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Aurora Champion Directory

Each institution has been asked to nominate an in-house ‘Aurora champion’ who will help identify participants, mentors and role models, and be the main point of contact between Advance HE and the institution. Some institutions have chosen to split this role into two – one as the key figurehead for Aurora and one as the liaison point for the administrative details.

Aurora champions - who's who

Details of champions and Aurora liaisons from engaging institutions and sector bodies can be found in the directory below. To update your institution’s Aurora champion details or to register as the champion please email the Aurora Team.

Note: If your institution is not listed below, please email the Aurora team.

A

Abertay University: Dr Nia White, Head of the Graduate School and Caroline Hodgson, Learning and Development Partner.

Aberystwyth University: Dylan Jones, Diversity and Inclusion Manager.

The Alan Turing Institute: Nick Mann, Professional Development Business Partner.

Anglia Ruskin University: Professor Aletta Norval, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Jamie Crowe, Learning & Development Manager and Emma Milroy, Business Support Manager (Projects). 

Arden University: Lisa Taylor-Clarke, Senior Lecturer.

Atlantic Technological University: Jacqueline McCormackTom ReillyCait Noone and Sinead Ni Bhroin, EDI Team Administrator. 

ArtsEd: Michele Sahrle, HE Policies and Compliance Project Manager. 

B

Bangor University: Tracy Hibbert, Director of Human Resources and Alison Wiggett Athena SWAN and Research Concordat Manager.

Bath Spa University: Melissa Mulhall Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor: Academic Planning.

Bedford College Group: Lindsey Francis, Head of Teacher Education, Counselling, Access to Higher Education and Higher Education Social Studies.

Birkbeck College, University of London: Paul Mills, Learning and Development Advisor.

Birmingham City University: Claire Walsh, Learning and Organisational Development Programme Coordinator.

Bishop Grosseteste University: Victoria Burrows, People Services Manager.

Bournemouth University: Christa Lippold, Head of Leadership & Talent Development.

Brunel University: Survjit Cheeta, Dean of Culture and Inclusion and Beatrice Otudeko, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Partner.

Buckinghamshire New University: Professor Damien Page, Aurora Champion. 

C

Canterbury Christ Church University: Amanda Maclean, Head of People, Culture and Inclusion.

Cardiff University: Hayley Beckett, Head of Leadership and Staff Development and Susan Midha, Director of Human Resources.

Cardiff Metropolitan University: Liz Graham-Brain, Organisational Development Manager. 

Chartered Management Institute: Gemma Ardis, Recruitment and Learning & Development Manager.

City, University of London: Emily Deane, Organisational Development Adviser.

Coventry University: Jodie Morse, Organisation Development Manager, Avril Stanley, Organisation Development Manager, Lorraine Gearing, Head of Educational Strategies, Elizabeth Irvine, Organisational Development Specialists in Leadership & Management and Lee Neilson, Organisational Development and Learning Business Partner (Leadership and Management). 

Cranfield University: Catherine Livsey-Brown, Talent and Development Business Partner and Naomi Benjamin, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Business Partner.

D

De Montfort University: Natalie Dunne, Learning Facilitator and Lauren Batty, Talent and Organisational Development Administrator.

Dublin City University: Dr Anne Sinnott, Executive Dean, Faculty of Business and Joanne Mulligan, Athena Swan Officer.

Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology: Niamh Clifford, HR Manager, Claire McGing, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, and Mary Anne O'Carroll, Aurora Admin.

Dundalk Institute of Technology: Fiona Lawless, Head of Department of Computing and Mathematics and Hugh Nolan, Vice President for Finance, Resources and Diversity.

Durham University: June Hedley, Senior Organisation Development Manager

E

Edge Hill University: Christina Blakey, Head of Knowledge Exchange, Aisling Barker, EDI Lead and Claire Fox, EDI Coordinator.

Edinburgh Napier University: Talent and Development Team.

F

Falmouth University: Rob Holmes, Director of Business Services.

Falmouth Exeter Plus (FX Plus): Stuart Gaslonde, Executive Director, and and Rob Holmes, Director of Business Services.

G

Glasgow Caledonian University: Alison Britton, Professor of Healthcare and Medical Law and Ann Tilbury, Organisational Development Specialist.

Goldsmiths, University of London: Fifi Badat, Learning and Development Coordinator, and Rachael Street, Organisational and Staff Development Coordinator.

Glyndwr University: Claire Taylor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

H

Harper Adams University: Andy Allen, Head of HR and OD.

Heriot-Watt University: Susan Galloway, Professional and Development Consultant, Julie Dickson, Head of Professional and Organisational Development, Mark Biggs, Vice Principal and Provost and Fiona Fraser, Senior Admin Assistant (POD).

Heythrop College, University of London: Shade Olutobi, Human Resources Manager.

Higher Education Funding Council, England: Tracey Vardy, Human Resources Consultant.

I

Irish Research Council and Higher Education Authority: Dr Eavan O’Brien, Assistant Director.

The Institute for Cancer Research, Barbara Pittam, Scientific Secretary, Registrar and Director of Academic Services and Trinny Rossouw

J

James Hutton Institute: Fiona Thomson, Head of Human Resources, Rupert Hough, Head of Department, Information and Computational Sciences, Alison Ross, HR Partner, and Gosia Konieczko, HR Service Desk Assistant.

K

Keele University: Emma Colley, Staff Development Advisor.

King's College London: Helena Mattingley, Harjeet Moore, Interim Head of EDI and Hannah Sauer, EDI Advisor.

Kingston University: Alex Herbert, Organisational Development Adviser, and Louise Hird, Organisational Development Partner. 

L

Lancaster University: Lyndsey Spiers, UK Regional Student Recruitment Manager. 

Leeds Beckett University: Sarah Swales, Aurora Champion and Fran Cable, HR Projects Officer and Sue O'Boyle, Leadership & Learning Manager.

Leeds Trinity University: Sue Carr, Head of Workforce Development and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Ollie Chalkley, Learning and Development Coordinator. 

Liverpool Hope University: Clare Talbot, HR Manager.

Liverpool John Moores University: Amanda Mannion, HR Policy and Projects Manager and Joan Graham, Organisational Development Administrator.

London College of Fashion: Kelly Darcy, Lecturer in Management: Retail Strategy Innovation and Operations.

London Metropolitan University: Rosemary Benson, Staff Development Adviser and Amaechi Echedolu, Training Officer.

London School of Economics and Political Science: Professor Julia Black. Pro-Director of Research, Chris Watt, Head of Organisational Learning and Jacinta Stevens, Head of Organisational Learning and Development.

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine: Margaret Bentley, Head of Talent and Educational Development.

London South Bank University: Professor Tara Dean, Provost

Loughborough University: Lisa Dennison, Staff Development Assistant and Secretary for Aurora and Sarah Williamson, Deputy Director (OD).

M

Manchester Metropolitan University: Mona Patel, Equality & Diversity Specialist, and Amraze Khan, Equality & Diversity Manager

Mary Immaculate College, Edel Foster, Athea Swan Programme Manager.

Maynooth University: Sam Blanckensee, Equality Officer, Suzanne Ryan, Learning & Development Manager and Áine Coady, Equality Projects Officer.

Middlesex University: Anna Kyprianou, PVC for Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and Lorraine Airey, Staff Learning and Development Manager.

Munster Technological University: Siobhan Kangataran, EDI Manager.

N

National College of Ireland: Mary Connelly, Director of HR Services and Deirdre McCarthy, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Training Manager.

New College of the Humanities: Sheena Van Der Merwe, HR and Operations Manager.

Newcastle University: Dr Liz Kemp, Organisational Development Lead (HaSS), Gillian Jenkins, Organisational Development Lead SAgE, Julie Bullimore, Organisational Development Lead, and Linda Robinson, Organisational Development Lead.

Newman University: Tricia Sterling, Executive Dean, Faculty of Education, Giosi Birkett, Director of Human Resources, Sarah Downie, Human Resources Adviser and Caroline Wrenn, HR Services Administrator.

Northumbria University: Sharon Stewart, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager.

Norwich University of the Arts: Rosanne Goose, Associate Director - Organisational Development, and Professor Hilary Carlisle, Dean of Design and Architecture.

Nottingham Trent University: Amanda Stanford, Aurora Champion and Jessica Rodgers, Organisational Development Coordinator.

O

The Open University: Roberta Davies, EDI Learning and Development Officer.

Oxford Brookes University: Alistair Fitt, Vice-Chancellor and Abigail Reilly, Deputy Director Organisational Effectiveness and Development.

P

The Pirbright Institute: Lynda Moore, Head of Academic Affairs and Training.

Plymouth Marjon University: Lucy Pengelly, Director of People & Organisational Development and Claire Stevens, Head of Workforce Transformation & Deputy Director of People & Organisational Development. 

Q

Queen Margaret University: Dr Sara Smith, Dean - School of Health Sciences.

Queen Mary, University of London: Afua Acheampong, EDI Manager. 

Queen's University Belfast: Paula Teggart, Talent Manager, People and Culture, Professor Jannette Elwood, Faculty Champion, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor Teresa McCormack, Faculty Champion, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Dr Donna Rogers, Faculty Champion, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences.

.

R

Ravensbourne University London: Kate Wingrove, Head of Learning and Organisational Development. 

Regent's University London: Amy Gentles-McKie, Learning and Development Manager.

Robert Gordon University: Tina McGregor, People and Organisational Development Specialist.

The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama: Heather Francis, Director of Human Resources.

Royal College of Art: Professor Darlene Maxwell, Head of Library Services.

Royal College of Music, London: Dr Diana Salazar, Director of Programmes.

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland: Professor Zena Moore, Head of School of Nursing & Midwifery, Catriona Campbell, Head of Staff Learning and Development.

Royal Holloway, University of London: Ellie Rayner, Head of Organisational Development, Professor Tracy Bhamra, Senior Vice-Principal and Lorraine Lewis, OD Officer.

Royal Northern College of Music, Professor Linda Merrick, Principal.

Royal Veterinary College: Professor Jill Maddison, RVC Aurora Champion, Ferhat Nazir-Bhatti, Equality Diversity and Inclusion Manage, and Nicole Hay-Carter, Staff Development Manager.

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drame: Professor Helena Gaunt, Principal.

S

Scotland's Rural College (SRUC): Irene Martin, Learning and Development Manager.

Scottish Funding Council: Kate Lacka, Aurora Champion.

Sheffield Hallam University: Sally Jackson, Chief People Officer, Laura Humphreys, Senior HR Advisor.

SOAS, University of London: Ronay Marshall-Appleby

Solent University: Laura Van Gass, Business Partner - Organisational Development and Michelle Giles, Senior Organisational Design Business Partner and Desiree Westdorp, Organisational Design Business Partner.

South Bank University, London: Professor Tara Dean, Provost.

South East Technological University: Yvonne Kavanagh, Lecturer and Dr Thomas O'Toole, Head of the School of Business and Anne Murphy, EDI Administrator.

Staffordshire University:  Natalie Taylor, OD & Engagement Manager and Ravinder Kaur, Director of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion.

St George's University of London: Rebecca Henry-Litteck, Learning and Development Manager.

St Mary's University College, Twickenham: Felicity Morath, Head of Learning and People Development and Alicia Hosein, Learning & People Development Junior Practitioner.

Swansea University: Charlotte Morgans (Lead for Learning and Development)

T

Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust: Lisa Harris, Head of Academic Registry.

Technological University of the Shannon: Marian Duggan, VP Equality, Dr. Carol Wrenn, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager and Trish Bourke

Technological University Dublin: Ciara Loughran, HR Business Partner and Gabrielle Deegan, Professional Training & Development Manager.

Teesside University: Helen Cutting, Executive Director Legal and Governance Services (TU Gender Champion), Donna Rodgers, ODL Manager and Gemma Wilkinson, Organisational Development & Learning Coordinator.

The Earlham Institute: Christine Fosker, Head of Research Faculty Office.

Trinity College Dublin: Louise Power, Learning and Development Manager, Michelle Ryan and Siobán O'Brien Green.

Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance: Louise Jackson, Head of Learning Enhancement.

U

University of Aberdeen: Clare Trembleau, Staff Development Partner and Tracey Slaven, University Secretary and Chief Operating Officer.

University of Bath: Kate Elliott, Learning and Organisational Development Manager, Professor Linda Newnes, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Clare Pond-Barrett, Workforce Development Administrator

University of Bedfordshire:Tracey Massey, HR People Development Advisor and Fatima Al-Ruqaibi, People Development Assistant.

University of Birmingham: Liz Leech, PA to Andrew Ktoris, Assistant HR Director, People and Organisational Development, Catherine Muller, Project Manager and Catherine Mangan, DVPC for Equalities

University of Bolton: Nicky Allen, HR Business Partner.

University of Bradford: Professor Uduak Archibong, Professor of Diversity.

University College Cork: Anne Gannon, HR, Mary Horgan, Senior Lecturer, and Susan O'Mahony, Staff Wellbeing & Development Advisor.

University College Dublin: Professor Regina Uí Chollatáin, College Principal, College of Arts & Humanities and Navneet Kaur, Project Co-ordinator, UCD HR People and Organisation Development and Sheila Clarke, People and Organisation Development Administrator and Liz Kearney, People and Organisation Development Specialist.

University for the Creative Arts: Lidija Jones, Learning & OD Partner, Heather Spyrakis, Learning & OD Advisor, and Tracey Whitfield, Learning & OD Coordinator.

University College Birmingham: Professor Alex Lofthouse, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Performance and Partnerships) and Claire Hayes, Senior Personnel and Training Manager, Caroline O'Gorman, HR Business Partner and Joanne Oguzie, Executive Director of HR. 

University of Cambridge: Sarah Foreman, Head of Maintenance and Dr Miriam Lynn, Consultant and Equality & Diversity Section.

University of Central Lancashire: Nikki Lambourne, Staff Development Manager, Helen Jones, Leardership and Development Manager.

University College Dublin: Joe Carthy, College Principal and Joyce McLoughlin People & OD Manager.

University of Chester: Kathryn Leighton, HR Manager, Development and Diversity.

University of Derby: Sharon Bell, Head of Discipline: Education, Childhood and Inclusion.

University of Dundee: Lisa Anderson, Head of Organisational,  Professional Development and Mary Shrimpton, Service Delivery Manager.

University of East London: Dona Henriques, Athena SWAN Project lead.

University of East Anglia: Professor Sarah Barrow, Pro Vice-Chancellor Arts and Humanities, Sally Middleton, Organisation Development & Professional Learning Partner, Kate Bowden, Head of Organisational Development and Professional Learning, and Michelle Jones, ODS Administrator.

University of Edinburgh: Ruth Miller, Assistant HR/OD Partner, Learning and Organisation Development.

University of Essex: Nancy Kula, Executive Dean (Social Sciences) and Karen Bowlby, Inclusion Manager. 

University of Exeter: Rachel Brewer, Learning and Development Manager, Emily Morris, Executive Officer (HASS) and Helen Hutchinson-Bevan, Learning and Development Administrator.

University of Galway: Aoife Cooke, Head of Equal Opportunities and Laura Loftus, EDI Programme Manager: Gender Equality.

University of Glasgow: Dr Katie Farrell, Senior Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy Adviser and Professor Sara Carter, Gender Equality Champion.

University of Gloucestershire: Suzanne Middleton, People Development Advisor and Leanne McLean People Development Advisor and Kristy Anderson, Head of Global Recruitment.

University of Greenwich: Derek Moore, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Professor Leigh Doster, Pro Vice-Chancellor & Executive Dean.

University of Hertfordshire: Dr Mairi Watson, Pro Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience and Serena Yeo, Head of Learning & Organisational Development.

University of the Highlands and Islands: Debbie Wartnaby, Organisational Learning and Development Co-ordinator and Lorna Walker, Chief People Officer.

University of Huddersfield: Susan Branton, Athena Swan Lead and Sarah Spencer, EDI Officer 

University of Hull: Lisa McWilliam OD Advisor and Chantelle Ho, HR Administrator.

University of Kent: Talent and Organisational Development Team.

University of Leeds Katie Leeman, Organisational and Learning Partner, and Ruth Allcroft, Course Co-ordinator at Organisational Development, and Maria Stopyra, Organisational Learning Partner.

University of Leicester: Professor Paul Cullis, Professor of Chemistry and Chair, Athena SWAN Working Group, and Dr Leigh Anne Casey, Associate Director, Organisational Development.

University of Limerick: Marie Connolly, Head of Equality and Diversity.

University of Lincoln: Claire Butler, Organisational Development Manager.

University of Liverpool: Sally Middleton, Gender Equality Officer.

University College London: Patrick Sampson, Organisational Development Advisor.

University of London: Elaine Walters, Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Operations for the School of Advanced Study.

University of Manchester: Dr Rachel Cowen, Senior Lecturer and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

University of Northampton: Frank Jordan, Head of Staff Development and Deborah Forbes, Staff Development Trainer.

University of Nottingham: Amy Harte, Learning & Development Adviser.

University of Portsmouth: Professor Sherria Hoskins, Dean of Faculty of Science and Professor of Psychology and Education and Maria Wall, People and Organisational Development Partner.

University of Plymouth: Hilary Iles, Training Assistant Administrator and Dawn Swancutt, PenARC Research Fellow.

University of Reading: Susan Thornton, Assistant Director of HR.

University of Roehampton: Jo Peat, Head of Educational Development.

University of Salford: Amanda Robinson, OD Administrator and Sonal Patel, Aurora Champion

University of Sheffield: to be confirmed.

University of South Wales: to be confirmed.

University of Southampton: Erika Corradini, Principal Teaching Fellow in HE.

University of Sussex: Eva Francis, Aurora Champion. 

University of St Andrews:  Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, Principal & Vice Chancellor, Rebekah Widdowfield, Vice Principal for People and Diversity, Karen McGregor, Equality and Diversity Awards Adviser and Claire Wall, Organisational Development Specialist and Avery Hawkins, Organisational Development Coordinator.

University of Stirling: Amanda Hopwood, Head of Employee Experience & Development.

University of Strathclyde: Julia Harrison, Equality and Diversity Coordinator, Annie McLaughlin, Equality and Diversity Manager, Beth Lawton, Chief Digital and Information Officer and Matson Lawrence, Equality and Diversity Lead (acting).

University of Suffolk: Professor Emma Bond, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Katie Tyrrell, Research Associate.

University of Sunderland: Dr Helen Driscoll, Academic Director for Educational Partnerships and Katy Walker, Talent Development Coordinator and Claire Lister, Director of Human Resources.

University of Sunderland in London:  Lynsey Bendon, Assistant Director - London Campus and Ilona Lewicka, HR Manager.

University of Surrey: Zoe Gruhn, Director of People, Culture and Inclusion.

Ulster University: Mark Latuske, Deputy Director Talent, Aoife Campbell, People Development Partner, Janet Peden, University Librarian and Deputy Chief Digital and Information Officer, Mary Hannon-Fletcher, Aurora Champion, and Nicola Woodside

University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Steph Tindall, Head of Organisational Development.

University of Warwick: Natalie Pocock, Learning and Development Business Partner.

University of the West of England, Bristol: Ora Jacobs-Lange, Learning and Development Consultant: Digital.

University of the West of Scotland: Paul Martin, Deputy Principal and Caroline Baynham, OD and Training Adviser.

University of Westminster: Hiren Vyas, OD Adviser Programme Lead and Josephina Amuah, Organisational Development Advisor (Leadership and Talent).

University of Winchester: Carol Kilgannon, Director of Equality and Staff Development and Professor Sarah Greer, Vice Chancellor.

University of Wolverhampton: Amika Knight.

University of Worcester: Louise Williams, Executive Assistant and Sarah Greer, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Gill Slater, Head of OD.

W

Wrexham Glyndwr University: Alison Bloomfield, Organisational Development and Adversity Manager.

Y

York St John University: Penny Foster, Head of Learning & Organisational Development.