New chancellor appointed at the University of Hertfordshire
Professor Grace Ononiwu CBE is the first Director General Legal Delivery for the Crown Prosecution, decorated multiple times for her strides
Professor Grace Ononiwu CBE, the first Director General Legal Delivery for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), has been appointed Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire.
She will take up the role in October 2025, succeeding Lord Salisbury, who has served as Chancellor since 2005.
Professor Ononiwu graduated from the University with a BA (Hons) in Law in 1988. After qualifying as a solicitor in 1991, she worked in private practice before joining the CPS as a Crown Prosecutor.
In 2005, she became Chief Crown Prosecutor for Northamptonshire – the first Afro-Caribbean person to hold such a position within the CPS.
She later went on to serve as Legal Director for CPS London, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the East of England, and Chief Crown Prosecutor for the West Midlands, at the time the largest CPS region.
She was the first woman and the first Afro-Caribbean person to hold the East of England and West Midlands posts.
In 2021, Professor Ononiwu was appointed Director of Legal Services for the CPS. In June 2025, she became the organisation’s first Director General Legal Delivery, leading all legal and operational functions.
Her work has been recognised with an OBE in 2008 and a CBE in 2019. She has also featured in the Powerlist of the UK’s most influential people of African, African Caribbean, and African American heritage, was named a UK Woman of the Year in 2020, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Black Solicitors Network in 2021.
Alongside her legal career, Professor Ononiwu has remained closely linked to education and to Hertfordshire. She is a Visiting Professor at the University’s Law School, a patron of its Law Clinic, and holds honorary doctorates from Hertfordshire and Birmingham City Universities. In 2022, the University named its Law Court building in her honour.
Speaking about her appointment, Professor Ononiwu said:
"I am delighted to have been named the new Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire. I have incredibly fond memories of my time as a student here and it is an honour to be able to give back to the place that played such a key role in shaping my career. I’m particularly proud to be representing one of the most diverse and inclusive Law Schools in the country.
"Growing up, I was often told that my aspirations were unrealistic. I heard countless reasons why I couldn’t pursue the path I dreamed of, and rarely any why I could. It is extremely important I blaze the trail for the next generation and ensure that no one is ever made to feel that their ambitions are out of reach."
Professor Anthony Woodman, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire, said:
"Professor Grace Ononiwu exemplifies leadership grounded in courage, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to justice. As a proud alumna of our University, she embodies the values we hold dear - ambition, inclusivity, and the transformative power of education. Her appointment as Chancellor is not only a celebration of her extraordinary achievements, but a powerful reminder to our students of what is possible.
"From being told at school that she shouldn’t aspire to a legal career to becoming one of the UK’s most respected legal figures, her story is one of resilience, determination, and self-belief. We are honoured to welcome her into this role, where her guidance and lived experience will inspire our community and illuminate our mission to educate, empower, and change the world."