The Isaac Newton Trust is delighted to announce that Professor Dame Ann Dowling will become the next Chair of Trustees, succeeding Professor Frank Kelly at the end of his term. Since its founding in 1988, the Trust has been led by a distinguished succession of Chairs; Professor Dowling will be the first woman to hold this position.
A Trustee since 2020, Professor Dowling has played a pivotal role in the development of the Trust’s strategic mission, its governance, policies and the management of the Trust’s research grant programmes. As Deputy Chair of the Trinity Cambridge Research Studentship management committee, Professor Dowling has been instrumental in shaping the Trust’s new Trinity Cambridge Research Studentships programme and will continue to serve on the Trust’s Fellowship sub‑committee.
Professor Dowling shared, “I have seen the difference the Trust can make by supporting researchers across Cambridge University and I am looking forward to continuing to do that. The Trust is small and can be flexible and agile in the decisions it makes. I’d like us to be adventurous in the strategic initiatives we support, and to be timely in providing emergency funding when there is a short gap in funding key post-docs”.
Internationally recognised as a leading authority on low‑emission combustion and aeroacoustics, Professor Dowling brings a rare combination of scientific depth and real‑world impact to her role. Her pioneering work on ultra‑low‑emission combustion systems has transformed understanding of the instabilities that arise as gas turbines are pushed to cleaner operating methods. Her teams have integrated theoretical modelling, high‑fidelity computation, and experimental testing to develop predictive tools now widely used to anticipate and suppress combustor oscillations.
Professor Dowling’s contribution is equally significant in the field of aircraft noise. She has led major advances in modelling jet noise during take‑off and in understanding combustion‑generated noise - research that has informed practical noise‑reduction strategies across aviation, transport, and domestic technologies.
With a career defined by rigorous academic research, cross‑disciplinary leadership, and a sustained commitment to reducing the environmental impact of power and mobility, Professor Dowling brings both technical authority and strategic insight to her new role. Her expertise will be invaluable in assessing the scientific merit, feasibility, and societal benefit of future research investments.
We very much look forward to welcoming Professor Dowling as the new Chair of Trustees with effect from 01 May 2026.
