Speakers
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Policy Adviser, Universities UK
Naomi has worked in higher education policy for a number of years, focusing on key issues to support widening access and participation. She currently leads on a policy portfolio at Universities UK encompassing admissions, access and participation, and supporting the student experience.
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Professor of Higher Education and Interim Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Arts, Humanities, Management and Social Sciences, Lancaster University
Paul’s research focuses on the educational role of higher education. His latest co-authored, open-access, book, Realising the Educational Potential of Mass Higher Education, addresses the current disillusionment with mass higher education and argues that it is based on a profound misunderstanding of its educational potential. He is the lead author on Reflective Teaching in Higher Education (2015, 2020, 2025 ) written by an international team to support the development of research-informed university teaching.
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Academic Director, pointblank Music School
Christie is Academic Director at pointblank Music School and has worked in creative education for over 15 years, from peripatetic music teaching to higher education. She led on pointblank’s most recent TEF submission (obtaining Gold) as well as their successful application and assessment for Degree Awarding Powers. She is Co-Chair of the IHE Quality Network. Christie is passionate about small, specialist creative industries education and is currently undertaking doctoral research at UCL.
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Director of the Finsbury Institute and Assistant Vice-President (Policy & Government Affairs), City St George’s, University of London
Diana is Director of the Finsbury Institute – a new public policy hub at City St George’s, University of London, where she also serves as Assistant Vice-President (Policy & Government Affairs). She was previously CEO of London Higher and Policy Adviser to three former Universities and Science Ministers. She is Vice-Chair of the board at the University of Worcester and a member of the OfS Public Affairs Committee.
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Founder and CEO, Tiro
Charlotte, Founder and CEO of Tiro, is known for her expertise in apprenticeship development, educational reform, and business leadership within the science and technology industry.
Charlotte is a trailblazer in organisational and staff development, implementing innovative strategies that drive success. She has contributed to the growth and vision of major global employers like Balfour Beatty, The Institute of Cancer Research, The Open University, and leading pharmaceutical and chemical companies across the UK.
Charlotte’s work with Tiro involves pioneering degree apprenticeship programmes in applied chemical, materials, and bioscience. Her experience ranges from working with small and medium-sized enterprises to FTSE250 companies.
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IHE Independent Board Member
Andrew is a higher education regulatory, governance and policy expert, and has served as University Secretary with University of the Arts London, Royal Holloway, Kingston University, and St Mary's University Twickenham. He has overseen the effective management of university governance, legal matters, and regulatory compliance, and provided strategic advice to university boards, vice-chancellors and chief executives.
Andrew has worked in the higher education sector and on university policy for over 25 years in Canada and the UK, including within the DfE, QAA, and the Russell Group. Andrew is a published scholar, and is a regular contributor to Wonkhe and HEPI.
Andrew is Chair of the IHE Governance and Nominations Committee and member of the Board.
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Student Support and Engagement Manager, Tavistock Education and Training
Rebecca leads the student support and engagement services at Tavistock Education and Training, North London NHS Foundation Trust.
Passionate about disability inclusion and advocacy for both staff and students, she recently developed the training course ‘Embedding Disability Inclusion in Learning and Teaching’ to ensure all faculty and professional services staff understand their responsibilities and actively engage in the disability conversation.
Always looking for ways to connect and support colleagues on the ground, Rebecca founded the Disability Advisers Network which has since merged into IHE’s new Supporting Disabled Students Peer Group.
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Group Chief Executive Officer, Oxford International Education Group
Lil has been Group Chief Executive Officer of Oxford International since 2019, having previously served as Group Commercial Director. Under her leadership, the organisation has expanded its presence across the UK, USA, Canada, India, Australia and Germany. With more than 20 years' senior leadership experience in education, including roles at Cavendish College, South Thames College, BPP University and Corndel (NED), Lil has led international growth and strategic partnerships across the sector.
A passionate advocate for gender equality and women's leadership, Lil was named Business Woman of the Year at the 2021 Education Investor Awards. Her contribution to education has also been recognised through Lifetime Achievement Awards from IBIS Capital EdTechX and Lead5050, and the 2026 PIEoneer Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry.
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Head of Student Equality and Welfare, Office for Students
Suzanne leads the Office for Students’ Equality of Opportunity policy area, which includes regulation of access and participation plans, regional collaborative outreach, and disability and mental health. Before joining the Office for Students she worked for more than 15 years in the higher education sector.
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Senior Partner and Director, Counterculture
James is a senior partner at Counterculture and Director of its collaboration project with Wonkhe, Policy.Partners. He is the associate editor for research and innovation at Wonkhe and its sister publication Research Agenda, a fellow of the Post-18 Project, and an ambassador of the Martingale Foundation.
James is from Darlington.
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Head of Region (South), Skills England
Melanie leads Skills England’s work across the South of England, working with Strategic Authorities and the organisations delivering Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs). She also has national responsibility for the LSIP programme.
Melanie has worked on LSIPs and related funding programmes since 2021, supporting collaboration between employers and further education providers to meet changing skills needs. Earlier in her career, she worked on research programmes at UK Research and Innovation and held scientific and international relations roles at the Met Office.
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Director, Ailsa Crum Consulting Ltd
Dr Ailsa Crum is an independent consultant with 30+ years’ higher education experience offering services in evaluation and design of strategy, policy and practice with a particular focus on enhancement-led approaches.
As a QAA Director she was responsible for re-developing sector reference points such as the UK Quality Code, subject benchmarks, credit frameworks and External Examining principles. She led sector-wide projects on topics including student transitions and engagement, addressing awarding gaps, and reassessing assessment.
Ailsa was an architect of the Quality Enhancement Framework in Scotland and retains extensive international links for review and enhancement activities.
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IHE Board Member, and Chief Executive Officer, Central Film School (CFS)
Since 2017, Rory Curley has led CFS through significant growth, expanding its undergraduate, postgraduate, and short course provision, and is currently leading expansion planning for new centres, strengthening the School’s international footprint.
With over 20 years’ experience in higher and further education leadership, Rory has held senior roles at Delfin English School, Cambridge Education Group, Galway Business School, and ISI Ireland. His expertise spans institutional strategy, student recruitment, governance, quality assurance, and widening access to creative industries careers.
Rory served on the FCC for six years until June 2026 and has been a Trustee of Photofusion since April 2026.
Since 2020, he has served on IHE’s Finance and Resources Committee and contributes to sector initiatives on sustainability, funding, and student outcomes.
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IHE Vice Chair, and President and Vice Chancellor, Richmond American University London
Professor Phil Deans has been President and Vice Chancellor of Richmond American University London since 2020 and, before that, was Provost for eight years. He led the successful TDAPs application and registration with the Office for Students (OfS) and oversaw the creation of Richmond’s unique dual degree award.
Phil has worked and studied in China and Japan as well as the UK. He has dedicated his career to furthering international education opportunities and promoting diversity and international perspectives on learning, teaching and curriculum development and content.
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Head of Financial Oversight, Office for Students
Will’s current position in the OfS is Head of Financial Oversight. Will oversees OfS activity to monitor the financial sustainability of HE providers and the sector. Prior to this Will was responsible for sector financial analysis, to inform the OfS’s understanding of financial sustainability and financial risks and challenges facing Higher Education providers.
Will joined the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) in 2009, as an Assurance Consultant. Prior to this he worked at Grant Thornton LLP, working across HE, FE, NHS, Local government, Utility companies, NDPB’s and Housing Associations.
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Director, MDL Strategy
Michelle has 30 years' experience in strategic communications having held senior roles in-house and in consultancy across multiple sectors. She has particularly deep experience in the education sector. She started her career as Head of Parliamentary Affairs for a teaching union, later leading the establishment of Exporting Education, a campaign group promoting the value of British education abroad. She worked with Secretary Hillary Clinton to establish a scholarship programme at Swansea University. More recently she worked in the apprenticeship sector. She currently serves as an Executive in Residence for Arizona State University, helping convene conversations in the UK.
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Director of Policy and Development, Independent Higher Education
Joy leads IHE’s policy work and is directly responsible for international education, freedom of speech and governance. Alongside policy, Joy oversees member engagement, and events, training and consultancy. Joy works closely with stakeholders in Parliament and has worked with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Students since the group’s inception in 2016.
Before joining IHE, Joy spent over a decade in the UK and Canadian higher education sectors, working within universities, independent providers, students’ unions and national sector bodies. This included the National Union of Students, where Joy led on immigration and international students
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Pro Vice-Chancellor - Education and Students, University of the Built Environment
Wendy leads professional services supporting students, education delivery and academic enhancement. She has worked in higher education leadership for over two decades, across universities, further education and small and specialist providers. Her experience includes leading complex change and developing student-centred approaches across different institutional and regulatory contexts. Wendy is particularly interested in widening access through flexible, work-integrated and professionally relevant education, including online and apprenticeship provision. She is Professor of Higher Education Innovation and Leadership and a Fellow and Trustee of AHEP.
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Deputy Director, Admissions, Participation and Post-16 Student Experience, Department for Education
Zoё leads the Department for Education’s (DfE) work to widen access to higher education to disadvantaged groups, support a fair admissions system, protect students’ consumer rights, and support students’ wellbeing in a wide range of areas. She previously led DfE’s work on higher education regulation and quality, and before joining the civil service ten years ago worked in the higher education sector, at a university and then at the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).
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IHE Chair, and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Institute of Sport
As President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Institute of Sport (GIS), Sharona is responsible for shaping and delivering the strategic vision of the world’s leading destination for sport education. Before taking the helm at GIS, she served as Chief Marketing Officer at the University Campus of Football Business (UCFB).
Her earlier career included time at globally renowned institutions such as Imperial College London and The University of Chicago, where she contributed to internationalising education and building globally connected learning environments.
Throughout her journey, Sharona has remained passionate about student-centred education grounded in global best practice.
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Joint Chief Executives, Office for Students
Polly Payne and Ruth Hannant became joint Chief Executives at the Office for Students (OfS) in June 2026.
Polly and Ruth have extensive knowledge and experience of the higher education sector, most notably from their role in shaping the OfS as the Department for Educations’ Directors of Higher Education and Higher Education Reform between 2014 and 2017.
Before their role at OfS, Ruth and Polly have job shared for over 16 years.
Before job-sharing with Ruth, Polly worked in HM Treasury for over a decade in a variety of economic and policy roles. Polly previously worked at the University of Sussex, in Mongolia for the Asian Development Bank, and in Zanzibar as part of the Overseas Development Institute fellowship programme.
Before job-sharing with Polly, Ruth was a Deputy Director in the Shareholder Executive (now UK Government Investments) where she led work on Post Office reform, Royal Mail and Postal Policy, the government’s shareholdings in NATS and CDC and the restructuring of British Energy. Ruth started her career in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) working on exports, employment relations and energy.
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Student, Software Engineer and Entrepreneur, and Co-Host, Get There One Day Podcast
George is a third-year Computer Science student at the University of Bath and a Forward Deployed Engineer at a London-based stealth startup building legal and regulatory intelligence technology. He hosts the Get There One Day podcast, helping students choose, secure and navigate life at university. After building a five-figure academic consultancy that helped students gain places at top universities and pass exams, he founded Supercharged, an AI platform for outreach and people search, now being piloted by six top-ten university societies.
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Chief Executive Officer, Independent Higher Education Australia
Peter has worked as an economic consultant and held a number of board positions, including as a Commissioner on the Commonwealth Grants Commission in Australia.
He was Chief Economist in the Prime Minister's Office from 2016-17 and has worked extensively internationally as a consultant, principally in Asia and the Middle East.
Peter has held a range of roles across higher education and training, including serving on the audit board for a major review of the Australian University Quality Agency, the forerunner of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). He has also served on several national education, training and industry committees and advisory bodies.
In 2003, he was awarded a Centenary Medal for service to Australian society in business leadership.
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Associate Dean of Academic Engagement and Partnerships, ASU London
Peter has worked across many aspects of higher education, with roles spanning teaching, programme leadership, curriculum development and academic leadership. His particular interests are engineering education, project-based learning and authentic assessment. More recently, Peter’s work has explored inclusive approaches to curriculum and assessment, including how assessment design can reduce unnecessary barriers while maintaining academic standards. He is particularly interested in how universities can create learning experiences that enable students from different backgrounds to succeed and prepare effectively for professional practice.
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Deputy Editor, Wonkhe
David Kernohan is Deputy Editor of Wonkhe. Until June 2016, he worked at Jisc as a programme manager and senior codesign manager, after being seconded from HEFCE in 2006. He has also worked for the University of Glamorgan (now the University of South Wales). As Associate Editor, David has responsibility for the development and delivery of a variety of editorial content. His key areas of wonkishness include higher education data, graduate employment, teaching quality enhancement policy, funding policy, sector agency politics and history, and the use of technology in higher education.
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Partner, Pinsent Masons
Rami Labib is a Partner at Pinsent Masons specialising in Higher Education. Recognised by Legal 500 for his work in the sector, he advises universities and independent providers on higher education regulation, consumer law, student contracting and complex commercial and collaborative arrangements. Rami has particular expertise in OfS regulation, international and transnational education, online and distance learning, pathway and validation arrangements, and supporting new entrants to the sector. He has advised Higher Education providers on consumer law compliance for over a decade and regularly speaks on regulatory developments affecting the sector, bringing a practical and commercially focused perspective to emerging challenges.
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Founder, Speaker and Youth Voice Advocate, LiyahTalks,
Aaliyah Likuluta is an award-winning speaker, youth voice advocate and founder of LiyahTalks, a platform dedicated to amplifying young voices and empowering meaningful change. Her work spans higher education, community engagement and national youth advisory roles, championing inclusion and ensuring young people help shape decisions that affect their lives. Drawing on her experience in youth advocacy, widening participation and leadership, Aaliyah delivers talks and interactive workshops exploring identity, belonging and confidence.
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IHE Board Member and Chief Executive Officer, SP Jain London School of Management
Marion is the Chief Executive Officer for SP Jain London School of Management, the London branch of the SP Jain Global group, which aims to provide transformative global education opportunities for its students. In her role, Marion has worked with colleagues to gain new degree awarding powers as well as operationalise the School’s vision.
She has worked in a number of universities in a variety of roles including University Secretary, Registrar and as project manager for a merger.
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Business Manager, Work, Study, Family & Ukraine Services, Home Office
Ronnie has worked for the Home Office since 2007, predominantly in Business Support and Planning & Forecasting roles. He is currently a Business Support Manager within the Immigration and Citizenship Service of the Home Office. Ronnie leads the team responsible for managing the onboarding phase of recruitment into our service lines, producing tactical local planning and performance solutions and other support functions.
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Chief Commercial Officer, QA Higher Education
FCIM-qualified marketer and executive director with 20 years’ experience, most recently as Chief Commercial Officer for a high-growth, Private Equity-backed education business. Extensive board-level leadership experience spanning UK and international student recruitment, university partnerships, and commercial growth. Proven expertise in developing and delivering public-private partnership ventures from negotiation and planning through to implementation and scale. Strong background in product marketing, portfolio expansion, team restructuring, and data-driven decision making. Key achievement includes growing QA Higher Education revenue from £8m in 2015 to over £130m in 2024. Passionate about product innovation, technology, and digital transformation, with a proactive and commercially focused approach.
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President, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU)
Barbara has served as President of NAICU since September 2019. She is a visionary leader who is passionate about independent higher education and committed to increasing access for all students. Mistick and the NAICU team work closely with Congress, the executive branch, and the independent sector of higher education to develop policies that best serve students. During the course of her 30-year career, Mistick has been an entrepreneur, educator and leader. She is a graduate of Carlow University (PA) and the University of Pittsburgh (PA) and earned a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio.
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Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, University of Derby
Kathryn is Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Derby, providing strategic leadership for the University’s vision, growth and impact. A health and behavioural psychologist by background, she is a nationally recognised advocate for social mobility and the transformative power of education. Kathryn chairs the Department for Education’s Higher Education Access and Participation Task and Finish Group and the Universities UK International Mobility Advisory Group. She has contributed to major national reviews and is renowned for her research in Alzheimer’s disease and chronic conditions. Kathryn is a Deputy Lieutenant of Derbyshire and was awarded a CBE in 2022 for her services to education.
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Senior Account Manager, TechnologyOne – Conference Partner
Reza combines first-hand experience of education and curriculum delivery with leadership in technology and institutional governance. His career spans senior roles in product development, student engagement and customer success, giving him a practical understanding of how technology can support institutional priorities and the student experience. Now Senior Account Manager at TechnologyOne and Vice Chair of Governors at a post-16 institution, he brings both an operational and strategic perspective, grounded in the realities of delivering education, not simply supplying technology.
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President and Chief Executive, NMITE
James is President and Chief Executive of the New Model Institute for Technology & Engineering (NMITE), a pioneering higher-education institution based in Hereford that is rethinking how engineers and technologists are educated to meet real-world challenges. An educational innovator and outspoken advocate for social mobility, he regularly writes and speaks about widening participation, skills, place-based growth and the need to challenge established systems in higher education that can inhibit innovation and opportunity.
Under his leadership, NMITE has developed accelerated, challenge-based engineering degrees, deep partnerships with industry, and a strong civic mission focused on regional regeneration.
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IHE Board Member, and Head of Institution, Academy of Live Technology
Rachel Nicholson has been Head of Institution at the Academy of Live Technology (ALT) since 2018. Based on Production Park, near Wakefield in West Yorkshire, ALT specialises in vocational subjects relating to the live events industry.
After gaining a degree in lighting design, Rachel pursued a successful freelance career as a lighting designer and technologist, before returning to the education sector permanently in 2006.
Rachel is currently a member of the Creative Industries Council Education and Skills Working Group.
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IHE Board Member, and Academic Registrar, ACM
Claire is Academic Registrar & Director of Student Experience at ACM (Academy of Contemporary Music), where she provides strategic leadership across the student lifecycle, shaping institutional priorities and initiatives to enhance student experience, success and opportunity. Her portfolio encompasses student engagement and belonging, inclusion and wellbeing, regulatory and immigration compliance, and the development of industry partnerships and opportunities.
Previously, Claire held senior roles at the College of Medicine and Dentistry and the University of Warwick. Her areas of expertise include institutional development, international education and partnership building. A long-standing advocate for international education and intercultural competence, Claire is Co-Chair of IHE's International Education Network and sits on the General Council of the EAIE.
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Principal, Escape Studios
Professor Ian Palmer joined Escape Studios in 2015 to lead the development of its degrees in VFX, animation and games and became principal in 2022. His career began in digital design before studying for his doctorate and pursuing a career in academia, where his research covered computer animation, virtual reality and intelligent systems. He has worked with industry to embed professional practice into educational programmes throughout this time, and this was recognised by Advance HE in 2014 in the award of a National Teaching Fellowship and in the 2016 Collaborative Awards for Teaching Excellence.
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Associate Director – Skills & Talent Policy, techUK
Nimmi is the Associate Director - Skills & Talent Policy at techUK. She works on all things skills, education, and future of work policy, focusing on upskilling and retraining. She is a member of the UK Government's Digital Skills Council, an external advisory body within DCMS, which provides expert advice and fosters collaboration to address the UK’s evolving digital skills needs. Nimmi is also an Advisory Board member of the Digital Futures at Work Research Centre (digit). The Centre’s research aims to increase understanding of how digital technologies are changing work and the implications for employers, people, and governments.
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IHE Board Member, and Head of Institution, Academy of Live Technology
Chris is a Partner at Grant Thornton UK, where he leads the firm’s national higher education advisory offering and its restructuring and debt advisory practice across Yorkshire and the North East. With over 28 years’ experience advising corporates and stakeholders on debt and strategy, he works with CFOs, vice-chancellors, boards, lenders and regulators to help universities navigate a challenging financial environment. His recent work includes independently reviewing institutional forecasts ahead of regulator submission, stress testing transition plans and supporting the raising of debt facilities. Chris is a licensed Insolvency Practitioner.
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Chief Executive, Independent Higher Education
As Chief Executive of Independent Higher Education (IHE), Alex represents the interests of almost 100 independent providers of higher education, professional training and pathways across the UK. He has led IHE since 2011, growing its membership, services and profile to become the second largest representative body for UK higher education and a recognised champion of diversity, flexibility, innovation, student focus and collaboration within the sector.
Alex is widely known as an expert on higher education policy and international education, having helped to establish the All Party Parliamentary Group for International Students, and having served as a Trustee of UKCISA and a member of the UK Government's Education Sector Advisory Group.
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Independent Student Board Member and Chair of the Student Advisory Board, Independent Higher Education
Musa is an aspiring barrister currently reading Law on an Accelerated LLB at The University of Buckingham. He serves as an executive member of the university's Law Society and as leader of the Debate Society, reflecting his strong foundation in advocacy, public speaking, and student leadership.
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Study Service Manager, Work, Study, Marriage & Citizenship, Home Office
Jack Rose has worked in the Home Office for 25 years and has had various roles within work permits, worker registration scheme, and Family Human Rights. He has spent the past four years in his current UKVI role working within study visa's, with responsibility for cancellations, risk engagement, policy liaison, and the customer services team.
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Director, OMNES Education London School
Joanne is Director of OMNES Education London School, Chair of Capel Manor College, and also serves on the boards of London Trinity University and Black Mountains College. A former COO and co-founder of Skilled Education, she has worked internationally across higher education, EdTech and the development of new education businesses. Her experience spans commercial growth, institutional governance and the difficult financial and operational decisions involved in establishing, transforming and, when necessary, closing higher education provision.
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Vice-Chancellor, The University of Buckingham
Before becoming Vice-Chancellor at The University of Buckingham, Lynette was a Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Cranfield University and Dean of Cranfield School of Management.
Lynette's academic background is in sales and customer management. She is a Fellow of the Society of Investment Professionals, Fellow of the Chartered institute of Logistics and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Lynette was awarded the OBE in the New Year Honours 2019 for services to higher education. She is a Non-Executive Director of East West Rail and a Trustee of The Stables, Milton Keynes.
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Vice Apprentice Chair, South East Apprenticeship Ambassador Network
Sophie supports apprentice ambassadors across the region in championing apprenticeships and inspiring future talent. She is passionate about widening access to opportunities, engaging with schools and employers, and helping apprentice ambassadors develop confidence, leadership skills and professional networks. Alongside her AAN role, Sophie works at Mercedes-Benz UK and completed a Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship. Through outreach events, webinars and conference activities, she actively advocates for apprenticeships as a valuable pathway to personal, professional and career success.
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Minister of State (Minister for Skills), Department for Education and Department for Work and Pensions
Jacqui has been Minister for Skills (including apprenticeships, further and higher education) since July 2024, when she joined the House of Lords. As of September 2025, Jacqui’s role now spans both the Department for Education and the Department for Work and Pensions, in order to align skills policy more closely with labour market and employment reform, placing FE and training providers at the heart of the government’s growth mission. Jacqui was previously an MP from 1997 to 2010, serving as the first female Home Secretary and in several other ministerial positions. She worked as a teacher before her entry into Parliament.
© House of Lords / photography by Roger Harris
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Head of Government & External Affairs, The Open University
Michelle leads The Open University’s UK government and external relations work. She builds relationships with government, parliamentarians and influencers; shapes the OU’s policy positions; drives high-impact consultation submissions; and turns external intelligence into strategic opportunity. Before joining the OU, Michelle worked in national and European advocacy at Which?, the UK consumers’ association, and headed parliamentary offices for an MP in Westminster and an MEP in Brussels. She has held, and still holds, external representation and charity board roles at EU, national and Milton Keynes level. A Hull University graduate in European Studies, she spent an Erasmus year at Sciences Po Bordeaux.
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Career Change Coach & Coach Supervisor, Alice Stapleton - Career Coaching
Alice is an accredited Career Coach, with 16 years of coaching experience. She hosts the monthly podcast, The Career Change Diaries, and is an accredited Coach Supervisor, supervising the coaching work of other coaches. Alice specialises in career change coaching, working with those who no longer enjoy what they do, but don’t know what they want to do instead. Her coaching helps clients identify what they want from a career, and suitable career options based on this criteria. Alice regularly appears in the media, and, amongst others, has been featured in The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, The Financial Times, BBC, Forbes, and The Sunday Times.
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Chief Executive Officer, ACM
Gordon Sweeney is the CEO of ACM, the UK's first specialist higher education provider in contemporary music, and a leading voice on the future of creative education
At ACM, which he joined in 2017 as Director of Strategy, he won more than £10 million in grant funding, launched an award-winning curriculum and secured recognition from Research England, making ACM the first independent specialist provider it has funded. Gordon became CEO of ACM in 2025.
Today he co-leads AC[M]etropolis, a pioneering model that unites ACM with Metropolis Studios, one of the world's leading recording studios.
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Senior Research Economist, Institute for Fiscal Studies
Imran is a Senior Research Economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), where he works as part of the Education and Skills team. His research focuses on the funding and finance of post-16 education in the UK, and the evaluation of government skills programmes. He leads the analysis of further and adult education spending for the IFS’s Annual Education Spending Report and has published on the economic returns to post-16 qualifications.
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Co-Host, Get There One Day Podcast
Charlie is a Project Management Degree Apprentice working in Media Technology who left the University of Bath in his first year to pursue a degree apprenticeship, looking to get hands-on experience while earning a degree. He is a co-host on the Get There One Day podcast, which guides students and young people through every stage of their early career journey, be it university, an apprenticeship, or something else. Alongside his apprenticeship, he mentors young people at the start of their careers, supporting their personal development and helping them build the confidence to take their next step.
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News Editor, Times Higher Education
Tom Williams is Times Higher Education's news editor. He joined the title in March 2022 as a reporter covering teaching and employment issues. He was previously a news reporter at Metro.co.uk and worked as a journalist for the Oxford Mail and BBC Radio Oxford. Tom holds a BA in politics from the University of Nottingham and an MA in journalism and media studies from the University of Sussex.
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Vice President for Higher Education, National Union of Students
Lewis brings a wealth of knowledge of all things student voice, having been the Education and Employability sabbatical officer, student trustee and student rep over the last four years at the University of Sussex, where he studied Law.