Geoff Layer, the current Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, has an impressive background in higher education. His career includes a vast range of roles such as Deputy Vice Chancellor, Pro Vice Chancellor, Dean, Director, and Lecturer in different universities across the UK. He has been actively involved in higher education both regionally and nationally. His regional involvement includes his Directorship at Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership and the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and he serves as Chair of Universities West Midlands. He is also a Non-Executive Director at the West Midlands Growth Company, a Governor for the Telford College Corporation, and an appointed governor on the Council of Governors of the West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust.

Geoff Layer's national involvement includes his previous Chairship of the Department for Education’s Disabled Students Sector Leadership Group, while he is currently the Chair of the Disabled Students’ Commission. He is also the Chair of the Student Loans Company Stakeholder Forum, a Trustee of the Universities Association for Lifelong Learning, a Trustee of the Worker's Educational Association (WEA), and a Director of Advance HE. As a successful leader, he is committed to delivering excellence in higher education and has received various recognitions for this. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and a Fellow of Leeds College of Music.

Geoff Layer holds a degree in LLB (Hons) from Newcastle Polytechnic as well as a Professor of Lifelong Learning from Sheffield Hallam University. He has a diverse range of interests, including sports as he is a Vice-President at Sheffield Collegiate Cricket Club and also a Sunderland supporter.