Farewell to Albert McMenemy

28 Jul 2011

Albert McMenemy will retire from the University at the end of this week (29 July 2011) after more than 23 years at the University – the last six as Registrar and Secretary.

During that time, Albert has played a major role in this University and has become a respected figure on the national scene amongst heads of university administrative and professional services.

Albert joined the Victoria University of Manchester in September 1988 as Assistant Bursar working in Finance Department. In 1990, he was appointed Deputy Bursar, with particular responsibility for research grants and contracts. 

During the early 1990’s, Albert played a major role in restructuring the University administration. He developed proposals, which were later implemented, to create a Director of Personnel post; a Research Office; a Teaching and Learning Office and a Strategic and Policy Planning Office. 

From 1994-1997, Albert was Head of the Strategic and Policy Planning Office, working closely with the then Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Martin Harris. 

In 1997, he was appointed to the post of Academic Registrar and served as secretary to the University Strategy Group and in 2001 became Deputy Registrar and Secretary, again working with the Registrar and Secretary Eddie Newcomb.

Albert’s was a key figure in the merger of the Victoria University of Manchester and UMIST. He was a member of the original Dalton Group that recommended the merger and was one of the project managers for “Project Unity”, which laid out the detailed plans between 2002 and 2004 for the disbandment of the two existing universities and the creation of the new institution. 

Albert was appointed Registrar and Secretary of the newly created University in October 2005. Commenting on this appointment, Albert said: “Even though I’d worked in higher education, and at this University, for a number of years, nothing prepared me for the scale of the task of building a new administrative support organisation. The years between 2005 and 2008 were the most challenging of my career.”

Commenting on Albert’s time at the University, President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell said: “Albert has played a key role in shaping the University as we know it today. He was instrumental in delivering the creation of the new University back in 2004 and he has bequeathed to his successor a Professional Support Services operation that is a respected and effective partner in the leadership and operation of our institution. Like the previous four Vice-Chancellors that he has served, I will miss his wise counsel.”