Reimagining university estates for a sustainable future

About the Event

This initiative will explore the role that professional services might play in delivering a more efficient future,  with this initial session leveraging AUDE’s 2024 Estates Management Report and insights from other key associations. The webinar will explore, through case study examples and insights, the narrative that the UK higher education sector faces a crisis of sustainability.

Increasing financial pressures, decreasing international students, rising operational costs, and declining revenues have led to a dramatic reduction in the finances of the sector. With growing concern Universities UK have established and efficiency and transformation task force exploring at a high level the sector response to changing political and economic context including consideration of ‘how universities can partner, collaborate and deliver transformation and cost savings through new models and ways of working’. As well as contributing to the UUK taskforce, UCISA, AUDE , BUFDG and AHUA are collaborating to dive into the topic and see what we can do to aid board and executive level thinking to consider critical decisions related to the estate that might contribute to institutional resilience, sustainability, and competitiveness in a shifting global landscape.

There is a fantastic lineup of speakers for this first event giving short insights and case studies.

• Welcome: Jane Harrison-White, Executive Director AUDE
• Understanding the Estates Management Record: A brief history of the EMR and its intended purpose for HEI’s: Paul Morris, Director of Capital Development and Estate Operations, Lancaster University
• Insight 1: Andrew Casselden, Director of Estates and Stuart Brown Chief Digital & Information Officer. University of Reading
• Insight 2: Akin Oluwatudimu, Director of Estates and Facilities and Patrick Tuite, Head of Procurement. University for the Creative Arts<
• Insight 3: Stewart Ross, Deputy Chief Operating Officer. University of Leeds
• Insight 4: Morag Beers, Director of Estates and Facilities. University of Aberdeen
• Insight 5: Mary White, Chief Finance Officer. University of Portsmouth and Cathy Burleigh, Chief Financial Officer. Oxford Brookes University
• Insight 6: Adrian Ellison Pro Vice Chancellor People and Digital and Claire Willits, Pro Vice Chancellor Property, Accommodation and Sustainability. University of West London
• Insight 7: Andy Allison, Director of Estates and Facilities. Leeds Beckett University
• Insight 8: Simon Francis, Director of Estates and Facilities. Institute of Cancer Research
• Open discussion; chaired by Jane Harrison-White with support from the speakers and our sector association ED’s including Karel Thomas BUFDG, Ben Vulliamy AHUA, Deborah Green, UCISA.