Kendrick is chairman of Nestlé UK and Ireland, having previously served as its chairman and chief, she was awarded her Damehood in 2015 for services to the food and drink industry and for employment and skills of young people.
Thomas, who was knighted for services to Higher Education in 2013, was the vice-chancellor of the University of Bristol from 2001 to 2015.
Says Kendrick: “There is a well known and acute shortage of skilled professional engineers in the UK, and especially female engineers, and this is something that must change or the country’s economy will suffer tremendously.
“I’m delighted to be leading the board of trustees who over the next few years will oversee the delivery of this ambitious and revolutionary university at Hereford.”
NMiTE aims to open its doors in September 2020 to the first 300 students at a purpose-built city centre campus in Hereford. It intends to be educating more than 5,000 students by 2032. Its new university concept was launched in 2015 with the support of engineers, leading universities, businesspeople and politicians.
Adds NMiTE president and chief Janusz Kozinski: “NMiTE is the brightest and boldest academic start-up in recent times in the UK or anywhere else, and to deliver it we need the most ambitious and driven people on board.
“Our aim is to build a fantastic and innovative university, with a diverse curriculum and modern facilities and to be ready to welcome future engineers by 2020. I am absolutely delighted to have Dame Fiona and Sir Eric on board, their experience and expertise will give the direction and oversite that will turbocharge developments and help us ensure the ambitious vision becomes a successful reality”.
