Foster building to be opened by Dr Foster

Dr John Foster OBE DL, former Chief Executive of Middlesbrough Council and Chair of South Tees Hospitals Acute NHS Trust and a former Teesside University governor, is to officially open a Teesside University Building named after him.

The Foster Building houses the University’s Centre for International Development and the Health & Safety Team from the University’s Human Resources Department.

Teesside University has considerably expanded its international activities, opening satellite offices in India, Malaysia and China. The University now has 1,500 students from non-EU countries studying at Teesside, a total which has almost quadrupled in four years. Professor Graham Henderson CBE, Teesside University’s Vice-Chancellor, said: 'All of us at the University are thrilled to honour John Foster in this way. His contribution to our University and to public life generally is immeasurable.'

Dr Foster was appointed as Chief Executive of Middlesbrough Council in 1974, and remained in this role for 22 years and awarded the OBE for services to the public in 1986.

Dr Foster was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Teesside University in 2007. His other diverse roles have included:

>Teesside University Visitor, an independent individual who advises the University on the resolution of internal disputes. Dr Foster was also a member of the University’s Board of Governors for many years. >Chairman of South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, from 1997 to 2004. Under his chairmanship the James Cook University Hospital was created, bringing all the services of the Trust onto one single site. >Board Member of the national Audit Commission and Trustee of the Audit Commission Pension Scheme >Board Member of the Housing Corporation >A Freeman of the Borough of Middlesbrough >Chairman of the Association of District Councils’ Working Group on Urban Needs >Chairman of the Association of District Councils’ Advisory Committee on Housing and Building Societies >Chairman of the BBC North East Advisory Council.

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