Breaking Through the World’s Oldest Glass Ceiling

The new Chancellor of Oxford University, a 950year old institution, will soon be decided. In all this time the role has never been filled by a woman. That could change. Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford CBE is standing in the election.

I cannot think of a better person, and a better way for the university to demonstrate that whilst steeped in history and tradition, which some find “stuffy,” its reputation was earned by being bold, innovative and progressive.

Oxford University and a few institutions like it, might be regarded as metaphors for Britain itself. The UK once led the world with the Enlightenment figures that paved the way for the Industrial Revolution, due to all the scientific and technological breakthroughs, and the progressive attitudes towards governance. Also due to the running of the state and its institutions, and the socially progressive acts with which the UK lead the way.

Sure the UK made mistakes, and what might have been radical and progressive then does not seem so now. Nevertheless, the UK set an example of progress that made it the envy of the world. This is still reflected in the positive reputation the nation earned in the eyes of many.

Many of our traditions seem old fashioned, our institutions might seem outdated, and the word “stuffy” is used about them to. They certainly seem like that to me. But it was innovation and progress that drove the country to the heights it reached.

The danger is that countries, institutions, and Oxford, might “rest on their laurels’ and drift into irrelevance or worse. That is certainly what many believe is happening to the country. Yet the critics are often those who also oppose innovation, change and progress. They would prefer that time stood still. It never does! Just to stay still you have to treat water, to reach new shores you need to swim.

The Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution were said to be the result of the “Spirit of the Age.” I think there were many elements of that, such as curiosity, courage, a willingness to experiment and to be undaunted by challenges. We might call it the pioneering spirit, for ever in pursuit of progress. We still see some signs of it, but it is not the dominant mindset of our times. We must reignite it. That is what I hope to achieve with the Enlightened Enterprise Academy , since we face great challenges if we are to flourish once again, and do so sustainably.

Seeing Margaret become chancellor of Oxford University would signal that the institution has not lost sight of the way it earned its reputation. It could also represent a turning point for a nation which could pioneer the New Enlightenment that I have been arguing for. That would give rise to the revolution needed to produce the next transformational breakthroughs in human development and ensure the long-lasting thriveability of the planet and our experience on it.

Being not only a woman, but a woman of colour, Margaret is the underdog in the election as I am sure she recognises, but we might be surprised. Support for the underdog is has also been a British tradition, rooted in a belief in fairness and in a spirit of justice and merit. I hope those electing the next Chancellor of Oxford University consider this.

You can hear Margaret speak about standing for election in this podcast . I think it makes clear why she is a great candidate for the position. ?