UCAS Council Members Biographies
David Lowen Independent Governor and Chair of Leeds Beckett University and Deputy Chair of the Committee of University Chairs (CUC) UCAS Council Chair nominated by the CUC
David is a television executive of wide experience and consultant adviser to broadcasters, programme makers and financial institutions. He was appointed Chair in December 2015 and is also Deputy Chair of the Committee of University Chairs (CUC), which plays a leading role in governance and regulation of the HE sector. He was board Director of Network Programme Development and later board Director of Corporate Development for ITV Yorkshire Television before leading ITV Network’s digital terrestrial television launch project, the first successful launch in the world.
David runs International Television and Media Consulting Ltd, with many European broadcasters among its recent clients. He was “parachuted” into EuroNews by ITN to stabilise successfully the news channel’s finances, legal status, funding and creative structure ahead of the second Gulf War. He was Chairman of SysMedia Group plc, which recently sold its worldwide software development and subtitling business to a US-backed company. He is part-owner and director of Format Futures, a TV content “ideas factory”.
He is a former President of CIRCOM, the organisation of Europe’s regional public service broadcasters, and currently President of its programme and TV skills awards.
David is Honorary Secretary and trustee of the Royal Television Society; Honorary Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and until recently Chairman of the Emmanuel Society (alumni); and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
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Dr Tim Westlake Chief Operating Officer, University of Sussex; UCAS Council Deputy Chair Nominated to the UCAS Council by UUK (Universities UK) to represent English universities
Since August 2017, Dr Tim Westlake has been Chief Operating Officer at the University of Sussex. He is responsible for the University’s administration, encompassing the entire University estate and its professional services. Since joining Sussex, he has overseen a major review of student services, the establishment of new divisions for the Student Experience and External Relations and the ongoing delivery of a number of critical infrastructure projects. The University of Sussex currently has c17,000 students and more than 2,000 staff, including some 1,100 in the professional services.
Prior to this, Tim was Director for the Student Experience at the University of Manchester, where for six years he was responsible for managing all student facing administrative services. He previously held the role of Director of Student Recruitment, Admissions and International Development at Manchester.
Tim studied for his Bachelors, Masters and PhD in Town Planning at Cardiff University. Before moving to The University of Manchester, he was Director of International Development at Cardiff University for eight years and prior to that he was a Senior Lecturer in Town Planning at the University of Central England in Birmingham.
Tim was a Board Member of the British Council's Education Counselling Services from 2001 to 2003. He was Chair of Wales Higher Education International Liaison Association from 2002 to 2003 and from 2002 to 2004 was Chair of the Board of the Wales International Consortium. In addition, he was a Member of the British Council Global Alumni Strategy Advisory Group and the British Council Technical Advisory Group Predicting the Global Demand for International Education. Tim was a member of the UCAS Board of Directors from 2009 – 2013 and a Member of the National Qualifications Information Review Steering Group.
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David Alder Chief Marketing Officer, University of Plymouth Nominated to the UCAS Council by UUK (Universities UK) to represent English universities
David is Chief Marketing Officer at the University of Plymouth. As part of the University’s executive team, David leads all areas of marketing, student recruitment, alumni engagement, fundraising, stakeholder engagement and communications.
David has over 20 years marketing experience, ten of which have been within universities. Prior to joining the university sector, David’s marketing experience spanned the business to business and business to consumer sectors. Here, he led teams on some of the biggest, as well as some of the smallest brands – these included Microsoft, Barclays and Smile Bank.
It was during this time in London that he led teams through the dot com bubble bubbling, bursting and then as the economy grew once more. These were what he describes as interesting, sometimes challenging and always fun times. Outside of work David likes to relax with friends over good food and wine.
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Emily Andrews Part-time MSc and Postgraduate Residents Assistant, University of Edinburgh Appointed to the UCAS Council to represent student interests
Originally from Guildford, Emily currently lives in Edinburgh where she is studying an MSc in Global Crime, Justice and Security at The University of Edinburgh. Her main focus is on studying the impacts of UK welfare and education policy on rates of poverty. Additionally, she works as a Resident Assistant in Postgraduate University accommodation.
Emily spends most of her time as a Project Coordinator at the charity People Know How, where she works with Children & Young People transitioning from primary to secondary school. Through this role, she helps coordinates befriending, therapeutic interventions and family support through schools in the Edinburgh region.
Before moving to Edinburgh, Emily was elected as a Sabbatical Officer at The University of Gloucestershire, after graduating with a BSc in Criminology and Psychology. In her two terms as Education Officer, she sat on the University of Gloucestershire Council, UOGSU Trustee Board, as advisory positions within the NUS and as a guest on UCAS Council. From this Emily gained an interest in widening participation in the education sector, where she aims to continue work to reduce barriers to participation for young people from lower economic backgrounds.
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Dr Matthew Andrews University Secretary and Registrar, University of Gloucestershire Nominated to the UCAS Council by UUK (Universities UK) to represent English universities
Matthew is Secretary and Registrar at the University of Gloucestershire, where he has worked since April 2016. Prior to that, he was Academic Registrar and Director of Academic and Student Affairs at Oxford Brookes University (2008 – 2016), and Director of the Graduate School (2005 – 2008) and Director of Undergraduate Recruitment (2003 – 2005) at Durham University.
Matthew has served on numerous national groups, including as Chair of the AUA from 2012 to 2014. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Academic Registrars’ Council (ARC), and chaired the ARC Admissions Practitioners’ Group from 2010 to 2012. Matthew also served on the Supporting Professionalism in Admissions (SPA) Steering Group. He is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the AUA Journal Perspectives, as well as journals in the USA and Australasia.
Matthew graduated from Durham University with a B.A. in Philosophy and Theology and an M.A. in Seventeenth Century Philosophy. He also graduated from Northumbria University with an M.Sc. in Social Research and from Oxford University with a doctorate on nineteenth-century higher education.
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Lisa Bowen Head of Admissions and Enrolment, Cardiff Metropolitan University Nominated to the UCAS Council by the UTT (UCAS Teacher Training) Advisory Group to represent UTT service users
Lisa has worked within the HE sector for 20 years, both within a Registry and Admissions capacity. She has spent 17 of these years at Cardiff Metropolitan University and played a central role in the move from decentralised to centralised admissions.
Whilst at Cardiff Met, Lisa has experienced Admissions moving from within Academic Registry to Student Recruitment, then Communications, Marketing & Student Recruitment and now more recently Communications, Marketing & Student Recruitment and Registry Services.
Lisa has experienced many changes within Admissions over the years and continually strives to improve systems and procedures, to benefit applicants and improve the student experience.
Lisa is presently the Chair of the UCAS Teacher Training Advisory Group and a member of UCET Cymru.
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Grace Cappy Governance and Policy Manager, Coventry University Students’ Union; Chair of the UCAS Student Advisory Group Appointed to the UCAS Council to represent student interests
Biography and photograph to follow shortly.
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Lysandre de-la-Haye Deputy Registrar, Newman University Nominated to the UCAS Council by GuildHE to represent the interests of GuildHE members in the HE sector
Lysandre de-la Haye has spent the last 25 years working in a range of positions within Higher Education. Lysandre’s first role was as an admissions assistant in the Faculty of Engineering at Nottingham Trent University and she was able to gain experience of all functions within the Faculty, ending her time there in Registry, having been a member of the working party that moved the University to modular schemes and introduced sealed registration cards for all students.
Lysandre has been fortunate to have gained considerable experience since then, including both faculty and central departments and have covered all registry functions including admissions, enrolment, assessment, graduation and quality.
When Lysandre moved back to London, she spent one year working in FE for one of the largest colleges in the South East and gained insight into the funding, inspection and reporting regimes for FE.
Lysandre then spent five years at St Mary’s University College at Strawberry Hill and with the development of the QAA, experienced both subject review and continuation audit. Having worked for both large, multi- campus institutions and smaller institutions, Lysandre has been fortunate to have gained a wide range of experience and is aware of the great variety of work within higher education Institutions, including the aspects of overseas work and research. Lysandre has also experienced a number of the challenges within higher education, which are shared by all institutions, particularly the challenges of budgets, resources and the demands and requirements of external bodies and Governmental change.
For the last 13 years, Lysandre has worked at Newman University and, as the senior officer for Quality, has taken Newman University through Taught Degree Awarding Powers, as well as a number of subject and institution audits as well as OfSTED inspections. Lysandre’s roles have always involved admissions, including dealing with new developments, changes in external regulations and the challenges of the overseas market.
Lysandre’s current role encompasses Head of Secretariat and being responsible for ensuring all of the University’s committees are appropriately serviced. As Head of Quality, she also oversees all the annual monitoring, external examiners and validations and reviews, including, for the last academic year, the move to 20 credits, requiring the revalidation of some 34 programmes. As Head of the Collaborative Provision Unit, Lysandre works very closely with the Deans and Associate Deans and provide a senior point of contact for our partners both in the UK and abroad.
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Marie-Noël Earley Assistant Registrar, University of St Andrews Nominated to the UCAS Council by Universities Scotland to represent Scottish universities
Marie-Noël Earley is the Assistant Registrar at the University of St Andrews, where her role traverses both applicants and students, ensuring that all prospective students are treated in a coherent, integrated manner, and providing a seamless transition to the start of their studies at the University. She is also responsible for managing application targets, and working with academic Admissions Officers to ensure that fair and robust admissions policies are upheld.
Marie-Noël is also the University Key Contact for Home Office Visa and Immigration Services issues, responsible for compliance in all areas of international student visas, from CAS to monitoring and reporting.
Marie-Noël has worked in the education sector for over 15 years in various roles across curriculum development and Higher Education Administration, developing specialisms in project management and system implementation before working at St Andrews in 2006. Working initially in Registry, Marie-Noël moved to Admissions, before a University-wide initiative to create a single student spine allowed her current role to develop.
Marie-Noël graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Plant and Environmental Biology from the University St Andrews. She also holds an MBA from Edinburgh Napier University.
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Heidi Fraser-Krauss Deputy Registrar and Director of Corporate and Information Services, University of York Nominated to the UCAS Council by the Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association (UCISA) to represent IT in the higher education sector
Heidi Fraser-Krauss is passionate about improving information technology to provide better services to students and staff. She is the Director of Information at the University of York, where she is responsible for leadership and strategy development in all aspects of information technology. She became Vice- Chair of UCISA in March 2013 and chaired the Corporate Information Systems Group of UCISA between 2008 and 2011.
Before joining the University of York in January 2012, Heidi was the Director of Business Improvements at the University of St Andrews, a post she held for over eight years. In St Andrews, Heidi led a major programme of work to introduce Lean thinking into the institution as well as major improvements to the information systems infrastructure.
Heidi was a member of the Jisc Organisational Support Committee between 2005 – 2010 and between 2009 – 2012 was a member of the HEFCE data collection steering group which oversaw the technical development of the REF2014 system.
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Jim Grant Principal, Cirencester College Nominated to the UCAS Council by the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) to represent sixth form colleges
Jim is the Principal of Cirencester 6th Form College.
With 36 years in education as a teacher, tutor and manager in London and Gloucestershire, Jim has taught (well over 16000 lessons!) and managed in schools, FE and a 6th form College to 11-18 year olds and adults. He has also had 30 years’ experience as an A Level and GCSE examiner, moderator, principal and chief examiner.
Jim is a text book author.
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Professor Richard Harvey BSc PhD Academic Director of Admissions, University of East Anglia Nominated to the UCAS Council by Universities UK (UUK) to represent English universities
Professor Richard Harvey trained as an electrical engineer and completed his PhD in the application of statistical estimation theory to problems in underwater acoustics. He worked for the Plessey and Marconi companies as an acoustician and scientist before joining UEA in 1993 where he teaches computer science and runs a group of scientists conducting research in computer vision. He has authored over 100 publications in the areas of signal processing, computer vision and artificial intelligence. His current project involves teaching a computer to lip-read humans in multiple languages.
Richard is Academic Director of Admissions at UEA where he is responsible for the admissions strategy for UEA across all categories of students. In 2009, as Dean UEA London, he founded UEA London a university extension campus adjacent to Liverpool St station which currently houses 1500 students – the fastest growing London campus.
Richard also has had a long term interest in technology exploitation and has founded or run a number of spin-out companies. He currently chairs the investment committee for the Low Carbon Innovation Fund – a £25m venture fund that is focussed on low-carbon businesses in the Eastern Region.
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Eithne Hughes Director of ASCL Cymru Nominated to the UCAS Council by ASCL to represent the Welsh secondary education sector
Biography and photograph to follow shortly.
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Daniel Hurley Acting Assistant Director of Policy, Universities UK (UUK) Nominated to the UCAS Council by UUK to represent English universities
Biography and photograph to follow shortly.
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Michelle Magee Assistant Director, Admissions, Canterbury Christ Church University; Chair of the UCAS Postgraduate Advisory Group Nominated to the UCAS Council by the Postgraduate Advisory Group to represent UKPASS (UK Postgraduate Application Statistical Service) service users
Michelle worked at the University of Westminster from 2002 – 2008. The university has around 20,000 students from over 150 different nations, making it the most internationally diverse university in the UK.
In her role as Senior Admissions Manager, Michelle led the teams responsible for Admissions Compliance and Development. She was responsible for three main areas of work, the design and management of admissions processes with a strong focus on a high quality applicant experience, the planning and management of the university’s clearing service involving over 120 students, academics and professional support staff who provide telephone, email and social media support to applicants on A Level results day, and Home Office UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) compliance processes for applicants and students.
Michelle is currently a member of the SITS Tribal Admissions User Group and was also a part of the Delivery Partnership’s Entry Profiles Working Group. She has been a member of the UCAS Postgraduate Advisory Group since it was first established in 2014.
Michelle graduated from the University of Sheffield with a degree in American Studies, where she spent a year studying at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, and has a Master’s degree in Contemporary and Modern Literature from Birkbeck College.
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Dr Anthony Manning Dean for Internationalisation, University of Kent Nominated to the UCAS Council by UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) to represent international students
As Dean for Internationalisation, Anthony is responsible for the development, review and implementation of international activity across the University. As Kent adopts a 360-degree approach to internationalisation, this involves key aspects of education, research and student experience. Anthony is responsible for both the internationalsation and distance learning strategies at Kent.
Anthony's particular area of academic specialism is in the teaching and assessment of English for Academic Purposes (EAP), Modern Foreign Languages and Academic Skills. Anthony’s recent publications are associated with training for educators in the assessment of EAP. Anthony is also one of the principal authors of the Transferable Academic Skills Kit (TASK), published by Garnet. He has also authored other texts for students and teachers of EAP and English for Specific Academic Purposes with Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press and Garnet.
Anthony is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA) and first joined the University of Kent in 2010 as Director of the Centre for English and World Languages, having previously worked at the University of Reading as Assistant Director to the International Study and Language Centre. During his career Anthony has also taught in France, Germany, China and Japan.
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Roisin McEvoy Head of Admissions, Ulster University Nominated to the UCAS Council by UUK (Universities UK) to represent Northern Irish higher education
Biography and photograph to follow shortly.
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Professor Linda Merrick Chair of Conservatoires UK (CUK); Principal of the Royal Northern College of Music Nominated to the UCAS Council by CUK to represent UCAS Conservatoires admissions service users
Linda holds the position of Principal and Professor at the RNCM, and UK representative for Howarth Clarinets. She has an international profile as a clarinet soloist, recording artist and clinician.
Her catalogue of over 20 solo CD recordings includes new concertos by Gary Carpenter, Nigel Clarke, Martin Ellerby, Kit Turnbull and Guy Woolfenden (Polyphonic), Philip Sparke (Anglo Records), Stephen McNeff (Campion), John McLeod (Chandos), Edwin Roxburgh (NMC), and Philip Spratley (Toccata). Linda’s chamber music output includes première recordings of four new clarinet quintets with the Navarra Quartet (Naxos), a new clarinet quintet by John McCabe with the Kreutzer Quartet (Guild), Wilfred Joseph’s Clarinet Quintet and Robert Crawford’s Clarinet Quintet (Metier), chamber works by Malcolm Arnold and John Ireland (Maestro), and Martin Ellerby (ClassicPrint), and new works for clarinet and electronics with Chris Thorpe (Voiceprint).
Linda has broadcast for BBC Radio 3, Radio France, DRS1 Switzerland, CKWR Canada and Arte TV South Korea, and performed as a concerto soloist across America, Asia, Australia, Europe, South America, the UAE, and throughout the UK.
She is a founder member of the contemporary ensemble ‘Sounds Positive’, with whom she has premiered over 70 works by British composers, and released 3 CDs.
Linda is Chair of Conservatoires UK and a member of the International Advisory Council for the Creative Industries Federation.
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Juliana Mohamad Noor Vice-President for Further Education, NUS Nominated to the UCAS Council by the National Union of Students (NUS) to represent student’s interests.
Biography and photograph to follow shortly.
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Mhairi Moore Adviser, Higher Education, School Leaders Scotland Nominated to the UCAS Council by School Leaders Scotland to represent the Scottish secondary education sector
Mhairi graduated from Strathclyde University in 1978 and thereafter trained as a secondary school teacher of History and Modern Studies. She was appointed to Eastbank Academy, Glasgow in 1979 and it was here that her zeal for working with higher education applicants developed, and particularly her work with widening participation activities. She was appointed Principal Teacher, Academic Support and Higher Education Co-ordinator in 1990 and was later also appointed to the post of Widening Participation Co- ordinator. This gave her the opportunity to be involved in the development and delivery of many widening access projects. More recently she has been invited to assist in the training of tutors responsible for the delivery of these activities. She has been very involved with projects in the University of Glasgow (Top Up), University of Strathclyde (Summer Academy) and the University of the West of Scotland (Access to Primary Education) and has served in the past on the Steering Group for Access to Primary Education. She is currently serving on the Steering Committee for the Top Up Programme of Glasgow University.
Mhairi was appointed National Advisor, Higher Education, School Leaders Scotland in August 2012. As a member of the Professional Development Team, Executive and Council of School Leaders Scotland, she reports regularly on issues relating to UCAS and higher education applications. At school level, she has been responsible for organising Higher Education Fairs as well as leading training sessions for Pastoral Care and Senior Managers on the complexities of higher education admissions. She has contributed to the Annual Conference of School Leaders Scotland where she led workshop sessions on ‘UCAS: applying for Higher Education’ and ‘Widening Participation’.
Mhairi’s work with Widening Participation has led to her involvement with Universities Scotland’s working party on Widening Participation where she worked on a cross sector group highlighting best practice. She has also been invited to serve on the newly formed Universities Scotland’s Gender Balance Working Party.
As a member of UCAS Scottish Standing Group, Mhairi represents the views of her secondary colleagues in School Leaders Scotland. She is also School Leaders Scotland’s representative on UCAS’ Secondary Education Advisory Group and has delivered sessions in Scotland on ‘Entry to Higher Education’ on behalf of UCAS.
Mhairi has represented the secondary sector of education on the Scottish Government’s consultation committees on ‘University entry in context’ as well as on ‘Transitions’. She is currently involved with the ‘Admissions, application and high demand subject expert group’ to support the Commission on Widening Access and has submitted evidence on behalf of School Leaders Scotland.
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Andrew Parkin Principal, St Dominic’s Sixth Form College Nominated to the UCAS Council by ASCL (the Association of Schools and College Leaders) to represent the English secondary education sector
Andrew Parkin has been Principal of St Dominic’s Sixth Form College since 2013. Educated at St John's RC Comprehensive School and Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington he studied music at Durham and Cambridge and started his professional career in London at The St Marylebone Girls' School. Andrew went on to be deputy head at Sion Manning Girls' School in Kensington, and then St Augustine's High School in Westminster. Andrew is a member of ASCL council, and also sings regularly with the BBC Symphony Chorus in his spare time.
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Claire Pryke Associate Director (Recruitment Operations), University of Bradford Nominated to the UCAS Council by the UCAS Undergraduate Advisory Group (UAG) to represent senior higher education representatives
Biography and photograph to follow shortly.
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Dr Millan Sachania Head Master, Streatham & Clapham High School Nominated to the UCAS Council by the HMC / GSA (Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference/Girls’ Schools Association) to represent the independent secondary education sector
Dr Millan Sachania has served as Head Master of Streatham & Clapham High School since January 2012. A graduate and Bachelor Scholar of Christ’s College, Cambridge, Millan obtained double First Class Honours and subsequently a doctorate in musicology. Millan was a tutor in musicology at the University of Cambridge from 1993 to 1998, and then took up the appointment of Director of Music at an independent girls’ school in Windsor.
In 2003, Millan was appointed Director of Sixth Form at a co-educational HMC independent school in north London, where he later took up the Deputy Headship.
A music scholar with an international profile, Millan has published widely, including articles on music aesthetics, new editions (with historical and editorial commentaries) of Poulenc’s Sonata for Clarinet and Piano and Sonata for Oboe and Piano, Poulenc’s Three Novelettes for Piano, Stravinsky’s Les Noces (in associate editorship with Margarita Mazo), Stravinsky’s 1919 version of Les Noces, Stravinsky’s Les Roi d’étoiles, Stravinsky’s Renard, Sir Malcolm Arnold’s Fifth Symphony, and thirteen volumes of Otakar Ševčík’s Violin Studies.
Millan was editorial co-ordinator for Peters Edition’s new Chopin edition, and between 2001 and 2004, he edited a five-volume collection of Leopold Godowsky’s arrangements and original music for the New York publisher Carl Fischer, the essays in which draw upon and expand his The Arrangements of Leopold Godowsky: An Aesthetic, Historical and Analytical Study, one of the first critical studies on Godowsky’s corpus of arrangements.
Millan is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Freeman of the City of London, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians, a member of the GSA/HMC Universities’ Committee, a Governor of Halliford School, Shepperton, a trustee of the Royal Society of Musicians, and a serving team inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate.
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Graeme Slater Head of Admissions, The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP) Nominated to the UCAS Council by Independent HE to represent private higher education providers
Graeme previously held the post of Head of Admissions at UCFB, an alternative/private HE provider based at Wembley Stadium and the Etihad Campus in Manchester, teaching degrees in the sport and leisure industries with a strong emphasis on work and career-based study. Prior to UCFB, Graeme held positions in the admissions departments of St Mary’s University Twickenham, Kings College London and Salford University.
As Head of Admissions, Graeme had responsibility for overseeing the application process to a full suite of Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes as well as managing the application and assessment of the institution’s scholarships and bursaries scheme. Graeme took a leading role in the recruitment and admission of tier 4 students, monitoring compliance with the CMA and the Consumer Rights Act and working closely with colleagues in the Quality team to ensure that UCFB met the expectations of the Quality Assurance Agency. He grew the admissions team from one person (himself) to a team of eight people working across a variety of functions, as well as helping the institution to launch its own UCAS account and began accepting UCAS applications direct to the institution from September 2017.
He began his HE journey as a mature student at a different alternative provider, the School of Sound Recording in Manchester, before competing his undergraduate studies at the University of Salford. He also holds a PGCert in Academic Practice from St Mary’s University and recently completed his MA in Higher & Professional Education at the UCL Institute in Education, gaining top marks for his dissertation on the evolution of government policy and private HE provision in England (1943-2017).
Graeme currently sits as inaugural Chair of the Independent HE Admissions manager network and has represented the views of the independent sector on the UCAS Undergraduate Advisory Group, Dates and Deadlines working group and a SPA National Expert Think Tank. Graeme is also Chair of the GuildHE Admissions and Recruitment network, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an Academic Assessor for the FCO’s Chevening Scholarship scheme.
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Professor Martin Stringer Pro Vice-Chancellor, Swansea University Nominated to the UCAS Council by Universities Wales to represent Welsh higher education representatives
Martin is PVC (Academic) at the University of Swansea. He joined the University in 2015 and has responsibility for Arts, Humanities and Social Science as well as Teaching and Learning across the University. Responsibilities within Strategic Development include leading on the University’s STEP4Excellence programme around student engagement, its Curriculum Development Programme, along with a leading role in the development of the Singleton Campus. External Relations roles include interactions with HEFCW, Welsh Government, the HEA, WISERD, South West Wales Reaching Wider Partnership as well as other key external stakeholders.
Martin was born in Tanzania, educated in South Yorkshire and undertook his first degree in Social Anthropology at the University of Manchester. Following a year in Tanzania he completed his PhD at the University of Manchester focusing on the way in which congregations understand their worship, and spent five years doing church related community work in Manchester’s eastern inner-city estates.
In 1993, Professor Stringer took up a lectureship in the sociology and anthropology of religion at Birmingham University and has maintained a constant interest in Christian worship, the development of congregational studies in the UK and the wider role of religion in British society.
In October 2007 he was awarded a chair in Liturgical and Congregational Studies. During his 23 years at the University of Birmingham Professor Stringer was Head of Theology and Religion, Head of the College of Arts and Law and Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor with responsibility for the University's strategies for employability, valuing teaching, equality and diversity, Africa and community relations.
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Stephen Wiggins Academic Registrar and Director of Student & Academic Administration, University of Portsmouth Nominated to the UCAS Council by Academic Registrars Council (ARC)
Stephen joined the University of Portsmouth in 2015 as the Academic Registrar and Director of Student & Academic Administration, and is responsible for a wide portfolio within the University, including Student Systems, Student Life (covering the administration of the student journey from application through to graduation), and Academic Standards, Quality and Partnerships.
Prior to his role at the University of Portsmouth, he held Faculty Registrar/Manager positions at the University of Surrey, was a School Manager at the University of Portsmouth, and held a variety of roles in the central Registry of Oxford Brookes University.
Stephen holds a Diploma in Management Studies and a Master of Business Administration from Oxford Brookes University, which he undertook part-time while working there. For his first degree he read Theology at Westminster College, Oxford.
During his undergraduate studies, Stephen was elected as the Academic Affairs Officer of his College's Students' Union, and then subsequently to the sabbatical post of Students' Union President. It was during his time in these roles that his interest in higher education management developed and his career path was set.
Stephen is a member of the ARC Executive, the leadership team of the Academic Registrars' Council, and is chair of the ARC Admissions Practitioner Group.
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Alastair Wilson Head of Higher Education, South Devon College Nominated to the UCAS Council by AoC (Association of Colleges) to represent English FE college interests in the HE sector
Alastair has been working in College Further and Higher Education at South Devon College for over 10 years, with responsibility for Quality and Standards of Higher Education. The College is graded OFSTED Outstanding, with Beacon Status and most recently received two Commendations in the Quality Assurance Agency, Higher Education Review.
Alastair works across the region of the South West, representing Further Education Colleges in various committees, as well as a representational role within Plymouth University. He has a passion for widening access to Higher Education, and was worked on a range of projects to support access to Higher Education, including taking an active lead in the HEFCE funded Single Point of Contact project for Devon.
Alastair is a graduate of the University of South Wales, Birmingham University and Plymouth University. He worked in Australia in a marketing capacity prior to working in Malay Borneo working in a teaching, quality assurance and research. This included spending time in the Danum Valley Conservation Area supporting a canopy research project.
Alastair lives with his young family in rural South Devon, and enjoys spending time on the coast and Dartmoor.
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