Professor Robert Van de Noort
Vice-Chancellor

As Vice-Chancellor, Professor Van de Noort has general responsibility to the University governing body – the Council – for maintaining and promoting the effectiveness, efficiency and good order of the University.

Robert chairs the Senate and the University Executive Board and is an ex-officio member of all major committees in the University, some of which he chairs.

In 2020/21 Robert’s annual salary was £198,000. He is a member of the University (USS) pension scheme. The employer pension contribution rate is currently 18% for all USS scheme members.

Robert’s salary and conditions of service are independently determined by the University’s Remuneration Committee, where he plays no part in the decision.

Contacts

Robert Van de Noort studied History at the University of Utrecht and Archaeology at the University of Amsterdam. Before joining the University of Reading in 2014, he worked at the British School in Rome (1988-89), the Rotterdam Archaeology Unit (1989-1991), the University of Hull (1992-2000) and the University of Exeter (2000-14), where latterly he was Dean of the College of Social Sciences and International Studies.

Robert is best known for his research into the archaeology of marine, intertidal and terrestrial wetlands, especially around the North Sea Basin. He directed multi-organisational fieldwork projects in the Humber Wetlands and at Sutton Common in South Yorkshire (both funded by English Heritage), and he was the PI of the AHRC-funded experimental reconstruction of a Bronze Age sewn-plank boat at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall. During the last two decades, he has won major research grants totalling £2.65 million from external organisations.

His most recent monographs are North Sea Archaeologies: A maritime biography 10,000 BC-AD 1500 (OUP, 2011) and Climate Change Archaeology: Building Resilience from Research in the World's Coastal Wetlands (OUP, 2014). Robert is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Outside the University of Reading, Robert chairs the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC), which helps to provide governance for the Environment Agency Flood and Coastal Erosion risk management functions and cover all flood risks that are not the responsibility of the water companies. Robert receives an annual salary of £17,503 for a commitment of five days per month. Robert has previous experience of chairing the committee and headed the South West RFCC until June 2017.

Allyship and inclusion at Reading – March 2023

Taking time to listen to the community – February 2023

Consulting on Shinfield sports facilities – January 2023

Celebrations and time to reflect at turn of year – December 2022

Show solidarity with Iranian students – November 2022

Black History Month and ensuring equal treatment for all – November 2022

Building links between town and gown – October 2022

How the University intends to be a good neighbour – September 2022

Diversity schemes do not undermine free speech – July 2022

Return of graduations and what happens next – July 2022

Marking midsummer with stripes, not Stonehenge – June 2022

Celebrating the Queen and more… – June 2022

Use your hard-won freedoms – May 2022

Local action, global impact – May 2022

An honour to represent the University at the Palace – March 2022

Vice-Chancellor’s message on Ukraine – March 2022