Professor Anthony (Tony) Robards, O.B.E., Ph.D., D.Sc. F.I.Biol.
Tony was educated at The Skinners' School, Tunbridge Wells, and University College London where he took first and higher degrees in Biology. He was appointed to the University of York in 1966 and has published over 130 scientific papers and books in pure and applied biological research for which he was awarded a D.Sc. by the University of London and a Personal Chair at the University of York. He has been President of the Royal Microscopical Society and his academic career has spanned more than 40 years at the University during which time he served for 8 years as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for External Relations and latterly as HSBC's Chair of Innovation at the University of York. Currently, he works half-time for the University, the other half of his time being devoted to company directorships and charitable involvements.
Tony has been a central figure in enterprise and entrepreneurship in Yorkshire for many years, acting as the interface between the University of York with businesses, the City and the Region. He has been at the heart of many initiatives to stimulate innovation in the region, including as a co-founder of Science City York and the founder of Venturefest Yorkshire; he is a past President of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, and a Non-Executive Director of a number of public and private sector companies.
Over recent years Tony has become increasingly involved with the 650 year old Company of Merchant Adventurers of the City of York and was Governor in 2008-09.
Tony was awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, 2002, for "Services to Higher Education" arising from his work to link the University with the local business community; in November 2003 he received the first ever ‘Lifetime Achievement Award" at the Yorkshire Evening Press Business Awards ceremony. His leisure interests include music, sailing, horology and photography.
