Ian Diamond

Sir Ian David Diamond FBA FRSE FAcSS DL (born 14 March 1954) is a British statistician, academic, and administrator, who served as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen until 2018. He became the UK's National Statistician in October 2019.

Sir Ian Diamond FBA FRSE FAcSS DL
Ian Diamond at the Safeguarding 2018 Conference
Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen
In office 1 April 2010 – 31 July 2018
Preceded by	Sir Duncan Rice
Succeeded by	George Boyne
National Statistician
Incumbent
Assumed office 22 October 2019
Preceded by	John Pullinger
Personal details
Born	14 March 1954 Kingskerswell, Devon
Spouse(s)	Lady Diamond (Jane)
Residence	Aberdeen
Alma mater	London School of Economics University of St Andrews
Profession	Statistician

Early life and education

Diamond was born Kingskerswell, Devon on 14 March 1954.[1] He obtained a BSc (Hons) degree in Economics in 1975 and an MSc degree in Statistics in 1976, both from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). In 1981, he received a PhD degree in Statistics from the University of St Andrews.[2]

Academic and non-executive career

Diamond became Principal of the University of Aberdeen in 2010, replacing Sir Duncan Rice. He announced in August 2017 that he would retire from this role,[3] and was succeeded in the post by George Boyne in August 2018.

Diamond's previous appointments include Chief Executive of the Economic and Social Research Council, Chair of the Research Councils UK Executive Group, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Southampton.[4] Chair of Lloyds Banking Group Foundation for England and Wales, Visiting Fellow at Nuffield College, Oxford.[5]

Diamond has been Chair of British Universities and Colleges Sport, Chair of the Department for International Development Research Advisory Group, 2018, Chair of Plan International UK, Chair of the Council for Mathematical Sciences; and a Board Member of UK Research and Innovation, UK Statistics Authority, the Population Investigation Committee and Aberystwyth University. He stepped down as Chair of Edinburgh College of Further Education on his appointment as National Statistician.[6]

Diamond was formerly a Trustee of the Iona Cathedral Trust, WWF UK, the National Centre for Social Research, UCAS and the British Academy and Chair of the Social Security Advisory Committee from 2018–2019.[7]

His departure from the University of Aberdeen led to a pay-related controversy, where he was paid £282,000 over a supposed notice period where he was, in fact, not working for the University anymore.[8]

Government service

Diamond has authored or co-authored seven books and government reports, contributed to a further 34, and authored over 100 academic papers. In 2016 he led a review of University finance in Wales which was commissioned by the Welsh Government, which recommended that grants towards tuition fees should be replaced with support for living costs instead.[9]

Diamond's appointment as National Statistician, in succession to John Pullinger, was announced on 6 August 2019, and he took office on 22 October 2019.[7][10]

Personal life

Sir Ian Diamond is married to Jane.[11] He is also a qualified football referee.[12]

Honours and awards

• 1999: Elected to the UK Academy of Social Sciences (AcSS)
• 2000: Clifford C. Clogg Award from the Population Association of America[13]
• 2005: Honorary Fellowship of Cardiff University[14]
• 2005: Fellow of the British Academy (FBA)
• 2006: Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters (DLitt) University of Glasgow[15]
• 2009: Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE)
• 2012: Elected Burgess, City of Aberdeen
• 2013: Knight Bachelor, "for services to social science and higher education"[16]
• 2013: Commissioned as a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) of Aberdeen[17][18]
• Honorary Degrees: Cardiff, Glasgow

References

1. "People of today: Ian Diamond". Debrett's. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
2. "Professor Sir Ian Diamond FBA FRSE AcSS". Scottish Science Advisory Council. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
3. "University of Aberdeen principal Sir Ian Diamond announces retirement". BBC News. 24 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
4. "Professor Ian Diamond FBA FRSE AcSS". University of Aberdeen. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
5. "Professor Sir Ian Diamond". Wales Centre for Public Policy. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
6. Dutaut, J.L. (1 October 2019). "The future of colleges: lessons from Scotland's regionalisation". FE Week.
7. "Ian Diamond appointed as UK's National Statistician". UK Statistics Authority. 6 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
8. "Scottish Government launches investigation into former Aberdeen University principal's pay-off". Press and Journal. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
9. Lewis, Bethan (27 September 2016). "Loans 'should replace' tuition fee grant". BBC News. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
10. Giles, Chris (6 August 2019). "UK appoints veteran academic as national statistician". The Financial Times.
11. "University of Aberdeen principal to take on a monster challenge". Rail News. 3 September 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
12. "Professor Sir Ian Diamond: Welsh Government". Welsh Government. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
13. "Award Criteria and Past Recipients: Clifford C. Clogg Award for Mid-Career Achievement". Population Association of America. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
14. "Honorary Fellows: previous recipients". University of Cardiff. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
15. "Honorary Degrees 2006". University of Glasgow. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
16. "No. 60367". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 2012. p. 1.
17. "No. 27336". The Edinburgh Gazette. 6 December 2013. p. 3045.
18. Aberdeen City Council (5 December 2013). "Leading Aberdeen academic given new royal role". www.aberdeencity.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.