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Sustainability Conference 2023: People, purpose and place - A strategic approach to sustainability

A conference designed to learn, discuss and share latest practices and initiatives in sustainable education.

New for 2023, and aimed at senior and strategic leaders within HE, this conference will focus on the sector's responsibilities in relation to the UN SDGs, civic responsibility, new sustainability initiatives and research.

By way of keynote speakers that include Professor Clare Pollock, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, Western Sydney University, panel sessions with expert panalists such as Carlos Shanka Boissy Diaz, University of Bristol, and workshops that feature industry leaders like Dr Ishan Cader, Director, Consultancy at Times Higher Education (THE) this conference will provide a forum for learning about evidence-based and co-produced initiatives that engender real change and offer a safe space for discussion on how to achieve your institution's sustainability targets.

Universities have a critical role as models of good practice, enabling the knowledge, ideas and opportunities to solve local and global challenges and valuing all their stakeholders. This requires organisational strategy and KPIs aligned to sustainability, delivered through committed and distributed leadership.

Sustainability Conference 2024: From vision to impact


Date: 11 June 2024, Virtual

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Conference themes

Supporting and challenging organisational leaders to take a holistic approach to aligning their sustainability strategy and practice this conference will focus on three key themes:

What we do: What data and information do we need, want and have?  What evidence and insights can we draw from the data and how do we use this for informed decision making?

How we do it: How can the organisational leadership, executive and governance, strategically develop and plan to stimulate and create shared understanding about direction of travel in a way that unites? What principles and values drive organisational strategy?

What success looks like: How do we measure it? How do we engage stakeholders and tell our story? 

Sustainability for Student Success podcast

Listen to the Advance HE podcast "Sustainability for Student Success" with Kim Ansell, Dr. Kay Hack, and Dr. Kate Mori where they discuss the significance and connections between student success and education for sustainable development (ESD). 

In this podcast the speakers explore the meaning of education for sustainable development and its importance as well as “a whole institutional approach”. For the very latest on sustainability in HE, click the link.

Listen now
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Programme 

This conference is aimed at senior and strategic leaders of higher education institutions wishing to progress the sustainability agenda within their institutions and make impactful change.

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Sustainability Conference 2023 Programme

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Welcome Address

Alison Johns

Chief Executive
,
Advance HE
Image Advance HE Chief Executive Alison Johns
Alison is the Chief Executive of Advance HE. She was appointed in the autumn 2017, to lead the merger of three national agencies which created Advance HE in 2018. Prior to that, she was the Chief Executive of the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education (LFHE).

Damien Ashford

Partner, Education Sector Lead, PwC UK
Damien Ashford
Damien has been at PwC for over 25 years, specialising in restructuring and performance improvement for government clients, leading many high profile, complex and sensitive assignments from independent reviews to hands on implementation support.
In 2016 he was made a Partner before taking on the role as Education sector lead as well as the lead for the Government Restructuring practice.

Keynote Speaker

Professor Clare Pollock

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost
,
Western Sydney University
 Prof. Clare Pollock
Professor Clare Pollock is the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost at Western Sydney University. The role offers leadership and responsibility across twelve academic schools, The College, The Whitlam Institute, University Secretary and General Counsel. The Office also supports Indigenous Leadership at the University.

Dr Kay Hack (PFHEA)

Lead Consultant (Education)
,
Advance HE
Dr Kay Hack
Dr Kay Hack (PFHEA) is the Lead Consultant (Education) for Advance-HE. Her role includes developing, managing and promoting excellence in teaching and learning, both generally and within STEM disciplines. She delivers a range of services to the HE sector, including supporting strategic leadership and change in HEIs and building and maintaining strong relationships with the STEM community, PSRBs, government and other organisations and individuals.

Mega trends and the sustainable future

Lord Gavin Barwell

Senior Advisor to PwC on UK politics and geopolitics
Lord Gavin Barwell
Lord Gavin Barwell acts as a Senior Advisor to PwC on UK politics and geopolitics. As Downing Street Chief of Staff during the last two years of Theresa May's premiership, Gavin was at the heart of government during one of the most turbulent periods in British political history. He has held a number of other roles during his political career including Chief Operating Officer of the Conservative Party, MP for Central Croydon, senior government whip, Minister of Housing and Minister for London. Together these have given him a unique insight into British politics from party headquarters to campaigning in a marginal seat to how Parliament works and the center of government, as well as contacts in a number of other governments.

Panel Session: Purpose

Carlos Shanka Boissy Diaz

University of Bristol
Carlos Shanka Boissy Diaz
Carlos Shanka Boissy Diaz is a young sustainability enthusiast and climate advocate from the Canary Islands, who recently was granted the Sustainability Champion Green Gown Award winner from 2022.
Sustainability can only be achieved with transformative, bold, ambitious efforts. Young people are not just about the future, but should also be part of the solution and should challenge universities in shaping a sustainable world."

Carlos Shanka Boissy Diaz

Kim Ansell

Senior Consultant Governance and Leadership
,
Advance HE
Kim Ansell
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. 

Polly Mackenzie

Chief Social Purpose Officer
Polly Mackenzie
Polly took up post in July 2022, having previously served as Chief Executive of Demos, the UK’s leading cross-party think tank, which brings citizen voice and lived experience into public policy discussions. Previous civil society roles include founding CEO of the Money & Mental Health Policy Institute and establishing the operations of the Women’s Equality Party. From 2010-2015 she was Director of Policy to the Deputy Prime Minister, based in 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet Office, having worked as a policy advisor to the Liberal Democrats since 2004.

Dr Nishat Riaz MBE

Global Head of Higher Education Systems and Internationalisation British Council
,
British Council
Dr Nishat Riaz
Nishat has over 20 years of experience of education leadership. She has developed, managed and supervised large scale programmes on health, gender, skills,
culture and education.

Data and Evidence Presentation & Case Study

Chair: Kay Hack, Advance HE

Dr Ishan Cader

Director, Consultancy at Times Higher Education (THE)
Dr Ishan Cader
Dr Ishan Cader is a Director, Consultancy at Times Higher Education (THE). He has had extensive experience in the higher education sector in roles with academic, regulatory, commercial and strategic responsibilities. He currently works with universities, education ministries, NGOs and businesses around the world providing research, insight and advice on higher education strategy, internationalisation, sustainability, reputation and performance.

Connecting people and place: Building together

Chair: Kim Ansell, Advance HE

Stuart Norton, PFHEA

Senior Consultant, Education
,
Advance HE
Stuart Norton
Stuart has over 18 years’ experience within higher education with extensive experience in designing and developing strategic, institutional-wide change. In his role as Senior Consultant, Education at Advance HE, he focuses on both thought leadership and providing evidence-based solutions to support institutions, educators and students.

Digital Campus

Ashley Wheaton

Principal at University College of Estate Management
Ashley Wheaton
Ashley joined UCEM as Principal in 2013 and has led the institution through some significant milestones during his tenure, including prolific growth in student numbers, securing full independence, gaining University College title and most recently the award of indefinite Taught Degree Awarding Powers.

Strategic Change Model

Dr Kay Hack (PFHEA)

Lead Consultant (Education)
,
Advance HE
Dr Kay Hack
Dr Kay Hack (PFHEA) is the Lead Consultant (Education) for Advance-HE. Her role includes developing, managing and promoting excellence in teaching and learning, both generally and within STEM disciplines. She delivers a range of services to the HE sector, including supporting strategic leadership and change in HEIs and building and maintaining strong relationships with the STEM community, PSRBs, government and other organisations and individuals.

Dr Ishan Cader

Director, Consultancy at Times Higher Education (THE)
Dr Ishan Cader
Dr Ishan Cader is a Director, Consultancy at Times Higher Education (THE). He has had extensive experience in the higher education sector in roles with academic, regulatory, commercial and strategic responsibilities. He currently works with universities, education ministries, NGOs and businesses around the world providing research, insight and advice on higher education strategy, internationalisation, sustainability, reputation and performance.

Final plenary and Panel Session: Place and People

Paul Kett

Senior Advisor, Education and Skills, PwC
Paul Kett
Paul Kett recently joined PwC as Senior Adviser and Global Director, Education and Skills. He brings a wealth of experience of the education and skills systems. He was Director General for Skills at the UK Department for Education (DfE) until December 2022, having served in the role since January 2019. Prior to that he was Director General for Education Standards Group at the DfE. He joined DfE in 2016. Before his appointment at DfE, he worked for the British Army as a member of the Army Board in the role of Director Army Reform. Paul spent much of his earlier civil service career with the Ministry of Justice in roles spanning strategy, policy and project delivery.

Kezia Dugdale

Director of the John Smith Centre
,
University of Glasgow
Kezia Dugdale
Kezia is a Professor of Practice at the University of Glasgow and Director of the John Smith Centre, a non-partisan organisation which exists to make the positive case for politics and public service through the promotion of civilised debate and high-quality research. It also seeks to support people with the talent – but not the means – to access politics and public life.
Higher Education is all about ‘people’ and Universities create value through their people, educating students, undertaking research and engaging with communities and partners. An impactful skills agenda which enhances our social sustainability and adds value to our communities is key to achieving sustainable institutions and I look forward to this conference."

Kezia Dugdale

Closing remarks

Kim Ansell, Advance HE

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Sponsors

At PwC, education and skills matter to us all, to ensure we are developing a workforce fit for the future and to improve opportunity for all. This workforce, are rightly putting sustainability high on their priorities when choosing a Higher Education provider, in addition to security and empathy, and a responsible brand they can trust in a changing world. With sustainability at the heart of driving transformation through innovative use of technology, data and insights, we must collaborate with real change in mind. We are delighted to be hosting this event for Advanced HE, which will be a thought provoking, action orientated and inspiring day. We look forward to welcoming you on 7 June. 

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PwC
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Shakespeare Martineau have been providing full service legal advice to education institutions since 1900 and now act for over 100 further and higher education institutions. With a long-standing involvement in and commitment to the education law sector, our team have extensive experience across all legal issues that affect the sector, guiding and supporting our clients through challenges and opportunities.

The firm’s purpose is clear; to unlock potential, and its ambitions are unlimited; aiming to become one of the most admired top 30 legal & professional services groups by 2025.

Shakespeare Martineau has been listed in Best Companies 2021 as an outstanding company to work for, including as a top 10 law firm, a top 100 Midlands best company and top 75 large London company to work for. With more than 1,000 people, Shakespeare Martineau has offices in Sheffield, Lincoln, Nottingham, Leicester, Birmingham, London, Milton Keynes, Stratford-upon-Avon, Solihull, Bristol and Edinburgh.

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SHMA
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