Improving equality in higher education 2025

Professor Egbu joined Leeds Trinity University as Vice-Chancellor on 1 November 2020.   He leads the University on all strategic matters; ensuring financial sustainability to allow the delivery of the University's Strategic Plan, including the overall vision and values of the University.  He represents the University externally at various groups including Universities UK (UUK), Million Plus, the Cathedral's Group of Universities, University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC), Yorkshire Universities, and Leeds Learning Alliance (LLA).   He works closely with industry and professional bodies, especially in the Built Environment sector, and with local communities. He was formerly the President of The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB – 2019/2020).  He was admitted to the Worshipful Company of Constructors in May 2017 and received the Freedom of the City of London in 2017. He was formerly Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education & Experience, University of East London), and Dean of School of the Built Environment & Architecture (London South Bank University).

Professor Egbu’s research interests focus on project management, construction management, knowledge management, sustainable development, social justice, equality, diversity and inclusion; subjects about which he has written 15 books and contributed to more than 350 publications in various international journals and conferences. He has supervised over 30 PhD students and examined over 100 PhD candidates world-wide. In addition, he has led many construction industry commissions and working groups and acted as an external examiner to many undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in universities all over the world.

Jess Lister is Director and Head of Higher Education at Public First, a global public opinion and policy consultancy, where she leads the firms work with universities and higher education providers in the UK and overseas. She previously worked as policy and public affairs advisor at the University of Cambridge.

Professor Symeon Dagkas took up his post as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chichester in November 2024. He is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the University, providing an unparalleled student experience and delivering the highest quality teaching.

Over his career, Professor Dagkas has held multiple senior leadership roles at various institutions, including those within the Russell Group and Post-92 universities.

He joined the University of Chichester from St Mary’s University, where he was Provost and Chief Academic Officer, overseeing all academic activities, and recruitment, admissions and international.

With a PhD from Exeter University, he is an active researcher and has been published extensively on all facets of sport, inclusion, exercise, and health.

Professor Dagkas is Chair of the Academic Board and Honorary Awards Committee and is a member of the Board of Governors.

Alice became the CEO in March 2024 following her role as Executive Director from January 2023 and having previously served as an elected Director for four years.

The role of Executive Director is a strategic role concerned with the growth of NADP as an organisation, the support of its membership and the representation of the members’ interests across the sector. Alice represents NADP in many ways including the OIA Disability Experts Panel, the LINK network and on the Disabled Students Commitment Sector Groups.

Before joining the NADP staff team, Alice was the Operations Manager at Bournemouth University where she managed the disability service and in house NMH provision. Prior to that, she was the Head of Student Support at Goldsmiths University, overseeing the Disability, Wellbeing, Chaplaincy and Counselling Service. Alice also has extensive experience across the sector working for providers and in the delivery of study skills and assistive technology training.

Prior to working in the field of disability in Higher Education she worked for an MP as a Senior Caseworker with a specialist interest in disability and immigration. Alice also worked as a Family Law Caseworker and undertook pro bono work at a London Law Centre including cases regarding disability discrimination and housing. Alice has also worked in the NGO sector with a passion for training students in Non-Violent Direct Action and working with refugee communities internationally on human rights issues.

David leads the strategic development, planning and delivery of Advance HE’s programme for universities and colleges in Scotland. He brings a wealth of experience working with the Scottish sector, in governance as well as strategic planning and management, SFC Outcome Agreements, and equality and diversity.

Vivienne Stern took up the role of UUK Chief Executive in September 2022. She was previously the Director of Universities UK International (UUKi) which represents UK universities around the world and works to enable them to flourish internationally. 

Vivienne has over 20 years’ experience of working in higher education policy and politics at national and international level. She is a member of the GREAT Private Sector Council; a Trustee of the Council for At Risk Academics; and is a member of the Soft Power Council. She was awarded an MBE for Services to International Education in the New Years’ Honours List 2022.  In 2021 Vivienne received the European Association of International Educators’ “Vision and Leadership” award and the PIEoneer “Outstanding Contribution to the Industry” award. 

Vivienne is a graduate of the University of Cambridge, where she studied English Literature.

Sasha has been Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Sussex since August 2022. Previously, she was UCL’s first Pro-Provost for Equity and Inclusion and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences. Before that, Professor Roseneil was Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Essex, and held leadership positions at Birkbeck, University of London and the University of Leeds.

Over more than 30 years as an academic, Professor Roseneil has carried out pioneering research on intimate relationships, citizenship, and social movements. Originally trained as a sociologist, and later as a group analyst and psychotherapist, she has played a leading role in establishing the interdisciplinary fields of Gender Studies and Psychosocial Studies. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She is also a member of the Institute of Group Analysis and a Founding Scholar of the British Psychoanalytic Council.

Chris is an experienced academic with a demonstrated history of working in Higher Education teaching nurse education with a specialism in learning/intellectual disabilities, complex needs, behaviours seen as challenging, and mental health in CAMHS.

Chris’s research interests lie in the experiences of students from the Global South in Higher Education, families from minority communities when accessing health and social care. Currently Chris is actively pursuing opportunities concerned with reducing the awarding gap in Higher Education, equality and diversity as well as cultural competency.

Suzanne joined the Office for Students in November 2023 as the Head of Student Equality and Welfare. She leads policy teams focused on Access and Participation, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct and Mental Health and Wellbeing as well as leading the teams that deliver the NSS, Discover Uni and wider student insight work. Before joining the Office for Students, she worked for more than 15 years in the higher education sector. She is also a governor of a large multi academy trust in Bristol and until recently was a trustee of a charity supporting young people from under-served and disadvantaged communities.

Sharon Perera leads academic support at the University of Greenwich, developing resources and services for students to cultivate life skills for university and beyond.  

Sharon’s interest lies in digital learning and emerging pedagogies that reinvigorate teaching strategies for online delivery. Current projects include research into blended and HyFlex models and optimising the student experience through Education 4.0.
Sharon’s work centres on students as partners; exploring personalised, adaptive learning for student diversity. Successful projects include LevelUp, GREFest, WinterFest and the Independent Learners Toolkit. She has also written a PDP coursebook and developed online courses for young adults and mature learners.

Sharon’s career in education spans 30 years, working in Singapore, France and the UK focussing on widening participation, supporting students’ transition and progression into HE and the careers. Sharon volunteers as a school governor in her local community, with a special interest in Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND).