Speaker: Wesley Rennison, Director of Strategic Planning, University of Strathclyde & HESPA Chair
Speaker: Vivienne Stern, CEO, Universities UK
Chair: Wesley Rennison, Director of Strategic Planning, University of Strathclyde & HESPA Chair
Session Synopsis: Vivienne Stern, CEO at Universities UK, will talk through key policy issues and global factors affecting the sector, both risks and opportunities. UUK is the collective voice of 141 universities, bringing universities together to pursue common cause. They do this by influencing policy and opinion, convening them to take collective action, and providing insight into universities. In a time where mounting pressures and changing needs are necessitating change in the sector, Vivienne will share her deep understanding of the issues that institutions throughout the UK are facing, how they may need to adapt, and the role that HESPA members can play in supporting their leaders and institutions navigate change.
Speaker: Dr Paul Temple, Honorary Associate Professor, Centre for Higher Education Studies, UCL Institute of Education
Session Synopsis: Connectivity is a way of thinking about how academic work and material forms interact: and what is the university’s purpose if not to create connectivity? – between and among staff and students, between disciplines, between the university and the external world, connecting the present with the past and future. Intellectual/physical interactions (connections) help explain the longevity of the university’s material form: why else have they stayed so similar for 900-odd years?
But there are problems to do with studying the built environment – it is everywhere and nowhere. Philosophical perspectives here include Foucault’s heterotopias, or special places, and the opposite, Auge’s “non-places”. Connectivity is also linked to ideas around social capital: Putnam’s “generalised reciprocity” is an essential ingredient of effective university departments, reflecting the unknowability of much academic work – you don’t know where it’s going until you get there.
Speaker: Sarah Chadwick, Senior Data Scientist, Carolyn Price, Director of Planning & Insight, and Dan Swain, Head of Planning, all of Manchester Metropolitan University
Session Synopsis: In an increasingly data-rich world, how can universities move beyond reporting the past to predicting the future? This session explores how Manchester Metropolitan University is evolving its data maturity to deliver predictive and prescriptive insights that inform strategic decision making.
Discover how advanced data modelling, forecasting, and machine learning are being used to anticipate trends, optimise planning, and shape the university’s future direction. Join us to learn how higher education institutions can harness the power of data to move from hindsight to foresight — transforming information into actionable insight.
The session will cover Manchester Metropolitan’s vision for data insight and how we work to develop a positive data culture. The session will provide examples of how Manchester Metropolitan is using data modelling and machine learning models to identify strategic opportunities.
Speaker: Paul Griffiths, Director of Risk, Resilience & Insurance, University of Leeds
Session Synopsis: Investment in a risk tool to manage your risk registers may be seen as an expensive choice in today's tough financial environment. We will explore how you can get the best value out of the simplest, and most cost-effective, of risk management tools (4 Risk) to manage other related topics. This simple but powerful tool can be used to manage your internal audit findings, monitor the delivery of your strategic objectives, establish an assurance framework and to replace cumbersome project management RAID (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies) logs. All you need is a little patience and a lot of imagination.
Speakers: Matt Atkin, Director of Strategic Planning, and George Whalley, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, both of The University of Manchester
Session Synopsis: Matt Atkin, Executive Director of Planning and George Whalley, Deputy Chief Financial Officer (University of Manchester) will discuss the vital role of the partnership between Finance and Planning in delivering university strategy, and what works in a Manchester context. We know that many colleagues in planning roles are increasingly tackling bigger and bigger knotty problems and seeking joined up and novel solutions, across broad groups of stakeholders particularly in a climate in which financial sustainability is under the microscope. In this session George and Matt will share stories and case studies from Manchester in search of best practice, barriers to success, some things they are still working out and what it takes to operate as one team.
Speaker: Paul Charlton, Senior Manager, Higher Education Advisory Team, KPMG
Chair: Catherine Beeby-Mills, Director of Planning and Strategic Projects, University of Roehampton
Session Synopsis: Paul Charlton, a Senior Manager in KPMG’s Higher Education Advisory team, will outline key approaches that many institutions are currently following to address financial sustainability challenges endemic across the sector. He will share lessons learned from KPMG’s work with dozens of Higher Education Institutions in the UK, as well as learning from KPMG’s Australian, US and Canadian practices, as well as other sectors.
Speaker: Clare Foyle, Director of Strategic Planning, University College London
Speaker: Chris Hale, Whakamana i a Pae Tata Manager (Strategy Implementation Manager), University of Otago, New Zealand
Chair: Clare Foyle, Director of Strategic Planning, University College London
Session Synopsis: Chris will reflect on his time working on strategy in a university in New Zealand over the last two years, sharing insights on some of the unique aspects of the New Zealand sector, the similarities and differences to the UK. This will include highlighting some of the biggest challenges and issues that the New Zealand sector is currently grappling with and how it is responding, as well as what we might potentially learn from each other.
Speaker: Ed Castell, Chief of Staff, and Miriam Deakin, Director of Strategy, Insight and Member Engagement, both of Universities UK
Session Synopsis: This session will offer participants insights into UUK's role in convening a broad range of sector partners to sustain the momentum to find sector-led solutions in a financially challenging context. It will explore the findings of the first phase of the Transformation and Efficiency Taskforce, and its report Towards an Era of Collaboration, which highlighted the value of higher education providers exploring collaboration, shared services, digital enablement and operational efficiencies, and set out some recommendations for government. It will provide participants with an update on the next phase of the Transformation and Efficiency Programme, the learning so far and how to get involved, and allow them to share the challenges they are facing and the strategies and steps their own organisations may be considering to address them.
Speaker: Dr Thomas Owen-Smith, Principal Consultant and Sustainability Practice Lead, SUMS Consulting
Session Synopsis: After one of the most difficult years in recent times for the UK’s higher education sector, institutions of all sizes, shapes and profiles continue to face significant pressures. Proximate financial challenges constrain resources, while responding and finding solutions to immediate concerns understandably saps leadership bandwidth and institutional energy. In these challenging times, how can institutions keep sight long-term goals and impacts in the urgency of the here and now?
This speaks not only to areas such as sustainability, civic engagement or cross-sector partnership where sector regulation or consequences for institutional funding are relatively light; but also to universities’ core business and purpose, many dimensions of which also underlie large income streams or come with substantial regulatory sticks. This interactive session will explore how colleagues can plan, lead and coordinate approaches to pave a way from short-term needs and priorities towards long-term impacts in support of HE’s mission.
Speaker: Bruce Johnson, Managing Director, evasys ltd, and Nicola Kivlichan, Head of Market & Student Intelligence, Edinburgh Napier University
Session Synopsis: Details to be confirmed.
Speaker: Steve Jones, Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Partner Services, Student Loans Company
Session Synopsis: Steve Jones, Stakeholder Engagement Manager at the Student Loans Company, will provide an introduction to the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE). The session will offer an update on the programme, outline key deliverables, and share the anticipated delivery timelines. Stephen will also highlight the potential impact of the LLE on your existing processes.
In addition, there will be a discussion on the requirements for data providers and the opportunities to contribute to the development of the project.
Speakers: Sally Turnbull, Associate Consultant, and Dr Rhiannon Birch, Managing Consultant, both of SUMS Consulting
Session Synopsis: At risk of stating the obvious, Strategic Planners have a key role to play as institutions refocus their attention from short term cost cutting to longer term diversification. Many institutions have implemented significant cuts and in the aftermath are turning their attention to how best to grow income while adjusting to the new resource base, thinking about TNE, CPD, online, shared services and other opportunities. And that requires a combination of effective horizon scanning and scenario planning. But where to start? This practical, interactive session will explore the good practice we have seen working with institutions across the sector and give you top tips for how you could approach horizon scanning and scenario planning at your institution so you're ready to respond when the Executive asks.
Speakers: Charlotte Cooper, Head of Planning, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Alana Luckraft, Head of Strategic Planning & Executive Office, The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and Helen Lysaght, Planning and Insights Manager, Arts University Bournemouth
Session Synopsis: With the sector under pressure, are there lessons to be learnt from small and / or specialist institutions?
Does size and focus mean less resilience to shocks?
Or does it mean greater agility and fewer distractions?
Speaker: Dr Tom Loya, Director and Lead Consultant, Thomas Loya Consulting Ltd
Chair: Dr Julie Leeming, Head of Strategic Planning and Data Quality, the Institute of Cancer Research, University of London
Session Synopsis: The first HESPA Business Planning Cycle Survey ran this past spring. In this session we share the critical finding, delving deep into the detail of the planning process in a wide number of institutions to provide rich insight into their process structures and approaches, highlighting both the areas where business planning practices across the sector are relatively common and convergent, as well as varied and divergent, especially in relation to student number planning, cycle duration, scope and outputs, as well as changes in response to challenges in our shared external environment. The full results report will have been circulated to members in advance, which can provide members with useful information to inform internal process review and benchmark their approach against a collective model of best practice. This session will also be a first opportunity to start a wider conversation about the survey findings, implications, and potential next steps.
Speaker: Laura Knox, Assistant Vice-Principal (Strategy and Planning), University of St Andrews
Speaker: James Dunphy FRSA, Chief Executive, Committee of University Chairs.
Chair: Laura Knox, Assistant Vice-Principal (Strategy and Planning), University of St Andrews
Session Synopsis: The effectiveness of higher education governance is under the spotlight. This session from the Committee of University Chairs will highlight work underway to refresh the Code of HE Governance and will consider how it is we can demonstrate sector leadership in ensuring governance effectiveness at a key time of challenge and change in higher education.
Speaker: James Cannings, Senior Economic Consultant, Dr Gavan Conlon, Partner, both of London Economics, Miranda Routledge, Director of Strategic Planning and Chief of Staff, and Dr Jenna Waters, Deputy Chief of Staff, both of Loughborough University
Session Synopsis: In light of Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson’s call for universities to demonstrate greater value for money and deepen their role in driving regional and national growth, this session explores how institutions can effectively articulate their economic impact. With financial sustainability and accountability under sharper scrutiny, universities must go beyond traditional narratives to showcase their contributions to local communities, labour markets, and the wider economy.
Join us for a practical discussion led by experts from London Economics, whose robust modelling and analysis have helped institutions quantify their value in compelling, data-driven ways. We’ll examine how their work supports universities in responding to government expectations as well as showcase their value to their local and regional stakeholders through comprehensive analyses of their full range of activities. This session will equip attendees with insights and tools to strengthen their case for investment, influence policy, and reaffirm their role as engines of inclusive economic growth.
Speaker: Kevin Donovan, Workplace Health and Wellbeing Manager, University of Strathclyde
Session Synopsis: This session will challenge how you think about workplace wellbeing and why it isn’t a “nice to have” but a strategic necessity for the future of our sector. Together we’ll explore what a true culture of care looks like and why a sense of belonging, psychological safety and the power of kindness are the game changers that make it real. Backed by evidence and research showing 23% less stress, 31% higher productivity, improved morale and stronger collaboration under pressure, this session will help you uncover practical ways to embed a true culture of care across your organisation. If you want to future proof your teams and create a workplace where people and performance thrive, this is the session you can’t afford to miss.
Speaker:Miriam Fernandez, Professor of Responsible AI, Knowledge Media Institute (KMi), Open University (OU), UK
Session Synopsis: Over the past decade, AI and data-driven tools have become central to how higher education institutions support student success. Drawing on more than a decade of experience at the Open University, this talk reflects on the opportunities and tensions that arise when designing AI systems to support students. Developing responsible AI in this context involves navigating significant challenges: biased and incomplete data, complex ethical and legal frameworks, effective communication with students and staff, and the risk of unintended harm to historically disadvantaged groups, among others. This talk also presents practical responses to these challenges, from conducting bias audits that assess both algorithmic and human biases to developing mechanisms that improve transparency and explainability, and addressing not only legal compliance but also broader ethical responsibilities. Rather than offering a perfect model, this keynote shares lessons from applied AI work in higher education as a way to communicate Responsible AI practices and experience that can support others in the sector and help ensure that AI systems are deployed in ways that effectively and ethically support all students.
Speaker: Shirley Dalziel, Director, Develop Global
Session Bio: Shirley will look at the psychology behind influencing skills and give you practical strategies to strengthen your influencing skills as a planner. She will explore techniques to communicate effectively, build credibility, and shape decisions—helping you achieve better outcomes for all of your stakeholders.
Content will include, how to:
Speaker: Dr Philip Lloyd-Williams, Director, Lloyd-Williams and Associates
Session Synopsis: In this session, we will reflect upon how we respond and lead (as appropriate) during change and uncertainty. As so much is less certain now in the HE sector, having a good understanding of how change and uncertainty impact us (and those that we may lead) is essential. During the session, we will look at three models that explore the concept of responses to change, how we might understand our position in the change process, and also more importantly, how to proactively plan for what might be the consequence of uncertainty with more confidence and purposefulness. The session will use breakout rooms for colleagues to explore and share their understanding and recognise how these techniques can be used in practice. Crucially, the session will be enjoyable and applicable to everyday life!
During the session we will be using breakout rooms to allow delegates to have some discussion time.
Speakers: Adrian Ellison Pro Vice Chancellor (People and Digital), University of West London, and Emma Woodcock, CIO, York St John University
Chair: Jonathan Rans, Executive Director, HESPA
Synopsis: Artificial Intelligence is already impacting the ways in which Universities and their members operate, offering opportunities to radically change our processes and the questions we can ask of our data. Making the most of these opportunities requires a swift and decisive transformation, with an understanding of which benefits will repay investment in skills and infrastructure. Adrian and Emma will outline challenges that IT professionals are facing supporting this transformation and examples of the successful application of AI to strategic planning. Looking forward, the discussion will consider ways strategic planning teams might change to adapt to the new technologies and an AI-enabled HE sector.
We gratefully acknowledge UCISA for their support of this session.
Speaker: Jonathan Rans, Executive Director, HESPA
