Leszek Borysiewicz

Vice Chancellor of the University of Cambridge and former head of the Medical Research Council and the highest-ranking VC on this list. Known as ‘Borys’, he is widely popular in both government and the sector. Born in Wales, his parents were Polish refugees from World War Two. He’s fiercely proud of his working class roots and committed to excellence and access in higher education. As Cambridge VC, Borys has privileged access to senior politicians and policy makers – a power he wields with great subtlety to further the interests of his university.