AMOSSHE Winter Conference 2025: communities and collaboration

Helen Arber

Head of Operations, Unite Foundation

Helen is Head of Operations for the Unite Foundation with oversight of the charity’s central scholarship offer and the 'All of Us' student community. Her background is in strategic development and continuous impact evaluation contextualised within the policy environment.

: https://allofus.uk/
: @all_of_us_uk

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Emma Bales

AMOSSHE Vice Chair (Operations), Director of Student Services, University of Cumbria

Emma is Vice Chair (Operations) at AMOSSHE and Director of Student Services at the University of Cumbria. 

: https://www.amosshe.org.uk/about/our-team.html

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Anna Deacon

Specialist Support Adviser, York St John University

Anna Deacon is a Specialist Support Adviser at York St John University. For nearly 20 years she has worked closely with students with the most complex circumstances and intersecting vulnerabilities, including care leavers, estranged students, student carers, trans students and asylum-seeking students. Anna is the co-chair of the university’s Trans-Inclusive Working Group, and key contact for trans and gender-diverse students at the University. Anna also leads YSJ Women, York St John’s Women’s Network.

: https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/policies-and-documents/trans-inclusive-framework/

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Carol Edwards

Assistant Head of Student Experience, Senior Lecturer in Law, The Open University

Carol Edwards is Assistant Head of Student Experience (Retention and Outcomes) and a Senior Lecturer-in-Law within the Open University Law School, and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her research interests include tackling student isolation and improving retention and outcomes through programmes such as online mentoring and the Law School Belonging Project. She is also actively involved in scholarship relating to employability, online teaching pedagogy and supporting armed forces veterans. Before joining the Open University Carol worked in further education and is still involved in the quality management of Open Access courses. 

: https://www5.open.ac.uk/scholarship-and-innovation/scilab/our-research/law-school-belonging-project
: carol-edwards-90312515b/

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Jake Furby

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Adviser, York St John University

Jake Furby is the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisor at York St John University. They are a UK-based activist and community leader who advocates for equality, inclusion, and social justice. They are of mixed-race heritage, identifies as LGBTQ+, and has been involved in various initiatives aimed at supporting marginalised communities. Jake co-founded organisations like York LGBT Forum, York Pride, and Inclusive Equal Rights UK. 

They also known for their advocacy in making York an anti-racist and inclusive city. Recognised for their leadership, Jake was named one of the top 100 future LGBT+ leaders in 2021.

: https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/policies-and-documents/trans-inclusive-framework/

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David Gilani

Head of Student Engagement and Advocacy, Middlesex University

David works at Middlesex University as a staff governor and their Head of Student Engagement and Advocacy leading on their efforts to engage both current students and alumni. Having started his career as a students’ union officer, he is a strong proponent of the student voice and in 2012 he founded the Student Publication Association, which supports student journalists across the UK and Ireland. He believes strongly in universities working together to support student engagement efforts, and so leads AHEP’s Student Experience and Engagement Network. He has recently completed his PhD at the University of York on the topic of student belonging.

: davidgilani/

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Anastasiia Guseva

Student Ambassador, UKCISA

Anastasiia is currently pursuing a degree in International Business at the University of Greenwich. Prior to this, she studied at Uxbridge College, a Further Education provider. As a Student Ambassador, she wants to ensure that all international students have an equal chance to excel academically and enjoy their studies, regardless of their background or circumstances. Being a former tutor, she hopes to achieve this vision by advocating for standardised learning support resources to be available to the public online and in person. She believes that helping overseas students adapt to the UK educational system in a faster and less stressful way will significantly impact their future success and their ability to give back to the community.

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Ira Hakim

All of Us Programme Manager, Unite Foundation

Ira is the All of Us Programme Manager at the Unite Foundation, working with care experienced and estranged students, across the UK, to facilitate the growth of an inclusive community for all care experienced and estranged people in higher education. They have key expertise in ‘user’ research that informs service provision, and can share specific tools/mechanisms for engagement from both this programme and previous civil service roles.

: https://allofus.uk/

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Deshaun Hancock

Diversity Programmes Coordinator, Nottingham Trent University

As Diversity Programmes Coordinator at Nottingham Trent University, Deshaun creates impactful initiatives that empower students. She oversees the Black Leadership Programme, a student-co-created initiative, which focuses on supporting students of Black heritage to thrive personally, academically, and professionally. This programme is designed to cultivate leadership skills, foster a sense of belonging, and strengthen connections within the university community.

Deshaun is also a member of the University Shadow Executive Team (USET) - a small board of employees appointed to provide collective advice and guidance to the Vice-Chancellor through the lens of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. Members consider a wide range of issues and challenges, including strategic issues affecting the sector.

: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/life-at-ntu/get-involved/black-leadership-programme

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Liz Hardie

Director of SCiLAB and Senior Lecturer (Open Justice), The Open University

Liz Hardie is a Senior Lecturer in law at the Open University Law School and Director of SCiLAB, the Faculty of Business and Law’s Scholarship Centre for Innovation in online Legal and Business Education. She works for the Open Justice Centre supervising law students carrying out pro bono projects both as part of their law degree and on an extra-curricular basis. Her research interests include online learning and the use of technology in legal education. Liz co-founded the Law School Belonging Project and has led it for the last four years with Carol Edwards. They have published an article and written a forthcoming book chapter about developing belonging in an online context. 

: https://www5.open.ac.uk/scholarship-and-innovation/scilab/our-research/law-school-belonging-project
: liz-hardie-b48831203

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Polly Harrow

Assistant Principal Safeguarding & Inclusion, FE Student Support Champion DfE, Kirklees College

Polly Harrow is a highly skilled and experienced educational practitioner who has delivered training and presentations to audiences across the UK and Europe, with outstanding feedback. She has worked in education for over 25 years and has a significant proven track record and an excellent reputation across the sector. She is Assistant Principal and Senior Designated Safeguarding lead at Kirklees College, a qualified Trauma and Mental Health National Practitioner (Distinction, TISUK), a Prevent national practitioner (radicalisation) and a Senior Mental Health Lead.

Polly’s areas of expertise sit primarily in all aspects of safeguarding, equality, diversity & inclusion, restorative and trauma informed practice, positive behaviour, exploitation & radicalisation, coaching & mentoring and sexual harms and violence, gangs and knife crime. Polly sits on a number of local and national boards and steering groups focussed on safeguarding, mental health and youth violence. She has been an Associate with ETF and previously was Chair of NAMSS for 10 years. In December 2023, Polly was announced by Minister Robert Halfon as the first FE Student Support Champion in the post 16 sector.

: polly-harrow-39199527/?originalSubdomain=uk

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David Horner

Head of University Partnerships, The Brilliant Club

David Horner is the Head of University Partnerships at The Brilliant Club, a national charity dedicated to supporting underrepresented students to access to and succeed in higher education. With a background in education and widening participation, David has extensive experience in fostering collaborations between universities and schools to support students through key transitions in their educational journeys. In his current role, he works closely with partner universities to support them to meet their strategic priorities, including research and strategic advice on current and planned activities and co-delivering new access and success programmes. David is always keen to connect with colleagues in the higher education sector, and you can find him on LinkedIn using the details below.

: david-horner-4959a6187/
: @BrilliantClub

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Lisa Humphries

Chair of NAMSS, Associate Principal Students and Customers, Chichester College

Lisa joined Chichester College in 2000 as a student, and served as Student President for two years following completion of her studies. She then secured her first role at the college as Student Activities Co-ordinator. Lisa’s passion for student experience and supporting students led her to a number of roles within the organisation, both in middle and senior management positions, before starting her most recent position as Associate Principal: Students and Customers in August 2022.

Lisa is a passionate advocate for the wide range of personal development opportunities that the further education sector has to offer, and champions enrichment and student voice at a national level. After serving for a number of years on the executive board, Lisa was elected Chair of the National Association of Managers of Student Services in March 2022 and now leads this organisation to continue to represent and develop student support services across the country.

: www.namss.ac.uk
: lisa-humphries-35aab7182

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Wiki Jeglinska

Former Student Co-Creation Officer, currently External Engagement & Philanthropy Officer, University of Warwick

Wiki holds a Bachelor's degree in Education Studies and a Master's in Research in Education, both completed at the University of Warwick, where she has been part of the community since 2018. Passionate about student engagement, Wiki took on roles such as Student Co-Creation Officer, co-developing wellbeing resources, supporting engagement through social media, and running focus groups and events. This demonstrated the importance of creating safety, community, and belonging, and how co-creation can foster these values.

In 2022, Wiki transitioned to supporting university-wide projects, advocating for co-creation by embedding student voices into key initiatives. In 2024, she joined the Philanthropy team, where she has seen the incredible impact of alumni in supporting students who need it most. This has deepened her passion for ensuring students remain at the heart of their work.

 

: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/studentexperience/workingwithstudents/co-creationtoolkit/
: wiki-jeglinska-096521171/

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Sally Lambah

Head of Student Support and Wellbeing, Wrexham University

Sally is an AMOSSHE Executive Member and Head of Student Support and Wellbeing at Wrexham University. 

: https://www.amosshe.org.uk/about/our-team.html

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Juliette Morgan

Senior Consultant, Student Success, Advance HE

Juliette is a Senior Consultant, Student Success with Advance HE. Prior to this, for the last five years, she has been in Senior strategic leadership roles in public and private sector higher education, latterly as Dean for Teaching and Learning. Juliette is a healthcare professional by trade and licence - a qualified Speech and Language Therapist specialising in secondary aged Autistic Spectrum Disorders and Paediatric Feeding. She is also a licensed Insights practitioner, mental health first aider and Executive Coach and Mentor.

Juliette is a National Teaching Fellow and a Collaborative Excellence Award Winner, both with Advance HE and her impact has encompassed several key themes associated with raising aspirations for success and improving outcomes. No matter what, the unifying thread of enablement through envisaging “possible selves” permeates through all that Juliette does. 

Juliette has made considerable impact at national and international levels through her leadership, focusing on four distinct areas: creative curriculum, high performance, mental health and well-being and identity for belonging and mattering. She has also impacted national curricula for bereavement, following her own critical event and has lobbied Parliament to affect a change in the birth/death certification for stillbirths in the UK. 

Juliette is dedicated to supporting excellence. She believes passionately in de-stigmatising mental health issues, stress reduction and improvements in self-efficacy through the development of resilience, self-compassion and mindfulness. She is passionate, people-focused, positive and progressive - empowering others in an arena where anything is possible. 

: juliette-morgan-6795201b4/
: @juliette_jules

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Samia Muse

Diversity Programmes Officer, Nottingham Trent University

Samia Muse is a Diversity Programmes Officer at Nottingham Trent University who is passionate about fostering inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive. Her work on the Black Leadership Programme focuses on student engagement and building a strong sense of community, empowering Black heritage undergraduate students to unlock their full potential.

Additionally, Samia has also collaborated with students to co-create a Black Students' Guide, providing tailored support to enhance their university experience and integrate to a new city. Her commitment to empowerment extends to her role on the Early Careers Network Committee, where she connects and uplifts early career professionals by sharing experiences and expertise.

: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/life-at-ntu/get-involved/black-leadership-programme

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Ben Rogers

Former Chair of the Academic Registrars' Council (ARC), Director of Registry Services, Cardiff Metropolitan University

Ben Rogers is the former Chair of the Academic Registrars’ Council (ARC) and is currently Director of Registry Services at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Ben led the work for ARC and wrote the forward for the Compassionate Communication in HE document. Ben has previously been a member of a number of Universities UK Advisory Groups, namely Staff to Student Sexual Misconduct, Tackling Racial Harassment and Data Sharing in Harassment Cases. Ben has also worked in the Review of Data Futures for the Office for Students and been an advisor to the Home Office on Tier 4 student visas.   

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Jenny Shaw

HE External Engagement Director, Unite Students

Jenny Shaw is HE External Engagement Director for Unite Students. She has previously led for Unite Students on student experience and student wellbeing, setting up the first student support team in the PBSA sector and contributing to national guidance. Since 2013, she has led national policy research into the student experience, producing influential reports such as Living Black at University and the Applicant Index. Prior to working with Unite Students she held senior roles in the HE sector, leading on widening access and inclusion. She is currently seconded one day a week to the Higher Education Mental Health Implementation Taskforce.

: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/about-us/governance/vice-chancellor/higher-education-student-support-champion#

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Dom Smithies

Head of Influencing & Communications, Student Minds

​​​​​​Dom Smithies is the Head of Influencing and Communications at Student Minds, the UK's student mental health charity. Dom is a part of the senior leadership team within the organisation and leads the directorate responsible for policy, insight, communications and student engagement. He also supports the delivery of the University Mental Health Charter. Dom has been with the organisation for seven years and has been involved in a number of sector-wide initiatives to improve practice, including Universities UK's publications in their Suicide Safer Universities series, as well as publishing reports at Student Minds focused on addressing mental health inequalities.

: https://www.studentminds.org.uk/
: @Dom_Smithies

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Jill Stevenson

AMOSSHE Chair, Director of Student Life, Robert Gordon University

Jill has been the Chair of AMOSSHE for the last four years. Here are her priorities for 2023-2025 to build on previous achievements:

• Represent our members and continue to build strong partnerships to proactively influence strategy, policy, and investment in Student Services.
• Build a proactive narrative to convey the positive and vital impact of Student Services on students and institutional success.
• Lead the development of a new communications strategy for AMOSSHE. This will enable us to communicate our core message more proactively, ensuring we influence at the right fora at the right time, and that we are equipped to respond effectively to emerging issues.
• Lead the Executive team to refresh the AMOSSHE strategy. I will ensure that this represents the views of our diverse membership and positions us strongly to be financially sustainable and effective, whilst continuing to be agile enough to support our members through the inevitable changes and challenges ahead.

Jill pledges to collaborate with our members and partners to position the student experience and Student Services at the top of the agenda for university leaders, policy makers, funders, and regulators. She will continue to dedicate strong vision, great passion and energy, coupled with 15 years of experience in higher education, laterally as Director of Student Services and Dean of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Jill truly love leading AMOSSHE and believe in the power of strong collaboration and an inclusive approach in all that she does. 

Dr Sarah Sweeney

AMOSSHE Vice Chair, Head of Student Support and Wellbeing, Lancaster University

Sarah is Vice Chair of AMOSSHE The Student Services Organisation and Head of Student Support and Wellbeing at Lancaster University.

: https://www.amosshe.org.uk/about/our-team.html

Assanatou Sy

Student Ambassador, UKCISA

Assanatou is a master’s student in international security at the University of Bath. Engaging as a Student Ambassador and gaining experience in international student recruitment during her gap year ignited her passion for enhancing the wellbeing of international students in the UK. She aims to advocate for policies that enhance academic and social support services, promote inclusivity, and provide targeted support for underrepresented groups among international students. Joining the #WeAreInternational Student Ambassador programme, Assanatou seeks to integrate her insights as an international student with her professional background in recruitment to foster an inclusive environment for fellow international students.  

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Michelle Watson

Student User Experience Officer, University of Warwick

Michelle has worked in higher education for the past three and a half years, having completed a Masters and Project Management qualification, and has had a variety of roles spanning from innovation to student experience. Her current role as a User Experience Officer is centred on mapping and truly understanding the students' experience of the University. Central to this is the first to second year transitions project, focusing on what students face when they move through the university. As a transition period that is often overlooked, there is very little evidence to guide student support practitioners, and a linked limited understanding of the needs of the student population.

Michelle and the team have, therefore, turned to co-creation to support this work.  Working alonside a handful of students to gain their insight and feedback, the team have then worked together to help create proposals for how to tackle the problems raised. As part of this work, a co-creation toolkit has emerged to help support staff who may want to use co-creation but are not sure what they may need to do.

: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/studentexperience/workingwithstudents/co-creationtoolkit/
: /samichelle-watson

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