Newcastle University faces backlash for making Indian oil heir Anant Ambani a professor of sustainability

From the Newshound archive · first published 25 September 2026.

Anant Ambani, 31, son of Mukesh Ambani — owner of the world's largest oil refinery and worth $100bn — has been appointed Professor of Practice in Sustainability at Newcastle University, drawing widespread ridicule from academics and conservationists. The university cited his "work in conservation, biodiversity protection and animal welfare." Ambani also runs Vantara, a 3,500-acre private zoo in Gujarat housing 150,000 animals, where a CITES mission found some import permits were most likely forged.

Noted historian Ramachandra Guha called it "a rather mystifying choice," saying he could name 50 to 100 better-qualified individuals.

A 2025 German newspaper investigation alleged Vantara sourced endangered animals through murky wildlife trading networks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the UAE.

Twenty-seven international conservationists jointly wrote to the university on 22 September to oppose the appointment, around the same time Vantara announced a "major reset" of its procedures.