Chair
Professor Joy Carter
Vice Chancellor, University of Winchester

Professor Carter is currently Vice Chancellor at the University of Winchester. She was formerly Pro Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs at the University of Glamorgan where she had responsibility for all academic matters, including Teaching and Learning and Quality.

Joy began her career as a lecturer in Sedimentary Geochemistry at the University of Reading, where she later became a Reader in Environmental Geochemistry and Health. She published extensively in the field and served on Research Council Committees and as Chair on the Board of the European Group of the International Society for Environmental Geochemistry and Health. Joy later went on to become Dean of Science and Director of Science Research and Consultancy at the University of Derby. She has a particular interest in widening access and student retention.

Mr Garth Rhodes
Head of Flexible Learning, Northumbria University

Garth Rhodes has worked in the post-16 sector within the field of Vocational Education and Training for over 25 years. During this period he has developed a considerable knowledge and expertise in the strategic development and implementation of work-based learning, accreditation of prior learning and competence-based training and education.

Dr Stephen Boffey
Pro Vice Chancellor, University of Hertfordshire

As Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire Stephen’s brief includes Widening Participation, recruitment and admissions. He is a member of the Management Group of the Lifelong Learning Network for the Eastern Region (‘MOVE’), the Area Steering Group for Aimhigher, the Association of Collaborative Providers of HE in FE Colleges, and chairs the University’s Recruitment and Admissions Committee and the Management Committee for the Hertfordshire HE Consortium (a partnership of the University with the FECs of Hertfordshire).

Stephen’s role as Pro Vice-Chancellor is combined with his responsibilities as Dean of the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies. This faculty is the base for a range of activities including widening participation outreach, foundation and bridging programmes for international students, the Hertfordshire HE Consortium, and the Joint Honours programme.

Having held postdoctoral fellowships at the Universities of Marseille and York Stephen joined the University of Hertfordshire (then Hatfield Polytechnic) as a lecturer in Biochemistry and has subsequently held the posts of Associate Dean (Academic Quality) for Natural Sciences and Director of Admissions. His research in plant molecular biology resulted in the publication of highly cited papers on the replication of chloroplasts in addition to books, a patent, and many articles in molecular biology textbooks. He has served on the Council of the Society for Experimental Biology, the Biosciences Advisory Group of the HE Academy, is a Fellow and past Vice-President of the Institute of Biology and is a trustee of SETPOINT Herts.

Mr John Widdowson
Principal and Chief Executive, New College Durham and Chair of the Mixed Economy Group of Colleges

John Widdowson joined New College Durham in August 1998, having previously worked as Vice Principal at Cambridge Regional College for ten years. Prior to entering Further Education, John worked as a lawyer in Local Government and has retained some academic interests in legal training.

As Principal, John has been keenly interested in developing the College’s role in the community, extending the range of activities and partnerships through which the College works. He chairs the County Durham Area Steering Group for Aimhigher and is a member of the Board of the Further Education National Consortium.

John was elected Chair of the Mixed Economy Group of Colleges in 2005 and was re-elected in 2007.

Mr Peter Treadwell
Dean, Academic Development, University of Wales Institute Cardiff

Peter Treadwell joined UWIC in 1981 having previously worked at Roehampton University in London. Currently Dean, Academic Development, he is responsible for the development and review of the university’s academic portfolio and its widening participation strategy and implementation. He also contributes to UWIC’s leadership development and organisational change processes.

Formerly Head of School of Lifelong Learning, Peter has designed and managed a number of ESF and ERDF projects linked to employer engagement and the validation of new work-based degree programmes and accredited short course training. He has just finished leading a HEFCW sponsored review project linked to workforce development and higher level learning in Welsh universities.

He is a former Director of the National Coaching Foundation [NCF] and Chair of the University of Wales Subject Committee for Continuing Education. He has carried out extensive educational development consultancy and research work for agencies including the South African Olympic Association, the Welsh Rugby Union, the Sports Council for Wales and BBC Wales. He is also a lead trainer on the leadership programme for serving head-teachers [LPSH]. Presently Wales’s representative on Lifelong Learning UK [LLUK] he also sits on the editorial advisory board for the Journal for Access Studies & the European Access Network. His present research ranges between business and elite sport coaching, values based management, organisational change and employer engagement. He is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Registered Inspector [RgI] of schools.

Professor David Green
Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, University of Worcester

Professor David Green is an economist who taught and researched for many years in University Business Schools in London and Leeds. Appointed Principal and Chief Executive of University College Worcester from January 2002, David became the University of Worcester’s founding Vice Chancellor in 2005.

Worcester enjoys a reputation as a well-managed, progressively led institution, highly engaged with its local community and region. 50% of the University’s students are part-time; 60% are mature entrants. Highly inclusive by nature, the University is now engaged in a most ambitious plan to develop a new Worcester City Centre campus, including a joint University-Public Library and History Centre.

David is a Board member of the Teaching and Development Agency for Schools and GuildHE. A Board member of UUK, he sits on its Employment, Business and Industry Committee.

Professor Wendy Purcell
Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, University of Plymouth

Appointed in December 2007, Wendy Purcell is the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Plymouth, the enterprise university.  She was previously Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hertfordshire, and prior to this she was Dean of Applied Sciences and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of the West of England, Bristol.

Professor Purcell enjoys an international reputation in her field of biomedical research and leads a number of research teams in developing cell culture models for preclinical studies.  Professor Purcell is a member of the HEFCE Strategic Advisory Committee on Leadership, Governance and Management, a member of the CBI South West Council, the Universities UK Sustainable Development Task Group and the Universities UK Long-term Strategy Group. 

Wendy is also a Trustee of the National Marine Aquarium, a member of the Plymouth Local Strategic Partnership Board, the City Development Company Board and the Plymouth and Regional Economic & Skills Boards.

Ms Vivienne Stern
Policy Adviser, Universities UK

Vivienne Stern is Universities UK’s Policy Adviser responsible for Employability, Business and Industry. Previously she was responsible for Policy relating to Quality and the Student Experience. Before that she was Universities UK’s Senior Public Affairs Officer, responsible for developing UUK’s public affairs strategy. Prior to joining UUK, Vivienne worked as a research assistant in the House of Commons.