Harriet has worked in tertiary education and research policy for over 15 years, in roles with a UK-wide remit at Jisc, the Quality Assurance Agency and the British Academy. She joined HEFCW in 2021, where she oversaw the research and innovation, student experience, widening access and skills and employability policy and funding portfolios. Since August 2024, she has been Director of Research, Innovation and Skills at Medr, the new Commission for Tertiary Education and Research in Wales, where her role involves understanding Wales’ skills needs, apprenticeship policy, and enabling the tertiary sector to deliver high quality research and innovation with impact. She has a background in medieval Celtic studies.

Mike is an independent strategy consultant with extensive experience in higher education, having advised Vice-Chancellors, leadership teams and strategic planners at numerous UK universities. A former Professor and Dean at Ravensbourne and Director of the Design Research Centre at Brunel, he brings first-hand understanding of university strategy, planning and operations.

Since establishing Goal Atlas in 2014, Mike has delivered over 10,000 hours of consultancy to global brands including Cisco, Google, HSBC and Sony PlayStation, as well as government departments and leading UK universities. He has been a facilitator and speaker for UUK, HESPA, PHES and the Russell Group Directors of Strategy.

With a background in psychology, design and research, Mike has been awarded a PhD in Science, a personal Professorship and Chartered Designer status. His published works include The Strategy Manual, Core Values, University Strategy 2020 and Deep Design Thinking. He writes the monthly newsletter Strategy Distilled.

Jacqui is Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes at the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), where she leads on institutional engagement, the Outcomes Framework and Assurance Model, learning and quality (including Scotland’s Tertiary Quality Enhancement Framework), skills and work-based learning (including foundation and graduate apprenticeships), student interests, access, governance, and fair work. She recently oversaw the Gillies Investigation into the financial issues at the University of Dundee. Jacqui was previously an independent governor and Chair of the Audit Committee at Bath Spa University.

Dr Mark Corver is Director of Campus Numerics. He has worked across higher education data and strategy, including developing statistical frameworks on access, continuation and provision at the Higher Education Funding Council for England and leading data service innovation around student recruitment as UCAS’ first Director of Analysis and Research. In 2017 he co-founded dataHE, creating and scaling strategic forecasting products for universities, and continued as Managing Director following its acquisition by the global higher education data business Times Higher Education in 2022. At Campus Numerics, he is developing new data systems with universities to directly address the challenges and opportunities of the next decade.

Josh Fleming is the Director of Strategy and Delivery at the Office for Students, overseeing strategy, delivery, communications, data and evaluation. He previously served as Sir Michael Barber’s Chief of Staff, helping to establish the Office for Students in 2018.

Emma Hartley is the Head of Planning & Performance at the University of Sheffield. She focuses on developing and embedding strategic planning and risk frameworks, robust performance reporting, and leading student intake and tuition fees setting. A qualified Prosci Change Practitioner and APM Project Manager, Emma utilises her skills in stakeholder engagement and knowledge of HE to translate strategy into achievable institutional outcomes.

Naomi joined the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) in 2023, following 15 years in the university sector working on statistical modelling and strategic planning. She leads SFC’s analytics service, developing and delivering high quality analysis and insights to inform policy and funding decisions. Naomi has a strong interest and specialism in data visualisation and is passionate about using data to help deliver a world class tertiary education system for Scotland.

Professor David Latchman CBE is a distinguished academic, author, and philanthropist. A leading figure in UK higher education, he served as Vice-Chancellor, formally Master, of Birkbeck, University of London, for two decades and is currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of London. A Cambridge graduate with a PhD and DSc, Professor Latchman has held senior academic positions at UCL, including Chair of Human Genetics and Dean of the Institute of Child Health. His research in genetics and molecular biology led to the founding of BioVex, whose cancer therapy was later acquired by Amgen. Beyond academia, he has championed lifelong learning and serves as Chairman and Trustee of the Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation. He was appointed CBE in 2010 for services to higher education.

As editor Debbie is responsible for curating commentary and analysis on higher education across Wonkhe’s website, email briefings, podcast and events. Debbie is interested in the social impact of HE, learning, teaching and curriculum, institutional change and innovation, and in bringing to light diverse and under-represented voices in the HE policy debate. She has previously worked in policy and communications roles at Universities UK, the University of Bedfordshire and the National Union of Students. Debbie is currently an honorary fellow of the School of Education at the University of Birmingham.

Tracey Slaven is the Chief Transformation Officer at the University of Cumbria. Her role is focused on enabling the University community to make the transformational changes needed to achieve our strategic ambitions, for the University, the region, and our students.
As CTO, Tracey draws on her initial training as an economist and over 20 years of experience in addressing governance, strategic and operational challenges and leading change across higher education, charity, public and private organisations. This work has included major governance transformations, post-merger integration and the statutory and operational creation of a new public body.
As well as holding senior level roles at the University of Edinburgh, and most recently as University Secretary and Chief Operating Officer at the University of Aberdeen, Tracey has experience within government, having led the Higher Education policy team in Scotland during a major review of student support. She has been an accountable officer as the Chief Executive of the Student Awards Agency for Scotland and as a HESA Board Member, supported the transition of the charity into JISC.

Ashley is the Student Partnerships Manager at UCL where they lead all the student-staff partnership work for the institution, known as UCL ChangeMakers. They are also the Communication Officer for the RAISE Network (Reseraching Advancing & Inspiring Student Engagement in HE) and an External Trustee at Trinity St David Students' Union. With a decade of experience working in Students' Unions across the UK before, they have experienced student voice practically on the ground as well as through academic research. They have conducted a range of research and opinion pieces around Student Engagement, Student Voice, Student Activism, and Student Belonging in Higher Education. They have contributed Their recent publication is a chapter about Trans & Non-Binary Student Belonging in Higher Education within the book Student Belonging in Higher Education: Perspectives & Practice

Dan Wood is Chief People Officer at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), where he leads the people and culture strategy for a community of over 4,000 staff and 40,000 students. Since joining in 2023, he has focused on embedding a values-led, inclusive culture rooted in trust, accountability, and purposeful leadership.

With over two decades of experience across higher education, healthcare, policing, and the voluntary sector, Dan is known for his principled leadership and commitment to people-first, future-focused practice. His career has centred on enabling large-scale culture change, advancing equity, and building trust-based systems in complex, mission-led environments.

Before UWE, he held senior roles in health and policing, shaping organisational development, cultural transformation, and workforce strategy. He has served on several national boards, including as trustee of the National Fire Chiefs Council and the Quartet Community Foundation.

A passionate advocate for civic life and youth leadership, Dan served as Chair of the British Youth Council and held senior roles nationally and internationally in The Scout Association, championing inclusive growth, leadership reform, and human rights education.

He is a Fellow of the CIPD, RSA, Chartered Management Institute, Institute of Leadership, and the Society of Leadership Fellows. Dan is a regular guest on leadership podcasts and had contributed to and featured in sector publications. He continues to mentor leaders and is recognised for his work on integrity, equity, and organisational change.