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Professor Petts was appointed Vice-Chancellor in 2007 and retired in 2017. During his ten year period of office, Geoff worked tirelessly to promote a distinctive approach and culture in the University supporting fundamental and interdisciplinary research underpinned and informed by developments in practice.

There was major progress in building up areas of excellence, with Media and Communications and Art and Design in the world top 50; Architecture and the Built Environment in the world top 150; and English at world top 200. He sustained the University’s leading position in widening participation and in promoting diversity at all levels and in all areas. He developed global partnerships, including with the Smithsonian and Johns Hopkins; and, through his commitment to the Westminster International University in Tashkent, he promoted British education and British values in Central Asia.

His legacy is also evident in the restoration of Westminster’s heritage buildings and spaces, including the iconic Regent Street Cinema and the Ambika P3 Exhibition space.

Geoff graduated from the University of Liverpool in 1974 with a joint honours degree in Geography and Geology. In 1974, he commenced doctoral research in fluvial geomorphology at the University of Exeter, transferring to the University of Southampton in 1976. In 1978 he was awarded a PhD when he was already employed as a lecturer at the Dorset Institute of Higher Education (1978-1979). He was appointed Lecturer in Geography at Loughborough University in 1979 and was awarded a chair in 1989. After three years as Head of the Geography Department he moved to the University of Birmingham in 1994 as Professor of Physical Geography. He became Director of the Centre for Environmental Research and Training in 1996 and Head of the School of Geography and Environmental Sciences in 1999. He was Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham from 2001-2007.

A President of the British Hydrological Society, Geoff was awarded the Busk Medal of the Royal Geographical Society for contributions to river research and conservation in 2007, and in 2009 he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Society for River Science.

Geoff was the elected Chair of London Higher from 2014-2017. He was also Chair, from 2010-13, of the Board of PODIUM, which was responsible for engaging and coordinating support from universities and FE colleges across the UK for the London 2012 Olympic Games, and Chair, from 2010-17, of the Universities UK Ratings Group leading delivery of the Framework Agreements (2012 and 2017) with the Valuation Office Agency.