New Pro Rector for International Affairs at Imperial College London

Dr Buckle will be responsible for the College's strategic international interests and will work closely with the Pro Rectors for Education and Academic Affairs, Research and Enterprise to identify and advance new opportunities. Currently Director of Climate Policy in Imperial's Grantham Institute for Climate Change, he will also become Pro Rector for International Affairs on 1 October 2011.

Rector Sir Keith O'Nions said: "Collaborating with world-class researchers, attracting the best students from all corners of the globe and reaching out to our supporters, including our alumni from across 190 countries, are among the priorities for the College's international strategy. Simon's track record of leveraging networks and producing the most value from international connections makes him the ideal candidate to champion Imperial's international activities and I am delighted that he has agreed to take on this role."

Dr Buckle joined Imperial in 2007 to support the establishment of the Grantham Institute, helping to position it as a leading source of scientific and technical expertise making valuable contributions to the development of thinking on climate change policy. In 2008-9 he played a leading role in Imperial's successful bid to create the European Institute of Innovation and Technology's Climate Knowledge and Innovation Community (Climate KIC).

Dr Buckle said: "I feel extremely privileged to be have been appointed to this role in such a vibrant and successful community. I look forward to working with colleagues and international partners - both new and existing - to help shape and drive forward the international dimensions of the College's strategic vision."

Prior to his current position at the College, Dr Buckle held positions in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Bank of England and the Ministry of Defence. Most recently, he was Deputy Head of Mission in the British Embassy in Kabul and then Global Issues Counsellor in Paris. Earlier in his career he was a postgraduate researcher at Imperial College London, investigating quantum optics in the Department of Physics.

Dr Buckle will succeed Professor Mary Ritter, who has led the international remit as Pro Rector since 2005 and will retire on 30 September 2011.

Paying tribute to Professor Ritter's achievements, Rector Sir Keith O'Nions said: "Over the past seven years Imperial's global profile has risen significantly. We now boast collaborative PhD programmes with world-class institutions in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. We are developing and delivering a course overseas for the first time through the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine in Singapore. We are leading international networks to find innovative solutions to global problems, such as Europe's Climate KIC. And our campuses have become enriched through the presence of increasing numbers of international students. I thank Mary for her vision and enthusiasm, which have helped to position Imperial so centrally on the global stage."