Installation of Chancellor Nisha Katona

Nisha Katona will be officially installed as Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University in a formal ceremony on 26 March 2022.

The former barrister and inspirational food entrepreneur said she was “hugely honoured and proud” to be chosen as the sixth figurehead of the university.

Nisha is the first alumnus (Law, 1995) to be named as Chancellor and her installation by Vice-Chancellor Mark Power, another graduate, exemplifies the life-transforming role that LJMU plays for so many thousands of people.

“It’s very humbling to head this wonderful institution which has been such a part of my life. I am Liverpool in my heart and in my home; I am proud of my roots and I am proud to be a graduate from LJMU. I look forward to the part I can play as Chancellor of this great university.”  

Ethical business

Ormskirk-born and of Indian heritage, Nisha is the founder of Mowgli Street Food restaurants and the Mowgli Trust charity, a food writer and a television presenter, and was a child protection barrister for 20 years.

Her switch to a career in indian cuisine made her a household name with four cookbooks and appearances on This Morning, ITV’s Cooking with the Stars and BBC’s Masterchef. She also speaks at national level on entrepreneurship and women’s leadership.

Last summer, Nisha was selected to join the new Hospitality Council, a team of industry experts assembled to deliver the government’s Hospitality Strategy to help firms to recover and become more resilient following the pandemic.

Perfect advocate

Vice-Chancellor Mark Power said: “As our first alumni Chancellor, we couldn’t have a better ambassador, advocate and role model for our students and staff than Nisha, while her business acumen and leadership in areas entrepreneurship reflect our institutional mission.

“Her extraordinary career is an inspiration to many and I look forward to working with her as we plan our 200th anniversary in 2023 and the next chapters in our story.”

Nisha Katona will take over the role from Sir Brian Leveson who became our fifth Chancellor in 2013 and will become Emeritus Chancellor on 26 March.