In 2015, three high profile figures from the academic community became patrons of the Athena Swan Charter. Sir Paul Nurse, Professor Helen Beebee and Professor Sir Cary Cooper have a huge knowledge of, and experience of working in, different academic fields. Their different experiences, and fields of knowledge, reflect and complement the increased breadth of the expanded Charter’s scope.
They join existing patron Professor Dame Julia Higgins, who has served as patron since 2011, and was one of the founding members of the Charter.
Athena Swan and Advance HE Membership
Advance HE Membership provides access to the Athena Swan Charter. Choose how to access our membership.
Our patrons
Professor Dame Julia Higgins
Julia Higgins is emeritus professor of polymer science in the department of chemical engineering at Imperial College London. Athena SWAN Charter patron since 2011 and one of the founding members of the Charter.
Professor Helen Beebee
Helen Beebee is Samuel Hall Professor of Philosophy at the University of Manchester. She was Director of the British Philosophical Association from 2007 to 2011, during which time she established the BPA and Society for Women in Philosophy UK’s joint Committee for Women in Philosophy, which she co-chairs with Jenny Saul
Professor Sir Car Cooper
Cary L. Cooper is the author and editor of more than 150 scholarly books and is one of Britain's most quoted business gurus. He is the 50th Anniversary Professor of Organizational Psychology and Health at Manchester Business School, University of Manchester.
Sir Paul Nurse
Paul Nurse is President of the Royal Society and Director of the Francis Crick Institute in London and has served as Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK and President of Rockefeller University, New York.
Applying for Athena Swan
Advance HE Membership provides access to Athena Swan. Once your institution is a member you can then apply for an institutional or departmental Athena Swan award.
More about Athena Swan
Applying for an Athena Swan Charter award
Transform gender equality in your institution through an Advance HE Athena Swan award.
Good Practice Initiatives
Athena Swan good practice initiatives in higher education institutions.