I am a highly motivated and energetic strategic leader with over 30 years’ experience in Higher Education, predominantly at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU). I have led teams of academics through periods of organisational change with integrity, against a backdrop of changing priorities in the national higher education (HE) arena. I have motivated both academic and professional service staff to embrace change, to ensure colleagues are offering an enhanced experience for all key stakeholders. My work focusing on students’ transition into Higher Education and the embedding of employability into the curriculum have remained critical contributing factors to my commitment to the quality of the student experience in recent years and the desire to transform students into high calibre ‘oven-ready’ graduates. I have undertaken a range of leadership training in the last 15 years, and was one of the first members of staff at CCCU to be awarded Senior Fellowship of the then Higher Education Academy (HEA), via direct application in 2014.
In 2022, my career changed direction as I moved into leading on UK academic partnerships and apprenticeships for the University. The Unit I lead has oversight of 5 large UK commercial colleges and 10+ small commercial and Further Education (FE) colleges. I have led on the development of a sophisticated set of processes and procedures to ensure that there is both parity of approach to the management of our partners and that the University is ‘audit ready,’ using my experience to date, of responding successfully to external regulatory scrutiny of UK partnership provision. This year I have led on the development of a robust governance structure for UK partnerships linked to the systematic identification, logging and tracking of risk associated with partnership work, designed to ensure the sustainability of this aspect of the University’s provision, beyond 2030.
As a Parent, then Community Governor, and latterly Vice Chair for Wincheap Primary School Governing Body from 2011 to 2022, I had overall responsibility for English (including the introduction of phonics in 2012) and the Gifted and Talented programme. For the last ten years of my tenure, I was part of the three-governor panel which oversaw the Headteacher’s annual performance and pay review. This experience demonstrates my ability to work with a wide range of colleagues in different settings, and to ensure that education provision meets the deserving needs of this (albeit non-HE) educational sector.
In both my previous role as academic lead for Tourism, Hospitality and Events and more recently the Director of UK Partnerships and Apprenticeships, I have kept abreast of national policy for HE and have contributed to discussion and approval of new academic policies and procedures within the University. I feel confident that I have been able to effectively communicate my ideas and contribute to debate in formal meeting contexts, and in more informal (but equally as important) debate in the Senior Common Room. I have a fair, considerate and objective approach to all those with whom I work, and for that reason, am often approached by colleagues across the University for carefully considered, honest advice on work-related matters. This has allowed me to develop a keen sense of what matters to staff in terms of the jobs they undertake, and their aspirations to deliver a quality experience to CCCU students. I would very much appreciate your support as I stand for election as an Academic Staff Governor.