Professor Wiebe Van Der Hoek to retire in August
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Professor Wiebe Van Der Hoek, Executive Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Science and Engineering, has announced his retirement from the University.
Wiebe joined Liverpool from Utrecht University in the Netherlands in 2002, taking up a Chair in Computer Science to work in the area of logics for multi-agent systems, specifically Dynamic Epistemic Logics. Wiebe said he was excited at the prospect of immersing himself in his research in a brand new city, and there followed a period of intense and productive research in formal aspects of Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, working with colleagues on papers, projects and in support of PhD students.
Wiebe added: “My first impressions of life at the University were of warmth, friendliness and vibrancy and where anything seemed possible. My arrival in Liverpool also signified the start of a new, leadership-focused chapter in my career.”
Wiebe was promoted to Head of Department of Computer Science in 2008, a role which he said cemented his passion for working in leadership and having a positive impact. In 2014 he became Head of School (now Dean) at the School of Electrical Engineering and Electronics and Computer Science, before being appointed Executive Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Science and Engineering in 2018.
Amongst his many and varied achievements, Wiebe said his greatest accomplishment was meeting his wife in Liverpool and raising his family just a stone’s throw from Greenbank Halls, where he first stayed upon arrival.
Wiebe said: “It has been an honour to serve the University for more than two decades. Alongside achieving my own professional ambitions, I hope to say I have had a positive impact as a leader and as a champion of world-class research that is making a difference in societies around the world and as a supporter of the advancement of learning.
“I am very grateful to the department, school, faculty and University for the many opportunities they have provided me with, and the trust they have given me. Looking back, rather than papers and projects, I will first and foremost remember the people: they make the University the great place that it is. The University thrives thanks to its lively students, collegiality among staff, the breakthroughs of our academics, and the dedicated support of our professional services colleagues.
“I will miss everyone greatly but look forward to having more time for reading, reconnecting with people and, most importantly, piano lessons which I’ve started taking with my daughters.”
Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor, said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Wiebe in the two years since I arrived. His knowledge and expertise both in his field and of the wider University have been enormously helpful and his contribution through the Senior Leadership Team has been invaluable. After many years’ dedicated service to the University, I know that he is looking forward to his retirement and spending more time with his children. I am sure that colleagues from right across the institution will join me in wishing Wiebe the very best in this new chapter of his life.”
Professor Wiebe Van Der Hoek, who has been with the institution for 23 years, will depart at the end of August in a planned retirement not linked to the Voluntary Leavers Scheme.