Oct 2015 Dr Jennifer Barnes Pro-Vice-Chancellor for International Strategy, Cambridge University

Dr Jennifer Barnes, Pro- Vice Chancellor for International Strategy at the University of Cambridge, gave an excellent talk on building international strategy.

Born in the USA Dr Barnes, who represented her country at swimming and was also a classically trained opera singer, explained how her background in music developed into a career in examining how individuals dealt with pressure situations.

Her glittering CV includes the positions of Associate Professor at the Royal Academy of Music, followed by Project Director at the Royal College of Music, later she was appointed Head of Department at Trinity College of Music and then Dean and Principal.

In 2005 Dr Barnes was appointed as the first Director of Global Education at BP, her role involved advising colleagues in over 25 countries on partnerships with governments, academic institutions and business.
She returned to Cambridge in 2008 to take up a the position as President of Murray Edwards College. Then in 2010 was appointed to her current position at the University of Cambridge where she established the International Strategy Department.

In her talk she explained how her role is to support the Vice- Chancellor in providing academic leadership to the University and to help drive strategy and policy development.She spoke eloquently about how Cambridge University has extended its reach to overseas countries supporting educational. medical and humanitarian activities,  She made a direct comparison between the activities of Rotary International and Cambridge University drawing on her research and her understanding of the aims and objects of the Rotary movement.

Her own background involved applying for a Rotary scholarship and although unsuccessful she was fully aware of the excellent opportunities Rotary provided to students to gain international experience.  She identified the Rotary End Polio Project as a wonderful international initiative and praised the work of Rotary members worldwide

There were numerous questions raised by members and these were answered skilfully and with great clarity.
Roger Webster proposed the vote of thanks for an excellent talk and Dr Barnes was warmly thanked for giving up her time to speak to the club.