Professor Sir Hilary Beckles has been appointed Chairman/Chancellor of the United Nations University.

A unanimous decision was taken during a sitting of the Governance Council on December 7th 2024 in Tokyo, Japan, with the appointment effective from May 2025.

Sir Hilary is currently vice-chancellor at the University of the West Indies.

He believes this latest appointment is a signal honor for the regional university, whose reputation and international connectivity will be enhanced as well as the Caribbean, the Hemisphere and in particular, emerging communities in the Global South.

In a statement, UWI says the position of Chairman/Chancellor is honorary, “with a mandate to facilitate the leadership of the Rector/Vice-Chancellor of the University, and to guide the Council in a manner that sustains the confidence of international and internal stakeholders, primarily the leadership of the United Nations, faculty members and managers, private sector investors, and students.”

The United Nations University is a global academy, headquartered in Tokyo, with Research and Teaching Institutes in multiple countries.

It is an academic and innovation Think Tank and research arm for the world community.