Professor Thom Brooks combines institutional leadership at Durham University with a sustained record of advisory and consultancy work for government, parliament and public bodies. His work is available to institutions seeking independent, evidence-based expertise on law, citizenship, immigration and public policy.
Institutional leadership
Principal, Collingwood College, Durham University (2025-present): Durham’s largest college. Focus on student leadership, widening opportunity and connecting the university with public and civic life.
Founding Director, Collingwood Future (2026-): An interdisciplinary initiative on AI, ethics and leadership launching in 2026, bringing together academia, industry and public policy to prepare the next generation for leadership in an era of rapid technological change.
Founding Dean, Durham Law School (2016-2021): Inaugural and longest-serving Dean. Doubled the School’s size; achieved best-ever QS and Times Higher rankings; congratulated in House of Commons Early Day Motion 875.
112th President, Society of Legal Scholars (2020-2021): The oldest learned society for legal academics in the UK and Ireland. Only the second President in its history not British or Irish by birth. Co-hosted a landmark cross-society conference with the Law Commission contributing to its 14th Programme of Law Reform.
Chair, LNAT Consortium (2021-2022): The Law National Admissions Test, used by leading UK law schools for undergraduate admissions.
Member, KC (Hons) Selection Panel (2019-2021): Serving on the panel responsible for appointing honorary King’s Counsel.
Government & parliamentary advisory work
Most recent: oral evidence to the House of Lords Justice & Home Affairs Committee on citizenship and immigration, January 2026.
Advised the Home Office on implementation of the National Security Act 2023; formally thanked in Parliament.
Advised the Ministry of Justice on sentencing policy, punishment and rehabilitation.
Informed the Law Commission simplification review of the Immigration Rules and its inquiry into electronic border management.
Cited by the Electoral Commission on the EU referendum question; proposed wording accepted by government and implemented in 2016.
Research cited in three House of Lords select committee reports on citizenship, immigration and justice.
Successfully proposed the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee inquiry into the Life in the UK test.
Advised the BBC on immigration and legal matters for Call the Midwife and Rip Off Britain.
Areas of advisory expertise
Citizenship & immigration: Reform of the Life in the UK test · Integration policy · Citizenship education · Border management
Criminal justice: Sentencing policy · Punishment theory · Rehabilitation · Restorative justice
Higher education: Strategic governance · Civic university engagement · Widening access · Institutional development
Public communication: Media training · Policy communication · Academic public engagement · Strategic messaging
Engage Professor Brooks
Available for select committee evidence, parliamentary briefings, policy consultation, advisory board membership, keynote lectures and strategic consultancy. Engagements are available to government departments, public bodies, think tanks, universities and the private sector.
Get in touch * Policy impact briefing (PDF) * Full CV (PDF) * Speaking engagements