University of Oxford’s Said Business School gifted £15m by Wafic Said for new world-class executive education centre

Featuring state-of-the-art facilities and 121 bedrooms, the Global Leadership Centre will bring leaders from business, government and civil society together with academics from across the University of Oxford to re-imagine the future of business.

Professor Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford joined Mr Saïd in the signing of the Deed. ‘I would like, on behalf of colleagues across the University, to express our deep appreciation to Wafic Saïd for his generous and visionary support of this exciting project,’ she said.

Peter Tufano commented: ‘Business is a vital force in economies and societies. Business and business schools must acknowledge the benefits and responsibilities that come with their roles.  In the Global Leadership Centre, we will work with leaders of global business, government and civil society to help them reconsider their purpose as well as their operations.  This will benefit from insights from not only business academics but also from experts in many different disciplines, whether in the sciences, philosophy, history or technology. As a business school embedded in the heart of Oxford University, our Global Leadership Centre will deliver this broad perspective and I am deeply grateful to Mr Saïd and to the Saïd Foundation for their continuing and generous support of the School and its future growth.’

Mr Saïd said: ‘It is now two decades since we held the ground-breaking ceremony for the Said Business School’s first building.  Since then, its success and impact on global business practice has surpassed even my most ambitious dreams.

It is a pleasure and a privilege to support the School as it embarks on the next chapter of its remarkable story with the Global Leadership Centre, which is a sign both of the School’s achievement to date and of an even more exciting future.

The School owes its success to hundreds of people but I must acknowledge two in particular today.  Dean Peter Tufano’s leadership has transformed the School’s great promise into a great reality.  Vice-Chancellor Professor Richardson’s leadership and support of this critical redevelopment has demonstrated the commitment of the University to ensuring that the School becomes second to none in global business education.  I am grateful to them and all their colleagues.’

Dating from 1892, Osney Power Station has played an important part in Oxford’s industrial history, powering the first electric lighting in Oxford.  John McAslan + Partners (JM+P), which led the redevelopment of King’s Cross station, has been appointed as the project architect. The scheme combines the industrial heritage of the building with modern spaces and facilities which will support immersive training programmes and inspire learning.

Saïd Business School is proud to be contributing further to the regeneration of this part of Oxford, a regeneration which started with the opening of the School’s main building in 2001.

Consistent with the values of the School, the project aims to capitalise upon leading-edge thinking on sustainable development to create a building that lives in harmony with its scenic waterside setting.

The target date for commencement of main works is early 2020 with building predicted to take approximately 24 months.