Keynote and Plenary Sessions
Opening Plenary: Monday 29st March
Lord Robert Winston
Lord Robert Winston, Professor of Science and Society and Emeritus Professor of Fertility Studies at Imperial College, runs a research programme in the Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, on improvements in transgenic technology in animal models, with a long-term aim of improving human transplantation. He has around 300 scientific publications in peer-review journals on reproduction and embryology. He is also Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, Chairman of the Royal College of Music and was voted “Peer of the Year” by his fellow Parliamentarians in June 2008 for his expertise and work on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.
His research led to the development of gynaecologist microsurgery in the 1970s and various improvements in reproductive medicine, subsequently adopted internationally, particularly in the field of endocrinology and IVF. His work on pre-implantation genetic diagnosis enabled families carrying gene defects to have children free of fatal illnesses. This included techniques to help families with sex-linked disorders, single gene defects (such as cystic fibrosis) and chromosomal abnormalities – for example, those causing pregnancy loss. He holds twenty-six patents.
Lord Robert Winston’s appointment as the first Professor of Science and Society at Imperial College London, a university with one of the strongest international science bases, will focus on the crucial importance of improving communication and public engagement with science. Concentrating on advancing the understanding and interaction between scientists and the public through a range of initiatives that will include conducting research into the most effective methods of science engagement and evaluating its impact, he will be using his experience and contacts to co-ordinate and build on existing outreach activity, establishing a dedicated schools laboratory and seminar facility based at the College to give pupils and teachers experience of hands-on science in areas such as DNA analysis and robotics.
He has been a visiting professor at a number of American, Australian and European universities and was President of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 2005.
His awards include a Wellcome Senior Research Fellowship 1973-77, a Blair-Bell Lectureship RCOG, 1978, the Cedric Carter Medal, Clinical Genetics Society, 1993 and the Victor Bonney Medal for contributions to surgery, Royal College of Surgeons of London, 1993. He was Gold Medallist for the Royal Society of Health in 1998. In 1999 he was awarded the Faraday Medal by The Royal Society and the BMA Gold Award for Medicine in the Media. He won the Edwin Stevens Medal (the Royal Society of Medicine) in 2003, was the North of England Zoological Society’s gold medallist in 2004 and won the Al Hammadi Gold Medal at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, 2005. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, an Honorary Fellow of Queen Mary College, and holds honorary Fellowships of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Institute of Biology, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. He has been awarded honorary doctorates at seventeen universities.
Lord Robert Winston’s activities in the House of Lords include speaking regularly on education, science, medicine and the arts. He was Chairman of the Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology 1999-2002, initiating enquiries into Antibiotic Resistance, Non-Food Crops, Nuclear Waste, Science and Society, Genetic Databases, Aircraft Passenger Environment, and Science in Schools. He is a board member and Vice-chairman of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology.
He is committed to scientific education and regularly writes or hosts popular science programmes for the BBC’s main channel and Discovery networks. His series include “SuperDoctors”, “A Child Against the Odds”,” Your Life in Their Hands” (five series), “Making Babies, “The Human Body” (three BAFTAs, Emmy nomination and a Peabody award), “Secret Life of Twins” (BMA Gold Medal for best film), “The Superhuman” (Emmy Nomination and Wellcome Award for Medicine and Biology, 2000), “The Threads of Life” (Paris Annual Science Film Prize, 2003), “Child of our Time”, “Human Instinct” (Golden Panda Award, Shanghai, 2004 and Emmy nomination), “Walking with Cavemen”, “Human Mind”, “The Story of God” and “A Child Against All Odds”. “How to Sleep Better” won an award for the use of interactive TV, 2005. He won the VLV award for the best individual contribution to British television in 2003.
Lord Robert Winston has published thirteen books for lay readership: - “What Makes Me Me” won the Aventis Prize in 2005, and “The Human Mind” was short-listed for the same prize in that year. “Human” won the BMA First Prize for the Best Popular Medicine Book in 2005. “It’s Elementary” was shortlisted for the Aventis prize in 2008 and "The Evolution Revolution" published in February 2009. He regularly gives seminars in schools and universities
His interests include theatre (National Directors’ Award, Edinburgh Festival 1969), matters of Jewish interest, classical music, skiing and the wines of Bordeaux, especially Paulliac. He is on the Board of the Lyric Theatre and has been involved with a number of UK charities, including Cancer Research UK, the Stem Cell Foundation, the “Women for Women” Appeal and the Association of Medical Research Charities. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and a member of The Athenaeum and The Garrick Clubs, and the MCC.
Keynote Speakers: Tuesday 30th March 2010 AM
Anthony McClaran, Chief Executive QAA
Anthony McClaran took up post as Chief Executive of QAA on 1 October 2009, after nearly six years as Chief Executive at UCAS. He joined UCAS in 1995 to lead the then Academic Services and Development department, and was appointed Deputy Chief Executive a year later. He became Acting Chief Executive in January 2003 and was appointed Chief Executive in December of that year. A graduate in English and American Literature from the University of Kent, Anthony began his career at the University of Warwick where, among other posts, he was Admissions Officer. In 1992 he moved to the University of Hull to take up the post of Academic Registrar, with responsibility for an office which included recruitment, admissions, student records, international affairs and the internal allocation of resources. In 1995 he was appointed Acting Registrar and Secretary. Anthony sat on the Council of the University of Gloucestershire from 1997 until 2005 and in September 2007 was appointed Chair of Council, a post he relinquished on taking up his QAA role. He served on Professor Schwartz’s Admissions to HE Steering Group, the HE Group for the Tomlinson Review of 14-19 Qualifications, the SHA Commission on Post-qualification Application (PQA) and Sir Alan Wilson’s Consultation Group on Improving the HE Applications Process. He is a director of the Inspiring Futures Foundation, and a governor of the John Lyon School. Anthony also chairs Gloucestershire First’s Employment and Skills Advisory Panel. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Chartered Management Institute, a Freeman of the of the Company of Educators and a member of the Honourable Company of Gloucestershire.
Nigel Thrift, Vice Chancellor University of Warwick
Professor Nigel Thrift is Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick. He joined Warwick from the University of Oxford where he was made Head of the Division of Life and Environmental Sciences in 2003 before becoming Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research in 2005.
Since becoming Vice-Chancellor in 2006, Professor Thrift has launched an ambitious new strategy for Warwick’s future and has led the University in: implementing an extensive capital plan; achieving a 20% increase in research income; producing the highest ever annual philanthropic income in 2009; establishing high-profile partnerships and research collaborations with leading universities in the US, Australia, India, Asia and Europe; and rapidly increasing Warwick’s international profile through initiatives such as the Warwick Commission and the International Gateway for Gifted Youth.
Professor Thrift has also been instrumental in building on Warwick’s strong links with business and industry, both nationally and internationally, including Warwick’s leading role in the Birmingham Science City initiative.
Professor Thrift was born in Bath, educated at Aberystwyth and Bristol and is an international research figure in the field of geography. He continues to maintain an active research career alongside his role as Vice-Chancellor and has been the recipient of a number of distinguished academic awards including the Royal Geographical Society Victoria Medal for contributions to geographic research in 2003, Distinguished Scholarship Honors from the Association of American Geographers in 2007 and the Royal Scottish Geographical Society Gold Medal in 2008. He was made a Fellow of the British Academy in 2003. His current research spans a broad range of interests, including international finance; cities and political life; non-representational theory; affective politics; and the history of time.
Alison Johns, Head of Leadership, Governance and Management, HEFCE
Alison is Head of Leadership, Governance and Management (LGM) policy at the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Alison has worked in higher education for the last sixteen years. She has held senior posts in HRM with responsibility for HR strategy, Senior Leadership Development and organisational culture change.
She has been the national Chair of the Association of University Administrators and also chaired the AUA’s Professional Development and International Committees. She is the UK representative on the Association of Commonwealth Universities HRM Network and a founder member; she established the ‘Action Learning’ strand of the UK Top Management Programme for HE (TMP HE), now run by the Leadership Foundation for HE and has previously been a core tutor on the EUA/OECD/IMHE New Rectors’ Programme for Europe.
Alison holds a MA in Management Learning from the University of Lancaster and is trained in the use of a range of psychometric instruments. She speaks regularly on the subject of Leadership, Governance and Management of Higher Education nationally and internationally. Prior to HE Alison worked in the private sector as a management consultant and before that was a career civil servant.
Professor Bob Thackwray, Director Membership and Networks, The Leadership Foundation for Higher Education (LFHE)
Professor Bob Thackwray has been working in higher education for over 30 years. He moved from the UK Higher Education Staff Development Agency (HESDA), with whom he had worked since 1994, to the UK Leadership Foundation for Higher Education (LFHE) in August 2004. He is currently Director, Membership and Networks. He has worked at strategic, operational and individual levels with over 130 higher educational institutions and has significant experience in the use and operation of OD related tools and in the development of ‘bespoke’ OD models for large, complex organisations. As a major part of his role Bob works with a wide variety of professional groups, networks and staff at all levels and walks of university life and with all UK institutions of higher education and related agencies.
In addition, he has been involved in creating, developing, leading and managing a range of institutional, national and international projects. He is author of several hundred books, articles, papers, reports, and conference/seminar papers and presentations, largely on staff and organisational development. He serves on the AUA Council and the AUA Board of Trustees, holds a Visiting Professorship with the University of Hertfordshire, is an Honorary Professor at The Robert Gordon University and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1997.
Keynote Speakers: Tuesday 30th March PM
Nicola Dandridge, CEO, Universities UK
Nicola has been Chief Executive of Universities UK since September 2009. She was previously Chief Executive of Equality Challenge Unit, the higher education agency that promotes equality and diversity for staff and students in higher education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Formerly a partner and head of equality at Thompsons Solicitors, the UK’s largest firm of solicitors acting for the trade union and labour movement, Nicola initially worked in the City as a lawyer, before qualifying in Scotland and working in Glasgow for ten years.
Robert Behrens, Independent Adjudicator & Chief Executive OIA
Rob Behrens was educated at Burnage Grammar School in Manchester and at the Universities of Nottingham and Exeter. He lectured in Public Policy and Administration at Coventry Polytechnic and in 1988 he joined the Cabinet Office. From 1992 – 1997 he was Director of the Southern Africa Development Unit. He led UK-sponsored development and training for the African National Congress in preparation for the creation of a post-Apartheid Public Service. Rob continued to provide support and assistance to the post-Apartheid Government after the democratic elections of 1994.
In 1997, Rob was promoted to the Senior Civil Service and became Director of the International Public Service Group, which provided high-level technical assistance to twenty-five countries in transition.
In 2003, Rob was appointed Secretary to the Committee on Standards in Public Life, which advises the Prime Minister on ethics issues and the conduct of Public Office holders. He oversaw the Committee’s Tenth Enquiry and Report and the publication of the first National Survey of Public Attitudes towards Public Office holders.
In 2006 Rob left the Civil Service on being appointed Complaints Commissioner to the new Bar Standards Board, regulating the behaviour of barristers in England and Wales.
Rob has been Independent Adjudicator and Chief Executive of the OIA since May 2008, in succession to Baroness Deech. He is a Trustee of the Fort Hare University Foundation, UK. He is married with two teenage children and is a lifelong supporter of Manchester City Football Club.
Sir Alan Langlands, Chief Executive HEFCE, FRSE
Alan Langlands is the Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England responsible for promoting and funding high quality education and research in universities and colleges with higher education programmes.
He was formerly the Principal and Vice Chancellor at the University of Dundee (2000-2009) and Chief Executive of the NHS in England (1994-2000). He also has a particular interest in the scientific basis of health services and he chairs the boards of UK Biobank and the Health Foundation. He is also a co-opted member of the Office for the Strategic Coordination of Health Research. Alan was knighted in 1998 for his services to the NHS and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He also holds a number of honorary degrees and fellowships.
Professor Shirley Pearce, Vice Chancellor of Loughborough, CBE
Shirley has been the Vice-Chancellor of Loughborough University since January 2006.
She is on the HEFCE Board, the CASE Europe Board, the Youth Sport Trust and the Universities & Colleges Employers Association Board, and she chairs the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme.
Shirley is a member of the HEFCE Strategic Advisory Committee for Enterprise and Skills Strategy, the HEFCE Matched Funding Scheme for Voluntary Giving Advisory Group, the Council for Industry and Higher Education, the Universities UK Employability, Business & Industry Policy Committee, Longer Term Strategy Group and Sustainable Development Task Group.
She was previously Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of East Anglia responsible for the health and professional schools, where she led the successful bid for a new medical school for the East of England. Prior to that Shirley held an academic post in Psychology at University College London. She was also Deputy Chair of the Healthcare Commission until 2007. Shirley was awarded the CBE in 2005 for services to education in the NHS.
Alison Allden, Chief Executive HESA
Alison Allden became Chief Executive of HESA at the start of August 2009. The remit of HESA is to collect and disseminate data of relevance to the higher education sector involving interaction with all HEIs (who provide and access the data) and statutory customers (who commission and use the data). The importance of data management has been a theme throughout her career. Alison most recently was Deputy Registrar at Bristol University with primary responsibility across the University's student facing services and she continued to hold the role of Director of Information Services, which was the post she was originally recruited to. Before that she was Director of Information Technology (IT) at Warwick University and first moved into the HE sector when she took up the post of Director of Computing for Goldsmiths College. Prior to that she ran computing for a Department of Health associated NDPB and worked in IT in two national museums, which followed a career in archaeology and a degree in Archaeology, Ancient History and Latin from Bristol University. She has been involved nationally with JISC over many years, and is currently a member of JISC Board as well as chairing the Committee for Infrastructure and Resources.
Closing Plenary: Wednesday 31st March
Speaker TBC