Candidates

Dame Barbara Woodward

Dame Barbara Woodward (MA Hons 1983) is one of Britain’s most distinguished diplomats and currently the UK Deputy National Security Adviser for International Affairs.

• Biography

  Dame Barbara Woodward is one of Britain’s most distinguished diplomats and currently the UK Deputy National Security Adviser for International Affairs. Barbara was the UK Permanent Representative (Ambassador) to the United Nations (2020-2025), representing the UK in the Security Council and across the UN. She was previously Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China (2015-2020), the first woman to hold the post.

  Barbara is the first female diplomat to be appointed GCMG; the citation, in the 2026 New Year Honours, for services to foreign policy, highlights Barbara’s leadership and career achievements, her “integrity, empathy, impact and focus”. This award is the highest state honour to be conferred on an alumna of the University to date.

  Barbara studied History at St Andrews, graduating in 1983 and in 1990, following a period teaching in China, completed an MA in International Relations at Yale University before embarking on her diplomatic career. In the last 30 years, she has worked around the world on the security and economic aspects of foreign policy; human rights; development and climate change. She was awarded an OBE in 1999 for her part in securing the release of two British aid workers held hostage in Chechnya for over 14 months.

  Barbara was the first person in her immediate family to attend university. She was inspired by her school history teacher to apply to St Andrews, and her time there and then at Yale deepened her appreciation of the value of education. She has been an active champion of education throughout her career, as an advocate (including as a co-panellist with Malala) and as a teacher, volunteer, school trustee and charity chair. She has kept close ties to St Andrews as a speaker, most recently for the Carnegie Lecture in October 2025, and as a mentor.

  Barbara was Vice-President of the Athletic Union at St Andrews, swam for Scottish Universities and captained the swimming team. She still participates in a diverse range of sport activities. She swam the English Channel in a relay in 1994, she organised a sponsored Swim Against Malaria in 2006, and her relay team swim around Manhattan in 2025 raised money for four charities. Barbara served on the Board of Pentathlon GB (2013-2014). Everywhere, Barbara has found that sport has opened doors to communities, deeper friendships and new horizons.

  Barbara is a member of the St Andrews Chancellor’s Circle, recognising her prominent support for the University and commitment to the future of St Andrews.

• Statement

  My time at St Andrews (1979-1983) has proved formative for my life and career. It was a very happy time; a period of learning, self-discovery and challenge and the beginning of life-long friendships. I know that is true for so many of us.

  I am delighted to see how St Andrews has emerged as one of the most outstanding universities in the UK in the 21st century; a powerful reflection on the leadership and staff of the University.

  As Chancellor, I would support the alumni community, the University staff and leadership and contribute to helping present and future students – whatever their backgrounds and dreams – develop their skills and fulfil their life goals.

  To me that means:

  • People: to ensure that our diverse community is at the heart of the University; to offer support, encouragement and a warm welcome to potential students (who, like me, may not have immediate-family experience of higher education); to support the University in furthering its reputation to attract and empower world-class academics and to fully include staff in all roles in the University.
  • Place: for over 600 years, St Andrews has welcomed students from Scotland, across the UK and further afield. I would support the vision and fundraising of Making Waves so future generations can enjoy state-of-the-art-facilities harmoniously integrated into the beautiful historic town, whose cathedral ruins, historic buildings and East and West Sands are the link we have between past and present.
  • Purpose: inspired by the St Andrews motto, “ever to excel”, to support the University to sustain its world-leading research and teaching, its reputation for financial stewardship and good governance and its high performance in student satisfaction and outcomes. This will equip alumnae for excellence in future roles and to face the challenges of the 21st century and the University to thrive.

  I’m under no illusions about those challenges: from uncertainty in global geopolitics; daily pressures caused by the cost of living; not knowing what new technology will bring to (or take from) our lives and or what climate change means for each of us and our communities. There are many known unknowns and a fair few unknown unknowns. In my career in diplomacy, I’ve led and worked in teams which have secured the release of hostages, won investment and jobs for the UK, and worked to find routes to ceasefire and peace and an end to humanitarian suffering in conflict and civil war. I am no stranger to challenge and to the real world.

  The Chancellor doesn’t have a magic wand! The role and powers are clearly defined with a strong ceremonial component. I respect that. But, as we witnessed with the late Lord “Ming” Campbell, good presence and ambassadorial skills can contribute significantly to achieving outcomes for the University. I was honoured that my recent GCMG citation highlighted my “integrity, empathy, impact and focus”. If elected, I would bring these same qualities to the role of Chancellor.

  I have developed philanthropic, business and academic contacts on three continents during my career which I can bring to bear to make the case for the importance of universities to the UK and to support fundraising.

  It would be an honour and a privilege to deepen and extend my association with St Andrews as the University’s Chancellor. I would be grateful for your vote.

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  Find out more on Dame Barbara Woodward's website.

• Nominators

  To be eligible to stand for election, candidates must be nominated by a minimum of 25 members of the General Council.

  Dame Barbara Woodward was nominated by the following members:

  • Dr Robin Evetts
  • Rebecca Trengove
  • Dr Mark Carawan
  • Dr Margaret Macdonald
  • Arthur Drysdale
  • Nicola Drysdale (née Riddell)
  • Dr Alasdair Gordon-Gibson
  • John Edward
  • Hala Zeid
  • Anne Galloway
  • Judith Anderson
  • Lucy Simcox
  • Claire Pilton
  • Louise Karbownicki
  • Alison McAdam-Smith
  • Charlotte Kirby
  • Dr Mary Popple
  • Professor Roger Mason
  • Dr Bruce Sinclair
  • Professor Colin Ballantyne
  • Jennifer Evetts
  • Michael McNaught-Davis
  • Professor Ifor Samuel
  • Jonathan Harfield
  • Jeremy Fairhead
  • HHJ Sarah Whitehouse (née Norman)
  • Rachel Gurney (née Connell)
  • Frances Macrae-Gibson (née Murray)
  • Rosemary Carawan (née Abbot)
  • Charlotte Branfield
  • Johannes (Hans) van Mourik Broekman
  • Nick Sandall
  • Mark Hamid
  • Annabel Hamid
  • Michael MacLeod
  • Dr Alan Bridger
  • W Gordon Craig
  • Maureen Evans
  • David Heron