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Sir Keir Starmer has appointed 25 Labour peers in the House of Lords, including the �������� Pro-Chancellor, Professor Geeta Nargund. 

The appointment was announced yesterday by the Prime Minister's Office as part of the December 2025 political peerages. Professor Nargund, who was appointed as the University's first Pro-Chancellor earlier this year, brings a wealth of expertise in women's health, medical innovation, and health equality.  

She is a globally respected medical doctor, entrepreneur, and advocate for women's health and education. As Pro-Chancellor (Health Equality, Professor Nargund serves as an ambassador for the University, amplifying its voice across influential networks and supporting the achievement of its strategic vision, particularly in advancing healthcare provision for the region.  

Professor Nargund has dedicated her career to tackling wider health inequalities and improving access to reproductive choices and care globally. She is the Founder of ,  and the  

Alongside her role at the University, she is also Vice Chair of British Red Cross, an Authority Member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and has served as a Senior Consultant Gynaecologist and Lead Consultant in Reproductive Medicine at St George's Hospital NHS Trust, where she has worked since 1996. 

Commenting on the appointment, Professor Nargund, said: “I am deeply honoured and humbled to be appointed to the House of Lords. This is an incredible opportunity to advocate for health equality and women's health at the highest level of government, causes that have been at the heart of my work throughout my career. 

“Access and outcomes in healthcare should not be determined by geography, income, or background. In the House of Lords, I will continue to champion policies that address health inequalities, support medical innovation, and ensure that every person and family can access the care they need. I am grateful for this opportunity to support our government and to serve to make a meaningful difference to people's lives across the UK.” 

Life Peers are appointed by the King on the advice of the Prime Minister. The House of Lords Appointments Commission, an independent body established in 2000, plays a crucial role in this process by recommending individuals as non-party-political life peers. 

Members can be nominated by political parties, and once approved by the Prime Minister, appointments are formalised by the King. The process typically takes several weeks from announcement to official appointment.  

�������� Vice-Chancellor, Professor Graham Galbraith CBE, added: "We are immensely proud that Professor Geeta Nargund will join the House of Lords. Her appointment is a testament to her extraordinary contributions to medicine, women's health, and health equality both nationally and internationally.  

“As our first Pro-Chancellor (Health Equality), Professor Nargund has already begun to make a significant impact in raising the University's profile and advancing our mission to improve healthcare provision for our region. Her expertise and dedication to addressing health inequalities aligns perfectly with our strategic ambitions.  

“We look forward to continuing our work with her as she takes on this important national role, and we are confident that her voice in the Lords will make a real difference to countless lives.” 

The �������� has ambitious plans for advancing healthcare provision and addressing health inequalities in the region. Last year it launched the UK's first branch medical degree in partnership with King's College London, training the next generation of doctors to address the severe GP shortage in the city and surrounding areas. 

The University is also home to the Centre for Integrated Health and Wellbeing (CiH-Well), a research hub dedicated to tackling complex health challenges that affect people from childhood through to older age – including dental and oral health. 

"As Pro-Chancellor of the ��������, I have witnessed first-hand the University's commitment to addressing health inequalities and advancing healthcare for our communities”, added Professor Nargund. “I look forward to bringing these insights, along with my experience in reproductive medicine and healthcare innovation, to the important work of the Lords.”