Robert Kirby-Harris

Bob Kirby-Harris (born 12 June 1952) is a former Secretary General of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics and Chief Executive of the Institute of Physics.

He went to Ashford Grammar School (now The Norton Knatchbull School). He gained a 1st Class BSc in Theoretical Physics in 1973 from the University of Kent. From Clare College, Cambridge, he gained an MA in Applied Maths and Theoretical Physics in 1974. From the University of Sussex he gained a PGCE (Secondary schools) in 1975. From Plymouth Polytechnic he gained a DMSin 1985. From Lancaster University he gained a PhD in Higher Education Policy in 2003.

School teacher

He was a school teacher from 1975-7 at Wakeford School (now called Havant Academy) in Havant, Hampshire.

Royal Navy

In 1977 he joined the Royal Navy becoming an instructor and a Lieutenant Commander in 1982. From 1977-9 he was a lecturer in Maths and Electronics at the Royal Navy Weapons Engineering School at Fareham (HMS Collingwood). From 1980-3 he was based at Chatham, and from 1983-5 he was a Senior Maths Lecturer at the Royal Naval Engineering College (RNEC Manadon) at Plymouth.

Academic administration

He has previous held posts as university manager at Middlesex University and the University of Namibia.

Since 2008 he has been the Secretary General of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics. He was Chief Executive of the Institute of Physics between 2005 and 2012.

In 1979 he married Abigail Mee and they have two sons.