Job Shadowing HE

Clare Marchant DBE is Vice-Chancellor at the University of Gloucestershire. She holds what currently looks like to be a unique position in UK Higher Education being a female Vice-Chancellor who has also come from a non-academic route, and one of the topics we discuss in the episode is the opening up of the Vice-Chancellor role to a more diverse community, and why this is important in leading the sector into the future. Clare also talks about the vital role of connectivity in leading an institution – with students, with staff and with the surrounding regional community – as well as the role of digital. We also discuss how she balances drive and ambition for the University with the practical reality of prioritisation, and she additionally reflects upon the changing shape of the Higher Education sector, and the potential for greater collaboration and partnership. This mini-series is kindly sponsored by PACT Solutions, which helps universities achieve their ambitions through digital transformation — specialising in the student journey, student records, data & reporting, AI and change management. The Association of Higher Education Professionals is proud to support Job Shadowing HE as a valuable source of professional insight.

Joe Cooper is Director of People and Culture at the University of East London. In this episode we discuss how the University has evolved during recent years and where his focus has been as the executive HR lead. Joe also talks about his unique career path from Students’ Union Chief Executive into University HR, and the importance of remembering that students are always at the heart of university life. This episode is kindly sponsored by Anderson Quigley which builds better leaders for a better society. They are industry experts with decades of experience in public sector executive search, interim management and advisory. The Association of Higher Education Professionals is proud to support Job Shadowing HE as a valuable source of professional insight.

My guest in this episode is Steph Glen. Steph has been a Higher Education professional since 2007, initially working her way through a series of progressively senior roles in Timetabling including nearly 10 years at the University of Nottingham, and since December 2024 holding the newly created strategic role of Head of Teaching Space Operations at UCL, the UK’s largest university. In this episode, I find out from Steph about the significant impact she has made within her career so far to improve the student experience, and the strategic focus she places on building collaborative relationships with colleagues to help break down some of the challenges that exist in HEIs about use of space. ----more---- This episode is kindly sponsored by SEAtS One. SEAtS One is a unified platform that helps universities make data-driven decisions to improve student success, retention, and compliance. From monitoring attendance to streamlining workflows and reducing operational costs, SEAtS offer a single, easy-to-use solution for managing student engagement, wellbeing, and institutional efficiency.

My guest in this episode is Anna Quinn, Head of Student Services at the University of Northampton. In addition to leading her large team, Anna contributes to the strategic development of the University such as its bid for the University Mental Health Charter and work on student suicide prevention. She also talks in this episode about the work she has led since 2017 on addressing sexual misconduct, and the grounding this has offered the University in addressing new Office for Students requirements. Anna also shares her reflections on leadership development and the future direction of Student Services. This episode is kindly sponsored by The Consent Collective, an expert-led training organisation trusted by universities across the UK to deliver impactful education on consent and the prevention of sexual harassment. Founded by psychologist Dr Nina Burrowes, their content goes beyond the basics, helping universities engage students and staff with learning that is impactful, relevant, and genuinely thought-provoking. Find out more at consentcollective.com

Dr Brooke Storer-Church is Chief Executive Officer of Guild HE which represents around 70 diverse institutions in the Higher Education sector. In this episode, Brooke reflects upon why diversity is so important to UK Higher Education, and talks about the way in which Guild HE is working to support and champion this part of HE . She also discusses her career pathway into and through Higher Education, as well as what’s been her focus, along with that of her team, since she became CEO in June 2024. This episode is kindly sponsored by Gatenby Sanderson, the UK’s leadership expert. We partner with universities to find and place exceptional HE leaders and develop their teams – improving leadership performance, inclusivity and accelerating change.

Professor Pip Beard is Professor of Viral Pathology and Head of the School of Life Sciences at Keele University. Pip took her up post as Head of School following the initial part of her career in practice and subsequently in research institutes, and she continues to hold a national and international government advisory role in her professional field. In this episode, Pip reflects upon taking up a Head of School role and how she has found the first two years in post. She considers the value of leadership development programmes she undertook prior to her university appointment, and reflects upon how she has found the transition of parking much of her research activity while she leads her school. We also discuss how she has navigated being a female leader in various male dominated environments. This Leadership Reflections mini-series is kindly sponsored by Minerva. Minerva is an executive search firm that supports universities in making senior executive appointments across academic and professional service roles and also in recruiting to university council and interim positions. Minerva helps individuals enrich their careers and take on roles that fulfil their potential.

My guest in this episode of the Leadership Reflections mini-series is Professor Randall S Whittaker, Principal and CEO of Rose Bruford College, one of the UK's leading specialist performing arts Higher Education Institutions. As a renowned figure for his work on representation and diversity, Randall reflects upon his leadership journey including what he has learnt along the way, how creativity forms a core part of his leadership approach and why engaging with the wider sector is so important for career development and establishing a voice. He also considers the instrumental role of specialist institutions as part of a diverse HE sector, and the significant impact that creative graduates have on the well-being of our society and economy. This Leadership Reflections mini-series is kindly sponsored by Minerva. Minerva is an executive search firm that supports universities in making senior executive appointments across academic and professional service roles and also in recruiting to university council and interim positions. Minerva helps individuals enrich their careers and take on roles that fulfil their potential.

My guest in this episode is Erica Conway, Chief Financial Officer at the University of Birmingham and Chair of the British Universities Finance Directors Group (BUFDG). In this episode, Erica offers insight into the role of Chief Financial Officer, and how she works in partnership with university colleagues and governors to enable the institution to achieve its strategic goals. She also offers her reflections on the financial state of the wider sector, how finance professionals can be supported in fulfilling careers within Higher Education, and the benefits that she draws from her engagement as a trustee and governor with organisations beyond the university. This episode is kindly sponsored by Peridot Partners. Peridot Partners transforms leadership and inspires change across organisations with a social purpose. Their specialist higher education team recruits diverse leaders and governors who are driven by your vision of academic excellence.