A new figure has taken up the reigns of Buckinghamshire New University this month.

Professor Rebecca Bunting has started in her role as new vice chancellor and chief executive officer of the university.

She takes over the University's leadership from Prof Ruth Farwell, who was awarded a CBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours list, who retired at the end of January. She joins Bucks from the University of Portsmouth where she was deputy vice chancellor.

Prof Bunting said on her first day in the new role: "I'm delighted to be here at Bucks and am excited about the opportunities which lie ahead.

"My first task will be to meet the University's staff, students and external colleagues, and from there I can begin to consider the University’s priorities for the coming years."

Prof Bunting is a member of the Higher Education Funding Council for England's Widening Participation and Student Opportunity Committee, and Chair of HEFCE’s Widening Participation Review Group.

She graduated from the University of Cambridge with an English degree and started her career teaching in London comprehensive schools, transferring to higher education as a senior lecturer at the University of Roehampton.

She later became dean of education at Anglia Ruskin University and Pro-Rector at The University of Northampton, and from there she moved to the University of Portsmouth in 2004 as pro vice chancellor and was promoted in 2007 to deputy vice chancellor. Prof Bunting is also a board director of The Higher Education Academy.