The Lord-Lieutenant and Vice Lord-Lieutenant
Professor Elizabeth Barnes is the Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire
Professor Elizabeth Barnes CBE is the Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire. She was appointed to this role on 15th July 2025.
She has spent her career in education, starting out as a PE and Maths teacher in Longton High School, Stoke-on-Trent and Bilbrook Middle School, before moving into the Higher Education sector where she worked for nearly 35 years in 4 universities. Liz concluded her full-time career as Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of Staffordshire University.
Throughout her career and into retirement Liz has volunteered and been a Trustee for multiple charities and businesses. Early in her career she was the Staffordshire schools’ county netball coach and a netball umpire. More recently she has been a member of 5 Multi-Academy Trusts, co-chaired the Opportunity Area for Schools in Stoke-on-Trent and is Vice Chair of Aspire Housing.
Liz spent 23 years in the North East where she still retains a link serving as a Non-Executive Director for University Hospitals Tees and as a Governor for Sunderland University.
Whilst serving as Vice Chancellor of Staffordshire University she was a Board Member for Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership where she chaired the skills group focusing on enabling access to work and driving up the skills level of our working population. She was a member of Stoke on Trent City Council’s Children’s Services Improvement Board and a Board Member for the Donna Louise Trust. In 2020 she was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in Staffordshire. Staffordshire University awarded her an Honorary Doctorate after her retirement in 2021 and she remains an Emeritus Professor of the University.
In 2019 Liz was awarded a CBE for her service to Higher Education. She was a Board Member for Universities UK, vice Chair for the Million Plus Universities’ Mission Group and a Trustee for JISC, the provider of IT networks for Universities and Colleges. She is currently serving as a Governor for Middlesex University and is a Board Member for the Lifelong Learning Institute.
Vice Lord-Lieutenant
The Vice Lord-Lieutenant, with His Majesty the King's approval is appointed by the Lord Lieutenant from one of the deputies. The Vice Lord-Lieutenant carries out the normal duties of the Lord-Lieutenant should they be away, ill or unable to attend an event. The Vice Lord-Lieutenant would normally stand down from their position when a new Lord-Lieutenant is appointed. However this can be extended at the discretion of the Lord-Lieutenant.
The age of retirement for Vice Lord-Lieutenants is, as for Lord-Lieutenants, 75.
Lord-Lieutenants are required to appoint Deputy Lieutenants within an establishment that varies according to the population of the county. In Staffordshire a maximum of 58 Deputy Lieutenants may be appointed. They are appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant, subject only to His Majesty not approving the Commission. The letters 'DL' appear after their names. You can view a full list of Deputy Lieutenants.
The Vice-Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire is Mr Graham Morley, DL who was appointed on 30 April 2023 following the completion of service by his predecessor Mr James Leavesley DL.
Mr Morley was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in 2014 and has undertaken a key role in the promotion and recognition of the Lieutenancy throughout the education sector within the county. He has worked in various posts within education including the position of Principal for South Staffordshire College.