Governance Conference 2021: Evolving governance fit for our futures

The Advance HE Governance Conference is the only annual event on HE governance to bring together the full range of perspectives.

Held on 18 November, the 2021 Conference addressed the theme of Evolving governance fit for our futures. As we look beyond the current pandemic, we know that governing well means navigating opportunities and challenges in higher education with inclusion, agility and pace at the forefront. Governance must enable our institutions to make the greatest impact they can for students, staff, society and the economy.

The conference also highlighted the launch of the Board Diversity and Inclusion Toolkit, developed in collaboration with the University of Gloucestershire. In this blog Lucy Simpson, Head of the UK Board Practice, Perrett Laver and Victoria Holbrook, Assistant Director, Governance, Advance HE highlight why board diversity is so important in governance effectiveness.

The conference was delivered online to enable delegate interaction and discussion across all elements of the day, featuring high profile speakers from across sectors and practice-based workshops.

Sir John Tusa was in conversation with Director of Business Development and Delivery at Advance HE, Andy Shenstone, to discuss lessons from the boardroom in and out of higher education.

Join the conversation at #GovConf21

Conference introduction

Aaron Porter, Associate Director (Governance), Advance HE, introduces the key themes for Governance Conference 2021: Evolving governance fit for our futures.

Conference aims

This conference brought together a diverse range of perspectives to consider just how governance can enable our institutions to make the greatest impact they can for all. It provided space to explore the issues and the range of options Boards have to improve their governance in practice, helping us to deliver governance that is fit for:

A future with fairness and inclusion for all as the norm. We will explore the governance practice that is working across the sector, and showcase the output of our Board Diversity Practice Project. We will also take stock on the future of the student experience and how Boards can assure quality and standards for all;
A future with sustainability at the heart of decision making. We will explore the applicability of ‘Environmental, Social and Governance’ principles to higher education and what it means for governance practice;
A future with sound strategies in the face of ever-changing policy. We will consider the implications of the latest government thinking on HE that Boards need to know, including the response to the Augar review in England. We will also focus on the role of board culture and the Board-Executive dynamic as the crucial foundation of sound strategy and assurance.

A fully digital conferencing experience

The Governance Conference 2021 was delivered on our virtual conference platform. This gave delegates a flexible, immersive and engaging digital experience in which to share ideas and grow networks.

All delegates had access to the following features:

live-streamed sessions of speakers, panel discussions and workshops
opportunities for live delegate questions and comments during all sessions
full online support throughout the day
flexibility to attend sessions at leisure with access to all session recordings after the conference allowing delegates to browse and catch up on anything they may have missed
resources area for relevant and contemporary resources
opportunity to interact with other delegates from around the world in a virtual networking space.

Find out more about our digital conferences below

Conference programme

Governance Conference 2021 programme

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Conference abstracts

Governance Conference 2021 abstracts

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Facilitators

Andy Shenstone

Executive Director of Consultancy and Commercial Solutions
,
Advance HE

Andy offers a deep understanding and experience of UK and international HE policy, governance and management. He is Advance HE’s Director of Business Development and Delivery, and an experienced Higher Education (HE) consultant with 20 years’ track record of successfully working with Universities, sector agencies and Ministries in the UK and overseas.

Aaron Porter

Associate Director (Governance)
,
Advance HE

Aaron leads on Advance HE governance activity through the delivery of our national Governor Development Programme which engages with around 900 governors across the UK on an annual basis. He has extensive experience leading reviews of over 25 governing boards. Aaron was previously President of the National Union of Students (NUS) and also chair of trustees for the organisation.

Victoria Holbrook

Assistant Director, Consulting, Governance and Insights
,
Advance HE

Victoria joined Advance HE in February 2019 from the Office for Students and after 11 years at its predecessor the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). As Assistant Director, Governance she leads the development and delivery of Advance HE’s approach and work to support good governance to ensure it meets the needs of its members and clients in their rapidly evolving operating environments.

David Bass

Director, EDI (Interim)
,
Advance HE

David leads the strategic development, planning and delivery of Advance HE’s programme for universities and colleges in Scotland. He brings a wealth of experience working with the Scottish sector, in governance as well as strategic planning and management, SFC Outcome Agreements, and equality and diversity.

Keynote speakers

Dr Shefaly Yogendra

Vice Chair and Chair of the Audit Committee
,
London Metropolitan University

Shefaly Yogendra joined London Metropolitan University’s Board of Governors in August 2017. She is an internationally experienced strategist with experience of building organisations, brands and culturally diverse teams. She has diverse fiduciary and governance experience in non-profit, for-profit, listed and private companies, and is also a trusted advisor with experience of shaping the executive conversation on technology, risk, talent, branding and growth.

Sir John Tusa

British arts administrator, and radio and television journalist

For more than 25 years, John Tusa has held senior positions in the worlds of arts and journalism – as Managing Director, BBC World Service from 1986-92 and as Managing Director, Barbican Centre from 1995-2007. Over those years he sat on the boards of the National Portrait Gallery, English National Opera, the Turquoise Mountain Foundation and the British Museum. He chaired the Wigmore Hall Trust, the Advisory Committee to the Government Art Collection and – from 2007-13 – the Court of Governors of University of the Arts London.

Chris Millward

Director for Fair Access and Participation
,
Office for Students (OfS)

Chris Millward is the first Director for Fair Access and Participation in the Office for Students (OfS). His role is to help students and communities throughout England by ensuring that universities and colleges are doing all they can to support underrepresented groups to access and succeed in higher education, and to progress into successful careers.

Joining Chris as a respondent will be:

Zulum Elumogo

Associate
,
Advance HE

Zulum Elumogo has over seven years experience as a governance professional in Higher Education, Arts and Culture sectors. He is currently Managing Director of TC & Friends, a multi-disciplinary design agency based in London, as well as a Board Member of the Fair Education Alliance, Dance Umbrella and Barbican Centre, Europe’s largest multi-arts venue.

Deep dive session speakers

Panel session: HE futures: Getting governance right

This panel will be chaired by Aaron Porter, Associate Director (Governance), Advance HE. Aaron will be joined by:

Rhiannon Jenkins, President, University of Leicester Students' Union

Paul Woodgates

Expert in strategy, operations, change and leadership in universities

Paul is an expert in strategy, operations, change and leadership in universities. He was previously responsible for building and running the education consulting practice of PA Consulting internationally. He has worked with more than 30 universities in the UK as well as many others overseas. His experience was in delivering major programmes to define strategy, improve academic outcomes, deliver better services, and reduce cost.

Anulika Ajufo

Chair of UEL, Founder of the Sequoia Platform and Venture Partner Europe, Middle East and Africa, The Sagana Group
,
University of East London

Anulika is mother to a vibrant 17 year old, Head of Investments for Europe, Middle East and Africa and leads on early and growth stage impact investments in Europe, Middle East and Africa. She is also Chair of the Board of Governors at University of East London and Founder of the Sequoia Platform, a leading educational not for profit focused on social mobility in the United Kingdom. She is committed to Finance and Economic Justice through development as well as the need to promote equity and social justice in the world's most fragile countries- all of which she continues to support across roles in finance and philanthropy.

Professor Charles Egbu

Vice Chancellor
,
Leeds Trinity University

Professor Egbu joined Leeds Trinity University as Vice-Chancellor on 1 November 2020. He leads the University on all strategic matters; ensuring financial sustainability to allow the delivery of the University's Strategic Plan, including the overall vision and values of the University.

Deep dive session 1a: Inclusive futures: Could targets for board diversity help?

This session will be chaired by David Bass, Assistant Director, Membership (Scotland, Wales, Ireland), Advance HE. David will be joined by:

Richard DeNetto

Senior Manager Changing Workforce CBI & Head of Change the Race Ratio.

Richard has been involved in the campaign since inception and leads the development and growth of the campaign to accelerate ethnic and racial diversity on boards and in senior leadership. Richard career has always been closely connected to people, talent management and development. Prior to the CBI, Richard led and developed a management level recruitment business and held leadership roles within the CIPD’s branch network which deliver member outreach programmes.

Dr Arun Verma

Tutor
,
University of Dundee

Dr Arun Verma completed his PhD exploring students’ workplace experiences, retention and success through the lens of intersectionality. After academia, he went onto work in government where he embedded intersectionality and anti-racist practice in the re-design of an entire domestic abuse and mental health system, which led to more inclusive commissioning programmes.

Norma Jarboe OBE

External Advisor to the Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice

Nroma has over 15 years’ experience in women’s development and diversity and has worked at senior levels in public/private partnerships, the private sector and the not-for -profit sector. She was previously Director of Opportunity Now (1999-2008), the UK’s leading employer network to advance women in the workplace.

Deep dive session 1b: Governing for sustainable futures: ESG – what is it and why should it matter to HE?

This session will be chaired by Kim Ansell, Senior, Advisor, Advance HE.

Kim Ansell

Senior Consultant Governance and Leadership
,
Advance HE

She has worked across higher and professional education providing support to groups at all levels including senior leadership teams and Boards, to facilitate change, strategic thinking, planning and performance improvement. Kim has recently led the Advance HE membership themed month on the topic of Transforming Organisations from student to board.

Kim will be joined by:

Phil McNaull

Strategic Finance Consultant and Executive Coach

In his role as consultant, Phil has worked for universities in the UK and overseas, carried out Executive Coaching assignments, provided training on communicating TRAC, run leadership development programmes as well as providing pro bono work for certain projects related to investing for sustainability.

Phil is currently a Director of Advanced Procurement Universities & Colleges Ltd., and provides consultancy services as a Client Relationship Director of Invisible Grail and an associate of Taylor Clarke. He will start in November 2021 as Interim Director of Finance at the University of Aberdeen.

Joanne Henstock

Executive Director, Accounting for Sustainability (A4S)

Joanne Henstock is an Executive Director with The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Project (A4S), established by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales in 2004. Joanne joined A4S in 2021, following on from an established consultancy career in ESG/sustainability disciplines with a large global accountancy firm.

Deep dive session 1c: The Future of Modern HE Governance: Thriving in the Digital Age

Sponsored session with event sponsor, Diligent

This session will be chaired by Dottie Schindlinger, VP Thought Leadership, Dilligent Institute.

Dottie Schindlinger

Executive Director, Diligent

Dottie Schindlinger is Executive Director of the Diligent Institute, the think tank and global governance research arm of Diligent Corporation, leading provider of secure board communication and governance, risk and compliance software used by over 700,000 corporate leaders globally. In her role, Dottie provides thought leadership on governance, cybersecurity, and technology topics through presentations to boards and executives dozens of times each year at events around the globe.

Dottie will be joined by:

Dr Filipe Morais

Lecturer in Governance Programme Director of the MSc in Management for Future Leaders, Henley Business School
,
University of Reading

Dr Filipe Morais has substantial experience in Corporate Governance including all aspects relating to boards of directors. His experience and close ties to industry make his research both academically sound and highly relevant and impactful. Filipe Morais, PhD., holds a doctorate in management from the Henley Business School, University of Reading (UK) specialising in corporate governance and strategic management topics.

Deep dive session 2a: The oversight of opportunity and risk

This panel will be chaired by Aaron Porter, Associate Director (Governance), Advance HE. Aaron will be joined by:

John Rushforth

CUC Secretary
,
Advance HE

John is a nationally recognised expert on UK University governance. He is responsible for the key documents that underpin the governance of all publicly funded UK HE institutions namely the CUC HE Code of Governance, the HE Senior Staff Remuneration Code, a range of illustrative practice notes e.g. Academic Assurance, Recruitment of VCs, etc and a Leadership Foundation publication on the relationship between Vice Chancellors and Chairs.

Dr Helen Galbraith

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience)
,
University of Chester

Helen joined the University in February 2021 after spending five years at Keele University as Academic Registrar and Secretary. Helen's role at Keele encompassed oversight of student welfare and support services, planning and registry services, and corporate and academic governance.

Before arriving at Keele in 2016, Helen spent her career in a range of professional roles at the University of Bristol, latterly as Director of Strategic Planning and Projects. Other roles Helen held at Bristol encompassed research development, education and governance. While at Bristol Helen also pursued her own research, completing a PhD in Russian music and poetry through part-time study.

Deep dive session 2b: What can evaluating practice tell us about our future? Insights from a decade of reviews and research

This session will be chaired by Lucinda Parr, Registrar and University Secretary, University of Bristol.

Lucinda Parr

Registrar and University Secretary
,
University of Bristol

Lucinda joined the University of Bristol as Registrar and University Secretary in March 2019.

Lucinda is a member of various sector organisations, a member of Advance HE's Governor's advisory forum, and the Company Secretary for a Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovations Centre in Oxford.

Lucinda will be joined by:

Victoria Holbrook, Assistant Director (Governance), Advance HE

and

Alison Wheaton

PhD Researcher in University Governance and Associate
,
Advance HE

Alison is undertaking PhD research at UCL's Institute of Education, exploring the roles of English university governing bodies. Alison works on a project basis as an Associate with Advance HE on a number of governance-related projects.

Related blogs and resources

Sir John Tusa: On Board

09 Nov 2021 | Sir John Tusa

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Now for something completely different

05 Nov 2021 | Dr Shefaly Yogendra

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Why we need greater diversity in our Higher Education Institution boards

02 Nov 2021 | Victoria Holbrook & Lucy Simpson

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Board Diversity Practice Project Resources

Part of the Collaborative Development Fund 2021-22, in partnership with Advance HE, Perrett Laver and the University of Gloucestershire.

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Connect Benefit Series - Leading change through teams and networks

November 2021 - January 2022

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The Higher Education Board Diversity and Inclusion Toolkit

02 Nov 2021

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Event sponsor

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