Speakers:
Jamie Arrowsmith
Director, Universities UK International
Jamie was appointed Director of Universities UK International (UUKi) in November 2022. Prior to taking on this role, Jamie led Universities UK’s research and innovation policy programme (2014-2017) before becoming Assistant Director for Policy Engagement at UUKi (2017-2022). Before joining Universities UK in 2010, Jamie was a research associate and ESRC research fellow at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Education and Social Research Institute.
Jonathan Ashworth
Chief Executive, Labour Together
The Rt Hon Jonathan Ashworth is Chief Executive of the Labour supporting think tank, Labour Together. He was the MP for Leicester South for 13 years and served in the shadow cabinet as shadow secretaries of state for Health, Work & Pensions and shadow Paymaster General. He is a Policy Fellow at Cambridge University’s Centre for Science and Policy. He was a special advisor to the last Labour government working to Gordon Brown in the Treasury and No 10 Downing Street.
Georgina Ayre
Deputy Director for Global Research and Innovation, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Fiona Blair
Director of External Relations, University of Reading
Fiona has worked in Higher Education marketing and communications for more than for 20 years. She began her career at the University of Surrey where, following a year as President of the Students’ Union, she spent eight years working in the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, managing a diverse portfolio of strategic projects and stakeholder engagement activities. Fiona joined the University of Reading in January 2009 as a senior member of the External Affairs team responsible for the institution’s corporate relations and events.
From August 2014 to August 2016 she was Deputy Head and subsequently Head of Engagement and External Relations, which included the management of UK student recruitment. During her time in the post she led the transformation of the University’s prospective student experience. In August 2016, continuing her career at Reading, Fiona was recruited to the post of Head of Marketing Operations which she undertook for just one year ahead of being appointed as the University’s Director of Marketing, Communication and Engagement in July 2017 and subsequently as Director of External Relations.
Dr Malcolm Butler
Vice-President and Director of International, University of Sheffield
Dr Malcolm Butler is the Vice-President and Director of International at the University of Sheffield. He leads on engagements and visits with partners globally and plays a key role in our Forged in Sheffield philanthropy campaign.
Having graduated with a physics degree from the University of Warwick, Dr Butler completed his PhD in the Department of Engineering Materials at the University of Sheffield. He then spent 11 years working across the UK and Europe in various research and development roles for British Steel/Corus, eventually becoming R&D Programme Manager for a £9 million per annum research programme. During this time, he completed an MSc in Ferrous Metallurgy from the University of Leeds and an MBA from the University of Warwick.
He returned to the University of Sheffield in 2003 where he joined the Polymer Centre as a manager, specialising in knowledge and technology transfer activities. During this time, he was also a founder and Managing Director of the spin-out company Farapack Polymers Ltd. In 2008, he became Faculty Director of Operations for the Faculty of Engineering during which time the faculty doubled student numbers to 5,400 and completed the £86 million Diamond building – a world class teaching facility. He then took on Director of Global Engagement from April 2017 to February 2025. Malcolm was elected as chair of the Russell Group International Forum in 2018 and is also currently a trustee for the Northern Consortium educational charity and a non-executive director of the associated NCUK Ltd. He is currently learning Mandarin.
Sarah Chaytor
Director of Research Strategy & Policy, University College London
Sarah Chaytor joined the Office of the Vice-Provost (Research) in 2009 and established UCL Public Policy in 2012. Her current role includes overseeing the UCL Public Policy programme and building UCL’s capacity to engage with public policy, as well as advising the Vice-Provost (Research) on research strategy and other aspects of his portfolio, leading UCL’s research policy work, and managing strategic projects.
She is a co-investigator and Co-Chair of the Project Delivery Group for the £10 million Capabilities in Academic-Policy Engagement project.
Prior to joining UCL, Sarah worked as a research fellow at the Russell Group, leading work related to research funding and policy. She previously held research policy roles at the Wellcome Trust and Universities UK, and before that worked as a parliamentary researcher and for a think tank. She was a co-founder of UPEN, the Universities Policy Engagement Network, and is co-chair of the UPEN Futures Working Group.
Sarah has a MA in Issues in Modern Culture from UCL and a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Oxford.
The Rt Hon Greg Clark
Former Secretary of State and Executive Chair, Warwick Innovation District, The University of Warwick Innovation District
The Rt Hon Greg Clark is Executive Chair of the University of Warwick’s Innovation District (and Chair of WMG - the Warwick Manufacturing Group).
James Coe
Associate Editor, Wonkhe
James is Associate Editor for Research and Innovation at Wonkhe, a fellow of The Post-18 Project and a Senior Partner at Counterculture.
James works across higher education, the public sector, and with businesses, on making organisations better, places more vibrant, and the economy stronger.
Joan Concannon
Director of External Relations, University of York
Joan has a specific interest in advancing the reputation of universities in respect of place-making and demonstrating the way in which the work of the University of York is influencing and driving inclusive economic, social and cultural development.
Joan is also the co-founding Director of the York Festival of Ideas, one of the largest free festivals of its kind in the UK. The festival is dedicated to demonstrating the relevance and societal value of education, research and ideas to diverse audiences. She is a board member of Make It York, the city's destination marketing organisation, and a member of York’s Company of Merchant Adventurers. Joan is also an elected member of the Council of the Royal Institute for Philosophy.
Prior to joining the University of York in 2009, Joan was Director of External Relations at the University of Dundee for seven years and co-led the V&A at Dundee project during its first two years of development, leading to significant Scottish government financial support and widespread public engagement.
Alex Craven
CEO, The Data City
Alex Craven has been at the forefront of digital innovation since founding a digital agency in 1999 and exited in 2018. Now, as Co-Founder and CEO of The Data City, he continues to drive change, using machine learning to map the global economy for both government and the private sector. Under Alex’s leadership, The Data City is revolutionising industrial classification, liberating businesses from outdated systems like SIC codes.
An active figure in the tech community, Alex regularly speaks at industry events, judges innovation awards, and provides advisory services as a non-executive director. A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, Alex is committed to raising awareness around neurodiversity and supporting entrepreneurship in underrepresented communities.
Fran Davies
Head of Global Science, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Fran Davies is the Head of Global Science at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) responsible for leading our international network of science, technology, and research officers (150 officers in 70 locations around the world). Fran provides strategic direction and operational leadership and leads on science diplomacy and partnership to deliver international and diplomatic objectives. Fran has more than 20 years of experience developing and implementing national and international policy and leading operational management.
Professor Tim Dunne
Interim President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Surrey
In this capacity he reports to the Chair of Council; leads the University’s Executive Board; is expected to deliver on budget targets and institutional KPIs; helps to create an open, diverse and inclusive environment where staff and students are secure and can thrive; engages actively with external stakeholder groups. Tim’s substantive role continues to be Provost & Senior Vice-President – a role he took up in 2022. Prior to his move to Surrey, Tim had several leadership roles at The University of Queensland. He is recognised for his research on human rights protection and foreign policy-making in a changing world order. He has written and co-edited sixteen books, including Terror in our Time (2012), The Globalization of International Society (2017), and The Rise of the International (2024). An elected Fellow of the Academic of Social Sciences, Australia and Emeritus Professor at The University of Queensland.
Andrea Farquhar
Chief Executive, Internal and External Engagement (recently retired), McMaster University
Chair of the Times Higher Education (THE) World 100 Reputation Network, Andrea is an international higher education leader in reputation development, issues management and public affairs. She has spent almost three decades providing strategic advice, planning, and program delivery that drives government funding and policy, engages stakeholders and media, and strengthens internal communications and change management.
Alex Favier
Founder and Director, Favier Ltd
Alex has more than a decade of global and political affairs experience and an outstanding track-record of innovation, impact and creativity working for some of the UK’s best universities and government agencies. Having built award-winning public affairs functions at both the University of Warwick and the University of Nottingham he has developed an international reputation for sector-leadership and collaboration. He has established groups such as the Russell Group Political Affairs Network, the UK Universities Overseas Campus Network and initiatives such as the UPP Civic University Commission, Nottingham in Parliament Day and the Universities for Nottingham civic partnership.
Most recently he has worked on secondment as the Director of International Relations at the Midlands Engine, where he launched the £33bn Midlands Investment Portfolio; initiated a major research project with the CBI, The Data City, Beauhurst and WavTeq to evaluate the investment potential of Midlands clusters and secured funding for the Universities as Drivers of Trade and Investment Pilot in partnership with Midlands Innovation and Midlands Enterprise Universities.
Professor Josie Fraser
Interim Vice-Chancellor, The Open University
Professor Josie Fraser is the interim Vice-Chancellor of the Open University, a position she has held since October 2024. Prior to this, she served in various senior academic leadership roles on the Open University executive team, beginning in 2017.
A neuroscientist by training, Josie has collaborated with academic, medical, and pharmaceutical partners in the US, UK, and Europe on projects related to Alzheimer’s disease drug development, substance misuse, and emotional and cognitive behaviour. Her research integrates behavioural, cognitive, neurosurgical, pharmacological, and brain scanning techniques. She has taught across a broad range of healthcare disciplines, including medicine, pharmacy, biomedical sciences, and psychology.
Josie holds a research and teaching Chair in psychopharmacology, recognising her significant contributions to both research and teaching. Her teaching focuses on authentic assessment, inter-professional healthcare education, and team-based learning.
As a leader, Josie is committed to the social mission of widening access to higher education and supporting the success of diverse students. She is a strong advocate for diversity in leadership within higher education. Josie champions equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) both within the Open University and beyond, including mentoring with 100 Black Women Professors NOW and her involvement with World Women in Neuroscience. She also holds Board memberships with the Institute of Engineering & Technology (IET) and the Institute of Coding (IoC), where she works to promote diversity in technology.
Josie is inspired by the diverse journeys of Open University students and the innovative research and teaching carried out by her colleagues.
Professor Adam Habib
Vice-Chancellor, SOAS University of London
Professor Adam Habib is the Vice-Chancellor of SOAS University of London, former Principal and Vice-Chancellor of University of the Witwatersrand, former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research at the University of Johannesburg and former Professor of Development at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. A professor of Political Science, he has over 30 years of academic, research and administration expertise in institutions distinctively defined by engagements in the contest of ideas, their translation into actionable initiatives and the building of institutions. Professor Habib co-founded the African Research Universities Alliance, is an American Academy of Arts and Sciences member and fellow of the African Academy of Science and Academy of Science of South Africa.
Professor Jennifer Hudson
Vice-Provost (Faculties), University College London
Professor Jennifer Hudson is Vice-Provost (Faculties), University College London, and Professor of Political Behaviour. She is the Director of the Development Engagement Lab (DEL), a multi-country research programme working in partnership with 30 development INGOs and government ministries to understand public support for aid and sustainable development. Professor Hudson’s research has been funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Danish Council for Independent Research, Nuffield Foundation and Leverhulme Trust.
Mike Innes
Senior Manager, Government Funding and University Collaboration, Jaguar Land Rover
Alistair Jarvis CBE
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Partnerships and Governance), University of London
Alistair is a member of the senior executive team at the University of London. His responsibilities include communications, fundraising, marketing, legal, governance, student recruitment, inclusion, regulatory compliance, quality assurance and supporting partnerships with federation members.
He was CEO of Universities UK from 2017 to 2022. Leading the representative body for the UK’s 140 universities - a registered charity and six subsidiary entities - his role included influencing policy, strategy and member engagement. Before this, he was Deputy CEO and Director of External Relations since 2013.
Previously, he was a Director at the University of Birmingham and has held external engagement roles for national organisations.
Alistair received a CBE in 2022 for services to Higher Education and supporting the universities during the covid-19 crisis.
He is a member of the Board of Trustees of UCAS, the UK’s shared admissions service. He is the chair of the Policy Network of London Higher. He is an Executive Committee member of the AHUA and member of the advisory boards of Wonkhe, the UPP Foundation and the Discovery Decade project. Alistair was educated at the Universities of Kent, Leicester and the Institute of Education, UCL.
Professor Charlie Jeffery
Vice-Chancellor and President, University of York
Professor Charlie Jeffery became Vice-Chancellor and President at the University of York in September 2019. He joined us from the University of Edinburgh where he had been Senior Vice-Principal since 2014. He was a Member of Council of the Economic and Social Research Council from 2006-12 and Chair of the Political Studies Association of the UK from 2009-12. He has a deep-rooted interest in how university research and education can serve the general benefit of society, or public good. In Edinburgh and now in York he has worked to bring together the University with local authorities, businesses, other universities and colleges to promote inclusive economic development, and to open up access to university study and economic opportunity to people from disadvantaged backgrounds - both in the UK and internationally.
Jennifer Johnson
Director of Research and Innovation, Loughborough University
Jennifer is Director of the Research and Innovation Office at Loughborough with responsibility for a wide range of research and innovation strategy, policy and support services including research grants and contracts, research systems, research quality and REF, research policy, research and partnership development and IP management.
Ben Jordan
Director of Strategy, UCAS
Ben has been at UCAS for over a decade and has been described as a ‘leading figure of HE admissions policy’, with his knowledge in this area ‘second to none’. During his time at UCAS, Ben had led the response and engagement around every major political event that could impact on student progression, including Brexit, admissions reform, qualification reform, Scottish independence, general elections, and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic, which involved forming part of three separate ministerial taskforces.
Professor Helen Laville
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Kingston University and Incoming Vice-Chancellor, Oxford Brookes University
Professor Laville will be taking up the role of Vice Chancellor at Oxford Brookes University this August. She is currently the Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Kingston University in London. Prior to joining Kingston University in 2021, Helen was Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) at Manchester Metropolitan University for five years. She was educated at the University of Birmingham and returned there to begin her academic career after completing her PhD at the University of Nottingham. Helen is a Principal Fellow of Advance HE, a Governor on the Board of the South Thames College Group and a Trustee of Hospice UK.
Professor Christoph Lindner
President and Vice-Chancellor, Royal College of Art
Professor Christoph Lindner is President and Vice-Chancellor of the Royal College of Art, the internationally renowned postgraduate art and design university, where he holds the title of Professor of Visual Culture. He previously served as Dean of the Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment at University College London. He is a leading international scholar of cities and visual culture and has published 15 books in the fields of art, architecture, media and urban geography.
Professor Dame Sally Mapstone FRSE
Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of St Andrews
Professor Dame Sally Mapstone FRSE is the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews in Scotland, a position she took up in 2016. During Dame Sally’s tenure, the University attained a historic “double first”, ranking top of the two leading University league tables in the UK: the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 and the Guardian University Guide 2024.
Professor Mapstone is President of Universities UK for the period 2023-25. At a national and international level, Professor Mapstone has also served as the Convener of Universities Scotland, Vice-Chair of the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, and as Chair of the International Advisory Board for the University of Helsinki. She is also currently the Chair of the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) board and a trustee of the Europaeum.
Before St Andrews, Dame Sally’s career was spent at the University of Oxford, where she was latterly Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education in the University, and Professor of Older Scots Literature in its Faculty of English, as well as a Fellow of St Hilda’s College.
Debbie McVitty
Editor, Wonkhe
As editor of Wonkhe Debbie is responsible for Wonkhe’s commentary and analysis on higher education across the website, email briefings, podcast and events. Debbie is interested in the social impact of HE, learning, teaching and curriculum, institutional change and innovation, and in bringing to light diverse and under-represented voices in the HE policy debate. She has previously worked in policy and communications roles at Universities UK, the University of Bedfordshire and the National Union of Students. She is an honorary fellow of the School of Education at the University of Birmingham and a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Institute of Teaching.
Professor Rachel Mills CBE
Senior Vice President (Academic), King’s College London
Professor Rachel A. Mills is the Senior Vice President (Academic) at King’s College London, where she leads the university’s academic strategy and delivery, aligning education and research to enhance impact and effectiveness. She oversees key initiatives such as the Integrated Planning Process and Campus Futures Programme, while sponsoring projects like King’s Climate & Sustainability and Interdisciplinary Science. Previously Provost at the University of Sussex, Rachel spent nearly 30 years at the University of Southampton, holding major leadership roles and championing sustainability. She is a Visiting Professor at Southampton and a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Chemistry and Biology.
Andrew Monk
Executive Director of Global Engagement, University of Bristol
Andrew Monk joined the University of Bristol in 2017, and took up the role as Executive Director of Global Engagement in February 2023. The Global Engagement Division looks to build a global community in Bristol and a Bristol community around the world.
The Division lead on all aspects of the University's international strategy, international recruitment, global partnerships, philanthropy, alumni relations and are home to the Centre for Study Abroad which creates opportunities for Bristol students to study internationally as well as international students to join us in Bristol for a period of study.
The team also deliver the University's public events programme, creating opportunities both in Bristol and around the world for a wide selection of people to actively engage with Bristol.
Ben Moore
Head of Policy (International), Russell Group
Ben leads the Russell Group’s international team, overseeing policy and engagement relating to international staff and students, Horizon Europe, bilateral research collaboration, and research security.
Ben joined the Russell Group in 2019 and has covered a range of policy briefs, including research security, international students, and innovation.
Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli
Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Glasgow
Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli has been Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Glasgow since October 2009. An economist, his research interests are monetary economics, central bank independence, fiscal policy, international finance and macroeconomics. Sir Anton is President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, from 1 April 2025. He is a member of the University Grants Committee, Hong Kong and also Chair of its Research Group. From 2017-2020 he was Chair of the Russell Group of UK research-intensive universities. He has been a member of the Scottish Government’s Council of Economic Advisers, a special adviser to the UK House of Commons Treasury Select Committee on monetary policy and has advised the European Commission and the World Bank. He holds honorary degrees from McGill University and Nanka University.
Rajay Naik
Chief Executive Officer, Skilled Education
Rajay Naik is Chief Executive Officer of Skilled Education which boosts enrolments, revenue and outcomes by extending access to online degrees to students from over 150 countries. He is also chairman of the Commission on Lifelong Learning, trustee of The Roundhouse, governor of the Ditchley Foundation, and associate director of Coventry City Football Club. Rajay was formerly director of The Open University, co-founder of FutureLearn and CEO of Keypath.
Professor Jane Norman
President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Nottingham
Jane Norman has been President and Vice Chancellor at the University of Nottingham since January 2025. Prior to joining the University of Nottingham as Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost in December 2022 her previous roles include Regius Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Glasgow (2007-2008), Director of the Edinburgh Tommy’s Centre for Maternal and Fetal Health (2008-2019), Vice Principal People and Culture at the University of Edinburgh (2013-2019) and Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Bristol (2019-2022). She was an Honorary Consultant Obstetrician in the NHS in Glasgow (1995-2008) and in Edinburgh (2008-2019).
Jane is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She has served as a Non-Executive Director of University Hospitals Bristol and Weston since 2021. In 2024, Jane was appointed to the Board of UK Research and Innovation.
Professor Steve Olivier
Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Robert Gordon University
Professor Steve Olivier is an experienced leader in the higher education sector, both in the UK and internationally. He has held leadership positions in Scottish, English and South African universities. In addition to his role as Principal and Vice-Chancellor at RGU, he is in his second term as Convenor of the Universities Scotland Learning and Teaching Committee. He also serves on the Corporate Governance Group of Universities Scotland and regularly leads for that body in interacting at senior government level on matters ranging from funding through to skills.
Prior to joining RGU, Professor Olivier held the role of Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of the West of Scotland since 2018, where his portfolio involved strategic and operational planning, executive-level leadership of the UWS Deans of School, and oversight of the university’s academic and professional services portfolios. He was previously Vice-Principal and Deputy Vice–Chancellor (Academic) at Abertay University.
Professor Sasha Roseneil
Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Sussex
Sasha began her term as the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Sussex in August 2022. She is Sussex’s ninth Vice-Chancellor. Previously, Sasha was Pro-Provost for Equity and Inclusion and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences at UCL. Before that, she was Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Essex, and held leadership positions at Birkbeck, University of London and the University of Leeds. Professor Roseneil has an international reputation for her research on intimate relationships, citizenship, and social movements. Originally trained as a sociologist, and later as a group analyst and psychotherapist, she has played a leading role in establishing the interdisciplinary fields of Gender Studies and Psychosocial Studies. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Professor Julie Sanders
Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Royal Holloway, University of London
Julie Sanders is Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Royal Holloway University of London and was previously Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost and before that Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Humanities and Social Sciences at Newcastle University. She is a Professor of English Literature and Drama, co-edits a series for Oxford University Press on Early Modern Literary Geographies, and currently serves as a trustee for Shakespeare's Globe in London. She has previously served on the Australian Research Council and has carried out reviews of humanities research and teaching in the U.K., Sweden and Ireland.
Professor Rachel Sandison OBE
Deputy Vice Chancellor - External Engagement and Vice Principal - External Relations, University of Glasgow
Rachel is responsible for leading the University of Glasgow’s strategy for external engagement covering an integrated portfolio of International Policy and Partnerships; Marketing and Communications; Brand and Reputation Management; Transnational Education; Student Recruitment and Admissions; Widening Access and Lifelong Learning; Development and Alumni Relations; and Civic Engagement. Rachel is also the University’s Sanctuary Champion. Rachel is the University’s Universitas 21 network Senior Leader, a Board member of the University’s European network, The Guild, and the University lead for the CIVIS European University Alliance. Rachel is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, a Global Trustee and chair-elect of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), the Scottish Commissioner for Fulbright US-UK and the Scottish Government's Trade and Investment Envoy for International Education whilst also contributing to several sector advisory boards.
Dr Helen Turner
Director, Midlands Innovation
Dr Helen Turner is a materials scientist. The majority of her career has been spent developing and managing collaborations within a university setting both between universities and between universities and industry. Helen moved to the Midlands in 2008 to manage the Midlands Energy Consortium, whilst there, Helen played a critical role in the successful proposal for the £60m Innovate UK funded Energy Research Accelerator. The Energy Research Accelerator secured £120m in co-investment and created 23 new research assets; Helen has supported the project since its inception.
In 2015 Helen took up the role of Director of Midlands Innovation; a partnership of the eight Midlands research intensive universities, which represents over 70% of the university-based R&D in the region. In 2020, Helen became the Co-Vice Chair of the Midlands Engine Operations Board – the pan-regional growth partnership that leverages the region as a place to grow and invest on a national and international stage. In her time on the Operations Board and its Innovation and Enterprise Board Helen helped to secure the Midlands Engine Science and Innovation Audit.
Kirsty Walker
Vice-President External Engagement, University College London
Kirsty Walker is UCL’s Vice-President, External Engagement. She took up the role in August 2022 following a successful and wide-ranging career in political communications and journalism, including spending nearly 13 years as a political correspondent based in Westminster. During her reporting career, she covered many world-changing events and travelled with successive British Prime Ministers reporting from places such as Iraq, Afghanistan, the White House and the Kremlin. Kirsty is an experienced broadcaster and has appeared as a political commentator on BBC, ITV, Sky and LBC. After leaving journalism, she worked for Westminster-based communications agency iNHouse Communications before joining the civil service as Head of Strategy and Communications, and then Secretariat Director, for the Social Mobility Commission alongside former chair the Rt Hon Alan Milburn. She joined UCL in June 2018 to lead media relations and develop the university’s senior political engagement strategy, including setting up a new public affairs team in 2021.
Professor Sally Wheeler OBE
Vice-Chancellor, Birkbeck, University of London
Sally Wheeler became VC of Birkbeck, University of London in January 2024. Originally a legal academic she researches and publishes on contractual transactions and corporate behaviour.
Ian Wiggins
Director of International Affairs, Royal Society
Ian is Director of International Affairs for the Royal Society, the UK's National Academy of Science, where he leads on the Society’s global engagement. Before joining the Royal Society in 2022, Ian worked at the University of York in a number of roles including as Director of Operations, and served as the first Director for the York-Maastricht Partnership, the university's strategic relationship with Maastricht University. Ian is also a former British Diplomat where he worked in the Foreign Office HQ in London on counter terrorism, climate change, and energy policy briefs and had diplomatic postings in Moscow and in Washington D.C. where he was Deputy Head of the Embassy’s political section during the 2016 Presidential elections. He is a chemist by training and holds a Master's degree in Chemistry from the University of Nottingham.