Birmingham University's vice-principal Michael Clarke has been a staunch and high-profile advocate of tuition top-up fees.
A previous head of the Russell Group of Britain's 20 top research-led universities, he has strongly stressed the need for more funding if Britain's higher education institutions are to remain competitive on the global stage.
The Yorkshire-born academic became head of Birmingham University in 2003. His first role at the institution was professor of public policy and head of the school of public policy. In 1998, he became pro-vice-chancellor with responsibility for external relations and development.
In 2000, he was made a CBE for services to education and a deputy lieutenant for Worcestershire.
Prof Clarke's started his academic career at the University of Edinburgh where in 1969 he was appointed a lecturer and director of studies.
In 1975 he became assistant director, and then deputy director, policy planning at Lothian Regional Council in Scotland.
He moved south in 1981 to become chief executive of the Local Government Training Board and the Local Government Management Board.
The latter role brought together local government's interests in the management and personnel fields, including the support of the national pay bargaining system.
He has served on a number of national advisory bodies relating to local government, has been an adviser to Select Committees in both the House of Commons and House of Lords and is co-chairman of the Board of the Public Management and Policy Association.
He is the higher education sector's representative on the West Midlands Regional Assembly; a member of the (Birmingham) City Strategic Partnership and chairman of the Worcestershire Strategic Partnership Board.
He also sits on the chief executive steering group of the City Region Board and chairs the board of the Central Technology Belt as well as being a non-executive director of the Birmingham Research Park, the Malvern Hills Science Park and the Government of the West Midlands. He is also a member of the Science City Birmingham Board.
Other roles include being a member of the General Synod of the Church of England since 1990 and in 2001 he was appointed a Lay Canon and member of the Chapter of Worcester Cathedral.
Prof Sterling also chairs the management group of Universitas 21, a global network of research-led universities of which Birmingham is a founder member.
He has a strong academic interest in government at the regional and local level and the evolution of new patterns of local governance.
He also has a general interest in the reform of governmental institutions and has written widely on these and related issues.
The 63-year-old has worked with and advised a wide range of public organisations and has a long interest in promoting the interchange of ideas and people across the public service.
