29 July 2025 
Dominic Fryer, Managing Director
HESPA (Higher Education Strategic Planners Association), the representative body for those working in strategy and planning in UK higher education, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jonathan Rans as its new Executive Director.
Jonathan is an experienced strategic leader with twenty years of experience in the higher education sector and joins HESPA in September 2025. Jonathan has a passion for developing positive, collaborative institutional cultures that encompass both academic and professional services staff.
Prior to taking on his role at HESPA, Jonathan worked in the University of Edinburgh, where he was a founder member of the Edinburgh Research Office’s Research Strategy team, bringing strategic planning approaches to bear on research funding and research development. Previously, he worked in the Digital Curation Centre, collaborating with JISC to advocate for improved policy and services and driving sector-wide culture change in open research and open data practice.
Wesley Rennison, HESPA Chair and Director of Strategic Planning at the University of Strathclyde, said:
“The HESPA Executive Committee are delighted that Jonathan has accepted the offer to take up the role of Executive Director for the Association. Jonathan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. We have every confidence that he will steer HESPA to continued excellence and success.”
Dominic Fryer, PHES Managing Director, said:
“We’re delighted to welcome Jonathan to the organisation. His wealth of experience, strategic vision, and passion for the higher education sector will be invaluable as we continue to develop the professional reputation and impact of strategic planning within the HE sector and beyond.”
