The council has announced today that the recipient of the 2017 Edinburgh Award will be Sir Timothy O’Shea, the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh and Chair of Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Sir Tom Farmer receiving the 2015 Edinburgh Award with four Lord Provosts, Eric Milligan, Donald Wilson, Lesley Hinds and Norman Irons
Sir Timothy will be the 11th person to receive The Edinburgh Award following in the handprints of Sir Tom Farmer, Tom Gilzean and Dame Elizabeth Blackadder.
He will receive the award from the Lord Provost at a reception in the City Chambers later this year, following the addition of his handprints to the flagstones in the quad outside.
Tom Gilzean, the charity fundraiser who received the 2014 Edinburgh Award
Lord Provost, Frank Ross, said: “Placing Scotland’s Capital on the world stage as a beacon of knowledge, research and further education; the University of Edinburgh promotes the city as an international leader for academic excellence.
“Driven in large part by Sir Timothy, the institution has expanded over the last 15 years and asserted itself as one of the top 25 academic institutions in the world under his watch. After successfully steering it through the challenges of the UK’s economic crisis, Sir Timothy has enhanced the profile of the University and, in doing so, the city for which he is thanked.
“Sir Timothy has done much to promote Edinburgh to the world and to support close to 10,000 FTE jobs, the education of more than 39,000 students, and invaluable academic research. I hope this award goes some way towards recognising all that he has achieved for and on behalf of the city.”
Sir Timothy will retire from his position at the University in January 2018, following an illustrious career and is currently Chair of many organisations both within the world of academia and outside it.
Sir Timothy O’Shea added: “As someone who loves the city and enjoys living and working here so much, I am delighted to receive this award. Having been Principal of the University for 15 years, and Chair of the Fringe for the past five, I have seen at close quarters how the Council has helped both to flourish.
“The University and the Fringe have greatly benefited from the vision and energy demonstrated by councillors and officials. It has been an enormous pleasure to work with them in promoting Edinburgh.”
Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea BSc (Sussex), PhD (Leeds), DUniv (Heriot-Watt), DUniv (Strathclyde), LL.D hc (McGill), D.hc (St. Petersburg HSS), FAcSS, FRSE, FREng, was appointed Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh in October 2002.
