University of Surrey appoints Professor Emma Flynn as Provost

Professor Flynn joins from the University of Warwick, where she served as Provost from 2023 to 2025. During that period, she successfully drove student growth initiatives, led a large change programme integrating research, innovation and education and was academic lead for the philanthropic campaign which secured a number of large bids. 

Before joining the University of Warwick, Professor Flynn was Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) at Queen's University Belfast (QUB), where research income grew by 33 per cent and the university climbed from 202nd to 175th in the QS World University Rankings, and was named the most entrepreneurial university for two consecutive years. She also served as QUB's academic lead for the £1 billion Belfast Region City Deal – a major initiative spanning innovation, digital infrastructure, tourism and skills.  

Earlier in her career, Professor Flynn, who is a psychologist by training, held senior leadership positions at Durham University, including Deputy Provost and Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) in the Faculty of Social Sciences, Medicine and Health. She began her academic career at the University of St Andrews.