Date: Wednesday 11 November 2026
Time: 12.00 – 1.00 pm
Location: MS Teams Webinar
What do universities now need from their senior people leaders?
Higher education is facing sustained change. Financial pressures, shifting student markets, organisational redesign and changing workforce expectations mean that transformation is no longer a periodic event for many universities.
And that is changing the role of the HRD and CPO.
Increasingly, senior people leaders are expected not simply to support change, but to help shape and lead it: challenging institutional assumptions, influencing at executive level and building the leadership and management capability needed for organisations to adapt. But how do you make continuous change possible without creating continuous change fatigue? What does it mean to be a constructive challenger at executive level? And what capabilities will the HRD or CPO of the future need?
Join Anderson Quigley Partners Ed Pritchard and Kiersten Avery and our esteemed panel for a candid discussion about the evolving role of the senior people leader and what universities will need from HR leadership in the years ahead.
Our expert panel of Chief People Officers and Director of Human Resources includes:
Rachel Adams | Chief People Officer | University of Bradford |
LinkedIn
Rachel Adams is an accomplished people and culture leader with more than 30 years’ experience spanning industry and higher education. A Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Rachel began her career at Fujitsu and JCB before moving into the higher education sector. During her tenure as HR Director at Keele University, Rachel led a team that was recognised by Universities Human Resources (UHR) as HR Team of the Year, reflecting a dual focus on strategic delivery and operational excellence.
Since 2021, Rachel has worked extensively as an interim senior executive, supporting organisational transformation and people strategies across a number of UK universities, including the University of Chester, the University of Wolverhampton and Leeds Trinity University. Her expertise covers workforce transformation, organisational development, employee engagement, leadership development, and the delivery of high-performing people functions. Rachel joined the University of Bradford in May 2026 as CPO. Drawing on her extensive experience across the higher education sector, she is leading the development of the University’s people agenda, with a focus on creating an inclusive, high-performing culture where colleagues can thrive, fulfil their potential, and contribute to the achievement of the University’s strategic ambitions.
Ian Wright | Director of Human Resources | University of Sheffield | LinkedIn
With more than 30 years of HR experience, Ian has served as Director of Human Resources at the University of Sheffield since 2020, having held a variety of HR leadership roles at the institution since joining in 2008. He is responsible for all aspects of Human Resources and Occupational Health & Safety, supporting a workforce of around 8,000 employees. Before joining the University, Ian built his career across both public and private sectors, working in industries including software, local government, professional services, and retail/catering.
He currently serves as Vice-Chair of Universities HR (UHR), and sits on the CBI’s Future of Work Committee, is a Trustee of the University of Sheffield Pension Scheme and a Director of a University subsidiary company, Unicus. Ian is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and has a Bachelor’s degree in Management Studies with French from the University of Bradford.
Dr Marcelle Moncrieffe-Newman | Chief People Officer | City St George’s, University of London | LinkedIn
Dr Marcelle Moncrieffe-Newman was appointed Chief People Officer at City St George’s, University of London, in February 2025. She is a senior people and culture leader with extensive experience of organisational transformation, inclusive leadership, workforce change and governance across higher education, the public sector, media and commercial organisations.
Prior to joining City St George’s, Marcelle served as Group Chief People, Culture and Communications Officer at Commercial Services Group. Her previous executive roles include Chief People Officer at the City of London Corporation, Group Chief People Officer at London South Bank University, and Head of Human Resources at the BBC. Alongside her executive career, Marcelle holds a number of non-executive and governance roles. She is a Board Member of Sovereign Network Group, where she chairs the Remuneration and Nominations Committee. She is also a Non-Executive Director of North London NHS Foundation Trust, chairing its People and Culture Committee. Marcelle completed a Doctor of Business Administration degree at Heriot-Watt University, with research examining workplace culture and its impact on the career progression of Black employees. Building on this work, she published One Step Forward, Two Steps Black: Navigating Anti-Black Workplace Culture in 2026. The book has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Institute of Leadership’s Leadership Book of the Year.
