Professor Peter Kemp, the Blavatnik School's first ever Vice-Dean and one of the School’s founding members of faculty, is retiring from the Blavatnik School of Government. 

Peter embodied the School’s ambition for making a tangible contribution to governance. He emphasised a focus on “research in the real world, in the public sphere, which is different from research in academia. You have a different audience, you have to write in a different way, you have to communicate in a different way.” 

His expertise on housing policy, with particular focus on private rental housing in advanced economies and income-related housing allowances, has contributed to policy discussions around the world. In the UK he was Special Advisor to a House of Commons Select Committee’s Inquiry into the Local Housing Allowance and a member of the UK Department for Work and Pension's Housing Benefit Strategy Committee. 

Alongside his active roles in governance, Peter has authored and edited a number of books and papers. His most recent publication, Private Renting in Advanced Economies: growth and change in a financialised world, collected the most contemporary understanding and analysis of changes in the private rental market. 

At the heart of Peter’s work has been a desire for continuous improvement and a belief in the work he pursues. When reflecting on his time at the school, Peter noted, “we really believe in our mission, that’s the thing, there’s no point coming here if you don’t”. 

Richenda Gambles, Director of Admissions at the School and a longstanding colleague of Peter’s, called him “hugely supportive and generous with his time”, adding that he had “nurtured so many students and junior faculty members during his time in Oxford”. As part of the School’s founding faculty, Richenda noted his work on developing the curriculum for the flagship Master of Public Policy programme was “critical in shaping what the School has become today”. 

Professor Ngaire Woods, founding Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government, reflects on Peter’s contribution: 

“Peter played a truly integral role in shaping the early years of the School, the MPP curriculum, the School’s governance and processes, and so much more beyond. From the early days of the School to recent years as MSc Director, Peter has been a fabulous colleague to all of us and to our students, committed at every turn to making the School the very best that it can be”. 

We are deeply grateful for everything Peter has given to the School.