraduates were admitted in 1978.

Dame Davies will take up her position as the first female Master of Trinity on 8th October 2019.