Professor Curran joined City University London in 2010 having served previously as Vice-Chancellor at Bournemouth University and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Southampton.

A former NASA research scientist and advisor to the European Space Agency (ESA), Professor Curran's award-winning work in ecological Earth observation, involving the use of satellite sensors to monitor the environment, is published widely. With a focus on climate change, current research involves the estimation of terrestrial chlorophyll content from regional to global scales. Appointed to the Chair in Physical Geography at the University of Swansea in 1990 Professor Curran had previously held a research post with the NASA Ames Research Center in California, academic posts at the Universities of Sheffield and Reading and a visiting academic post at the University of New South Wales. At the University of Southampton, from 1993, he held the Chair in Physical Geography, was Head of Geography, Dean of Science and Head of Winchester School of Art before being appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor; he is now a Visiting Professor. Between 2005 - 2010 Professor Curran led the transformation of Bournemouth University. With a focus on academic excellence it moved swiftly to become the competitive outward facing institution it is today.

Professor Curran is the youngest recipient of the Remote Sensing Society's Gold Medal and has received achievement awards from the Royal Geographical Society, NASA, ESA and the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Her Majesty The Queen approved the award of the Patron's Medal of the Royal Geographical Society to Professor Curran, for his 'international development of geographical science'.

Professor Curran is a Member of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the Chair of its Audit Committee; the Chair of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) Board; a Member of Universities UK and its Research Policy and Employability, Business & Industry Policy Committees and President of the Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society. He was the Chair of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), Higher Education Workforce Steering Group and a Member of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) Board and its Audit Committee.

He received a BSc (hons) degree from the University of Sheffield in 1976, an MBA (dist) degree from the University of Southampton in 1998 and PhD and DSc degrees from the University of Bristol in 1979 and 1991 respectively. He is a Chartered Geographer and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society and Chartered Management Institute.

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