Wednesday 30 October 2024

Welcoming New Bursar Ivan Rockey

The College is delighted to announce the appointment of Ivan Rockey, who will succeed Steve Cooke as Bursar.

Ivan is currently Director of Finance & Resources at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, London, and will be joining Keble in April 2025. He has over 20 years’ experience in finance and leadership roles for charities in the culture sector, all of which have included education among their charitable objects.

From 2014-2020 Ivan was Director of Finance, Operations and Governance for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, an internationally-renowned self-governing orchestra. Since 2020 he has been Director of Finance & Resources at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, a multi-purpose venue with a reconstructed 1890s auditorium housed in a 1970s building, and a 2015 extension with rehearsal rooms, studios and community spaces used for learning, conferences and events. He is responsible for the charity’s finances, estates, HR and administration, and has been instrumental in rebuilding its activities since the pandemic, delivering an operating surplus and reaching record numbers of beneficiaries.

Ivan has a 1st class degree in Music from Oxford University (New College 1993) and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Open University.

Ivan comments on his appointment: ‘I am thrilled to be joining a college which so clearly values differing points of view and accepting people with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. My own time as an Oxford undergraduate was a transformative experience for me as a “first generation” student from a state comprehensive. I will therefore be honoured to play a role in the long-term success and sustainability of Keble College and enable future generations to benefit from its education and research activities.’

Current Keble Bursar Steve Cooke will be retiring at the end of October 2024. He has worked tirelessly to help College to recover and rebuild following the pandemic and face the challenge of very high inflation. Under his expert guidance, our financial position has stabilised and Steve now feels able to pass on the Bursarship. We wish him a very happy and well-deserved retirement.

Interim Bursar Tom Polkey will be joining the College for the intervening period.