Professor Sally Macgill

Professor Sally Macgill, professor of integrated environmental management, University of Leeds 53, and her daughters Edith, 25, and Alice, 23, and were on holiday in Krabbi, Thailand when the tsunami struck. They were kayaking at the time. Sadly Sally and Alice died. Edith has survived.

Sally graduated from Leeds with a first class BSc in mathematics and economics in 1973, and became a research student in the area of modelling, graduating with a PhD in 1978. A distinguished academic career spanned a broad range of subjects in modelling and risk analysis, including pioneering work on cancer clusters near nuclear power stations and in pollution studies. In 1991 she joined the University administration as director of planning and policy development to devise a new budgeting system for the organisation. She returned to her academic interests in 1995, taking on a number of roles including director of the centre for environmental management, director of teaching and learning for earth and environment, and dean of the faculty of earth and environment. She also chaired the University's committee on the quality of life and learning for our students. She became a professor in 2002.

Peter Mackie, dean, faculty of environment said: "Sally's loss is a grievous blow for the University, its staff and students. Sally was a true leader who served the University in many ways over some three decades. Most recently, and starting with just two colleagues, she built up a large high quality degree programme in environmental science and a strong research team in sustainability. Clear-sighted, determined and dedicated, Sally was a powerful force for progress within the University and she will be sorely and sadly missed."

Professor Stephen Mobbs, Head, School of Earth and Environment said: "Sally had a unique ability to make environmental science and management accessible to both science and social science students. Her visionary approach to teaching, not only in the classroom but also in planning new degree courses, has been central to the success of environmental education at the University of Leeds. Sally will be sadly missed, not only by academic colleagues but by hundreds of students who were privileged to be taught by her."

Sir Alan Wilson, former Vice-Chancellor and Sally's research supervisor said: "Sally was a significant figure in the University, unusually making substantial contributions in research, teaching, administration and academic management. It is tragic that she should be lost to the University at the height of her powers."

Sally's sister, Ann Knowles, said: "Sally was a loving mother to Edith and Alice and a talented musician. Her death is a terrible loss for us. She was a very talented person and we miss her enormously."

The University is considering ways in which the life of Sally Macgill can be appropriately commemorated, including supporting research students from the region devastated by the tsunami.

See also http://www.leeds.ac.uk/quick_links/earthquake.htm