Nason (pictured) is chair in statistics at Imperial College London and honorary professor at the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London and the University of Bristol.

In addition, Nason is co-chair of the Home Office Science Advisory Council and sits on the National Statistician’s Expert User Advisory Committee. He is also deputy chair of the REF2029 Mathematical Sciences sub-panel and previously chaired the International Prize in Statistics Foundation.  

Previously, Nason served as RSS vice-president for academic affairs from 2016 to 2020, playing a key role in the society’s efforts to improve the teaching excellence framework and raised concerns, along with others, about the use of algorithms to grade school exams in the UK and the Caribbean during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Nason’s research focuses on time series, forecasting, networks, computational social science and official statistics. Nason was recommended from a list of nominees put forward by RSS fellows to its President Nominating Committee, with fellows then given an opportunity to nominate an alternative candidate.

Dr Sarah Cumbers, chief executive of the RSS, said: “I’m delighted that Guy will be our next president. He brings a remarkable breadth of experience, spanning both academic research and the practical application of statistics in policymaking.

“His thoughtful leadership and strong commitment to supporting others in the profession make him exceptionally well placed to guide the RSS into its next chapter.” 

Nason added: “I am deeply honoured and truly delighted to have been elected president of the Royal Statistical Society. It is a privilege to again serve the society.

“I look forward to working with all members of the society in these endeavours, especially as we approach the society’s 200^th anniversary in 2034.”