PLEASE SEE NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW ucisa 20 Leadership Conference

Abdi's talk will focus on his journey to the IT industry through education. Failing at school and college level, he secured a university place in UCAS clearing at 2013. HE graduated with a BSc Honours Degree in Business Information Technology with a Sandwich year from Leeds Beckett University and is currently completing a Masters Degree in IT Management at Sheffield Hallam University. However the journey was difficult along the way - from going through clearing to failing numerous times in his undergraduate studies, to finding a placement year, whilst dealing and overcoming his studies with multiple disabilities during his time in higher education.

After studying Maths and Computing at A-Level, Penny went on to study Computer Science with Industrial Placement at the University of Leeds in 2015. Having taken a traditional route into tech, she has dedicated a lot of free time to encouraging those who may not have taken the same route to pursue a career in tech, through organisations such as Code First: Girls and STEM ambassadors. Her talk will be on her experiences as woman in a male dominated degree subject, and the importance of relatable role models.

Deborah joined UCISA as CEO in May of 2019, bringing with her a wealth of marketing and Higher Education experience, most recently as Director of Student Recruitment at the University of Hull following five years as Chief Executive of Marketing Leeds and 5 years at Leeds Beckett University, where she was a member of the Executive Board. She is no stranger to leading member organisations, having led the Law Society’s regional team earlier in her career, supporting 14,500 solicitors in Yorkshire and the North East and introducing a wealth of new initiatives and services, resulting in her receiving the Yorkshire Enterprise Award and being recognised as Yorkshire Lawyer of the year in 2007 for her services to the profession.

Sally Bogg is an award winning Service Management professional with over 15 years experience of creating sector leading teams and services. Sally currently works at NHS Digital as Head of Live Service where she is responsible for leading the cross cutting functions, contributing to the running and operation of the business critical infrastructure and technology that underpins the national health and social care system in England.

Level 6 - Young People, Communities and Society @ Leeds Beckett University As a care leaver with over 15 years’ experience volunteering in the third sector and fostering her younger brother as a kinship carer, she decided to apply for a degree and put all her lived and volunteering experience to some use. After taking a non-traditional route into higher education, using her experience to build her UCAS points, as a mature student and single mother of three, Terri-Anne has faced multiple systemic failures and contradictions in the systems in place that are implemented to support individuals to achieve their goals and become productive members of society. Despite all these odds Terri is now in her final few months of her degree and today will speak of the multiple challenges herself and many others in similar circumstances face on their journey through higher education.

Nicky helps companies develop their people and make transformative and sustainable improvements in leadership and culture. Her insight is drawn from 27 years in strategy, command and training roles in the British Army and MOD, achieving the rank of Brigadier. She supports executive teams and individuals as a leadership and career coach.

Global Futurist and Business Consultant Rohit is a global futurist and award winning professional speaker noted for his inspirational approach, provocative content and humour. He is considered a world authority on the future of airports, airlines, travel, tourism, retail and meetings - leading the Convention 2020 study. Rohit authored Designing Your Future - Key Trends, Challenges and Choices, edited Achieving Transformation and Renewal in Financial Services, and contributes regularly to books and journals on futures and strategic change. He is a keynote speaker for business, government and association events around the world. Regular topics include the drivers of change, economic futures, emerging technologies, innovation, developing economies, managing complexity, winning in a downturn and the future travel, aviation and meetings. Rohit leads Fast Future Research and has conducted in depth futures studies on a range of topics. Recent studies include HR2020, Global Mega Trends, Scenarios for 2015, The Shape of Jobs to Come, Future Science and Technology Timelines, the Future of Cities, the Future of China and India, the Future of Travel and Tourism, Convention 2020, Scenarios for Migration, Healthcare Innovation Scenarios, Narcotics Scenarios and Demographic Trends. Rohit was profiled by the Independent Newspaper as one of the top ten global future thinkers and is considered an authority on how technology is transforming business and society. Rohit also has a particular geographic interest in the emerging economies of Asia and Africa and a strategic focus on the challenges of embedding foresight in leading organisations. He has spoken to leadership audiences in over 50 countries on six continents and typically visits 20-25 countries each year. Alongside his research, he spends around 40% of his time travelling to meet the people and organisations that are shaping the future and helping his clients develop innovative responses to future opportunities and challenges.

Jenny Evans is Head of Research and Scholarly Communications at the University of Westminster. Based in the Research Office and working closely with Library and Archives Service colleagues, her specialities include Research Data Management, Current Research Information Systems and Open Access. As the institution’s operational business owner of the Haplo CRIS system, she works with researchers, professional services colleagues and Haplo, to oversee and co-ordinate updates and development work. Over the past 3 years she has led (in close collaboration with colleagues and Haplo) the development and implementation of a Haplo repository that enables the more effective capture, discoverability and preservation of all types of research outputs. She joined the University in late 2016 after previous roles at Middlesex University and Imperial College London.