Professor Bob Doherty appointed as new YESI Director

Posted on Tuesday 14 July 2026

Bob will officially take up the reins on Friday 1 January 2027. He is currently on secondment in India serving as the Director of Research for the University of York Mumbai, where he is spending his time establishing new research strategies, funding opportunities and industrial partnerships. 

Bob brings a wonderful mix of commercial insight and academic leadership to the institute. Before moving into academia, he spent 5-years working for the fair trade pioneer Divine Chocolate (1998-2003), meaning he knows firsthand how to blend sustainability with real world practice. More recently, he spearheaded FixOurFood, a groundbreaking five year UKRI funded project that has just concluded its vital work on creating sustainable, healthy regenerative food systems.

As he looks forward to leading YESI, Bob plans to bring a strong external focus to the ground breaking work of the YESI team. He will bring the work of YESI to the attention of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority, York City Council, National Government, international partners and of course business and Non-Governmental Organisations. In addition, Bob is keen to ensure environmental sustainability is a key research theme at both our European and Mumbai campuses. As we build-up to the next Research Excellence Framework this will ensure YESI is at the forefront of delivering the University of York’s strategy for environmental sustainability. 

"There are no more important challenges facing society than environmental sustainability. When policy makers, business leaders, and non-governmental organisations think of world leading research on environmental sustainability I want them to think of YESI”. Professor Bob Doherty 

This new chapter builds upon an incredibly vibrant foundation. We owe a massive thank you to our current Director, Professor Lindsay Stringer, for the tremendous energy and renewed vigour she brought into YESI. Lindsay has been a phenomenal champion of the YESI Fellows scheme and instrumental in expanding the many international links that define our work today.

You can explore Bob's full academic profile and past publications on the official University of York website.