Leading Economist Appointed Professor at St Mary’s

Renowned economist Prof Philip Booth has been appointed Professor of Finance, Public Policy and Ethics at St Mary’s University, Twickenham and will be based in the School of Management and Social Sciences. The appointment comes as the UK’s largest Catholic University celebrates its 165th anniversary. Prof Booth will take up his post at St Mary’s in May 2015 on a part-time basis and will remain as Editorial and Programme Director at the Institute of Economic Affairs. He will use his considerable experience to inform, develop and contribute to the curriculum, research and knowledge transfer activities within the school and wider university community. Francis Campbell, Vice-Chancellor of St Mary’s University, said, “Philip’s vast knowledge and experience of the world of finance and public policy will be a great asset to our University. I very much look forward to working with Philip in the months and years ahead and I know he will make a very valuable contribution to life at St Mary’s.” Prof Booth said, “It is an honour to be joining St Mary’s at an exciting time for the University. I am very much looking forward to meeting my students and working with my departmental colleagues to bring an extra dimension to the work of the School of Management and Social Sciences.” Prof Booth has been Editorial and Programme Director at the Institute of Economic Affairs since 2002, managing its education and research programme. Previously Prof Booth was Professor of Insurance and Risk Management at the Cass Business School. Prior to that he was Associate Dean at City University Business School and has worked at the Bank of England as an adviser on Financial Stability. Prof Booth has authored 50 papers in refereed academic journals on subjects spanning pensions and social security, financial services regulation, risk management and insurance and real estate finance. He has also written widely on Catholic social teaching, including edited and co-authored books and many book chapters on that subject and is a frequent commentator in the media. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries and of the Royal Statistical Society and has previously been a Fellow of Blackfriars Hall, Oxford University. St Mary’s University is the largest Catholic University in the UK and this year will celebrate 165 years since its foundation in 1850. The University recently appointed former Irish President Mary McAleese as Distinguished Professor in Irish Studies, while leading barrister Cherie Blair and renowned theologian Monsignor Roderick Strange were appointed as Visiting Professors. The 165th anniversary of St Mary’s will be marked by a number of high-profile events, including the co-sponsorship of a series of public lectures on the theme of ‘Ethics in Public Life’ with the Von Hügel Institute (VHI), St Edmund’s College, Cambridge University, and Las Casas Institute at Blackfriars, Oxford University.