Management School supporter contributes to University of Liverpool project

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Architect visual of the Paul Brett Lecture Theatre pictured alongside the Brett Building

Dr Paul Brett, long term supporter of the Management School, has contributed to another crucial University of Liverpool project.

Paul, University of Liverpool alumnus (BA Hons Geography 1965, Hon LLD 2017), spent most of his career in the travel industry.  He is the former CEO of Thomson Travel Group, now TUI UK, and has also served as a Director of a number of high-profile companies including Chapel Down Wines.

Since 2014 Paul has supported the Management School in numerous ways.  As well as providing a significant donation to support the dedicated MBA teaching facility in the Management School (named the Brett Building in memory of his late mother, Kathleen Brett), Paul also created the position of Chair to be held by the School’s Dean, entitled, the Brett Chair in Management.  This position is currently held by Professor Julia Balogun, who was appointed Dean in 2015 and has led the School to successful achieving AACSB and EQUIS accreditation.

In addition to his generous philanthropic contributions, Paul has also given his time to support MBA students by acting as a guest speaker, sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience.

In his latest donation, Paul has provided support to the University’s new Yoko Ono Lennon Centre.  The Paul Brett Lecture Theatre is a 600-seat, state-of-the-art, facility which will afford Liverpool students with transformational teaching and learning opportunities and outcomes.

Spanning across both the first and second floor of the Centre, the theatre will be the largest purpose-built lecture space on campus. Also providing the latest audio-visual equipment, it will not only become – from September 2021 – an advanced learning environment for students across multiple disciplines, but will also act as a venue for public lectures, allowing the University to engage broader communities and audiences.  

Paul said: “I strongly believe in the provision of a first-class university education, which is why I am pleased to support this splendid project at the University, and to put my name to one of the new lecture theatres. I studied Geography at the University in the 1960’s, and I believed then, as I do now, that excellent teaching facilities helps to equip students with the knowledge and skills they will need to fulfil their potential.”

Professor Dame Janet Beer, Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool, said: “Over the years, Paul has supported the University’s efforts to provide students with an outstanding education, enabling Management School students to fulfil their potential as creative and culturally rich graduates. This new and exciting development will have a real impact on the lives of even more of our students. It will ensure they are taught in a purpose-built environment, further enhancing their student experience, and for that we can’t thank Paul enough.”