9.30 - 10.30
PLENARY 1 - WONKHE
David Kernohan, Deputy Editor, Wonkhe
David Kernohan is Deputy Editor of Wonkhe. Until June 2016, he worked at Jisc as a programme manager and senior codesign manager, after being seconded from HEFCE in 2006. He has also worked for the University of Glamorgan (now the University of South Wales). As Associate Editor, David has responsibility for the development and delivery of a variety of editorial content. His key areas of wonkishness include higher education data, graduate employment, teaching quality enhancement policy, funding policy, sector agency politics and history, and the use of technology in higher education.
11.00 - 12.00
WORKSHOP 1A - BUFDG
Julia Ascott, Employment Taxes Specialist, BUFDG
Julia joined BUFDG in October 2019 as our Employment Tax specialist, after working at Deloitte, Grant Thornton and more recently, in her own business where she was first introduced to the HE sector. Her experience within the world of employment taxes spans over 20 years’ and she will happily chat about employment status issues for hours so don’t get her started. Her role at BUFDG is to inform and assist the HE sector on current, topical employment tax, pensions, payroll, CIS and global mobility issues as well as highlight broader issues to HMRC on behalf of the HE sector.
Andrea Marshall, Tax Specialist, BUFDG
Andrea’s career spans over 30 years, beginning in 1988 when she joined HM Customs & Excise as a VAT Officer. After 20 years in practice, she joined the University of Worcester in 2013 as its Tax Officer, before moving to BUFDG as its Tax Specialist in March 2020. Her BUFDG role involves updating the HE sector on current, relevant tax issues; providing training and resources; liaison with HMRC, advisors and other third parties; and arranging events, including the Annual Tax Conference. Outside work, Andrea can be found walking her beloved dog (Wilma), running (slowly!), and generally trying to organise her life!
WORKSHOP 1B - University of the West of England
Firoz Jethwa, Post-Award Finance Manager, UWE
Firoz is Post-Award Finance Manager at the University of the West of England and brings experience from both academia and research finance. Having previously lectured in accounting and finance at universities including Cumbria and Central Lancashire, as well as working in analyst and project management roles in the UK and UAE, including the Bank of England, Firoz offers a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing both researchers and post-award teams.
WORKSHOP 1C - Loughborough University
Prof. Ken Lee, Professor of Accounting, Loughborough University
Kenneth is a Professor in the Accounting and Finance research group of Loughborough Business school and the Director of Postgraduate Taught programmes. Prior to this he was an Associate Professorial Lecturer at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is a member of the Capital Markets Advisory Committee (CMAC), a body supported by the IFRS Foundation, which interprets proposed accounting changes from the perspective of capital market participants.
Before academia Kenneth was a Managing Director & Head of European Equity Research at Barclays Capital, and a Managing Director and a ranked accounting and valuation analyst at Citi Investment Research in London. Ken is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a member of the Institute of Taxation, a CFA Charterholder and a fellow of the Higher Education Authority. He holds a doctorate from Aston Business School which focused on how analysts make stock recommendation decisions.
Mark Chester, Head of Commercial Finance, Loughborough University
James specialises in commercial, IT and technology contracts and is heavily involved in advising clients in the Higher Education sector on their commercial and IT projects. He has extensive experience advising clients at all stages of the procurement chain working closely with clients' inhouse legal and commercial teams. James' wide-ranging experience includes advising on large global outsourcing projects to routine general commercial and IT contracts including IT master services agreements, SAAS solutions and subscription agreements, software development and licensing, ecommerce platforms, managed service contracts, facilities and property management agreements, collaboration agreements and contracts for the supply of goods and services. Much of James' work is for universities and other education institutions as well as tech start up and university spin out companies. He does however work across a number of other sectors and has spent 6 months acting as interim GC for a UK airport providing general legal support on various strategic infrastructure projects and their day-to-day commercial and IT contracts
13.30 - 14.30
WORKSHOP 2A - Marsh
Rebecca Dodd, Head of Marsh's Higher Education Group, Marsh
Rebecca leads Marsh’s Higher Education Group and works with cross-sector bodies including BUFDG, supporting and presenting at events nationally and locally. She has advised many universities on pensions strategy across the sector’s main pension schemes, and has extensive experience working with senior executives, councils, unions, trustees and scheme members on strategic pension matters.
Over many years, Rebecca has advised universities on benefit change exercises and the related member communication activity, as well as supporting negotiations with the schemes and unions. She has also developed bespoke strategic advice for employers on pension scheme participation, including local defined benefit schemes, and provided support on funding discussions. In addition, Rebecca has worked with trustees of local defined benefit schemes in her roles as Governance Consultant and Scheme Secretary. Rebecca has worked extensively with members through one-to-one consultations and group sessions covering pensions education, pensions tax, benefits and options, and also leads the specialist team that provides USS members with education on their benefits.
Clarke Bedford, Marsh’s Higher Education Group – Strategy Lead, Marsh
Clarke is the Strategy Lead for Marsh’s Higher Education Group and a regular speaker and attendee at BUFDG and other sector conferences and events. He is an experienced pensions consultant who advises universities on their pension obligations across the sector’s main schemes, including USS, the LGPS, the TPS, SUSS and local pension schemes.
Over recent years, Clarke has worked with many universities on strategic pension issues, helping them to reduce pension scheme liability exposure where possible, either partially or in full. His work has included successfully negotiating valuation outcomes and surplus management, supporting strategic pension changes such as offering USS as an option, and advising on exits from multi-employer pension schemes.
WORKSHOP 2B - University of Cambridge, Handelsbanken
Prof. Ellen Quigley, Co-Director of Finance for Systemic Change, University of Cambridge
Professor Ellen Quigley is Director of Finance for Systemic Change and a Research Professor at the University of Cambridge whose work focuses on building the intellectual and practical foundations of a more sustainable and equitable financial system. To this end, she convenes and advises some of the world’s largest and most influential asset owners to confront and reshape systemic risks such as climate change and inequality through their investment and stewardship policies and practices.
From 2019 to 2025, Professor Quigley served as Special Adviser (Responsible Investment) to the Chief Financial Officer of the University of Cambridge. In this role, she authored the University’s peer-reviewed report on the advantages and disadvantages of divestment from fossil fuels. This capped off years of research and debate by students and staff, culminating in the University’s historic decision to divest its £3.5 billion endowment fund from all direct and indirect investments in fossil fuels by 2030.
WORKSHOP 2C - University of Exeter
Joe Wall, Director of Finance, University of Exeter
TBC
15.00 - 16.00
WORKSHOP 3A - Shakespeare Martineau / BUFDG
Andrea Marshall, Tax Specialist, BUFDG
Andrea’s career spans over 30 years, beginning in 1988 when she joined HM Customs & Excise as a VAT Officer. After 20 years in practice, she joined the University of Worcester in 2013 as its Tax Officer, before moving to BUFDG as its Tax Specialist in March 2020. Her BUFDG role involves updating the HE sector on current, relevant tax issues; providing training and resources; liaison with HMRC, advisors and other third parties; and arranging events, including the Annual Tax Conference. Outside work, Andrea can be found walking her beloved dog (Wilma), running (slowly!), and generally trying to organise her life!
Dr. Paul Greatrix, Director of Higher Education Consultancy, SHMA
Dr Paul Greatrix is Director of Higher Education Consultancy for Shakespeare Martineau, a leading legal firm with a strong reputation and track record in education. He was, until December 2024, Registrar at the University of Nottingham, a post he was appointed to in January 2007 and prior to joining the University of Nottingham he held a number of roles at the University of Warwick, the University of East Anglia and Staffordshire University. Up to the end of 2024 he was also Honorary Secretary of AHUA, the Association of Heads of University Administration in the UK and President of HUMANE, the Heads of University Management and Administration Network in Europe.
Mark Taylor, Partner, SHMA
Mark advises on education collaborations and governance, having spent all of his legal career advising in the education sector. He is a leading adviser to the UK’s further and higher education sectors, with extensive experience in institutional mergers, governance, and regulatory matters. He has advised on over fifty college mergers and regularly redrafts university and college constitutions, including Instruments and Articles, Royal Charters, and Articles of Association. He has supported the development of more than half of the country’s Institutes of Technology and frequently structures education joint ventures. His international work includes drafting parts of the Universities UK legal guide to overseas collaborations.
WORKSHOP 3B - University of Manchester
Michael Knight, Chief Information Security Officer, University of Manchester
Michael leads the University's cyber security strategy and resilience programmes, working with senior leaders to manage cyber risk and strengthen organisational preparedness. Michael specialises in translating cyber security into business risk and effective executive decision-making during cyber incidents.
WORKSHOP 3C - Open University / Student Loans Company
Stephen Jones, Stakeholder Engagement Manager, SLC
Stephen Jones has been with the Student Loans Company (SLC) for over a decade, bringing a wealth of experience in business support and partner engagement. Since 2019, he has worked within Partner Services, where he has played a pivotal role in strengthening relationships with external stakeholders. In his previous role as Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Stephen leads the communications and engagement strategy for SLC’s involvement in the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) Programme. He is responsible for delivering a planned, coordinated, and credible engagement programme with external business partners, ensuring that SLC’s messaging is clear, consistent, and aligned with the needs of the sector. Stephen is passionate about building collaborative partnerships and driving impactful engagement that supports the successful delivery of transformational programmes.
Tanya Sandford, Senior Finance Control and Change Manager, Open University
TBC
