Prof. Chris Husbands to Chair HESA Board
Professor Chris Husbands, Vice Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, has been appointed Chair of the HESA board. Professor Husbands replaces Professor Simon Gaskell, Principal of Queen Mary University of London, who will be stepping down as Chair and board member on 31 July 2017.
HESA is a jewel in the crown of UK higher education: a trusted source of insightful data and analysis.
Professor Husbands said: "I am delighted to have been appointed as chair of the HESA Board.
"HESA is a jewel in the crown of UK higher education: a trusted source of insightful data and analysis across the higher education landscape in the UK, which helps to shape policy and promote wider understanding and confidence in the sector. High quality data and data analysis is increasingly critical to successful organisations.
"I look forward to working with the HESA Board members to continue this vital work and ensure the data that is collected and published is relevant, timely and supports the sector to remain competitive on a global stage."
Paul Clark, Chief Executive of HESA, said: "I would like to thank Professor Simon Gaskell for all his work as chair of the HESA Board for the last five years. Professor Gaskell has helped to steer HESA through a period of profound change in the higher education sector. I am delighted that Professor Husbands has agreed to become Chair of the HESA board, and I look forward very much to working with him as we embark on the next phase of our development."
At its June meeting, the HESA Board also welcomed Professor Paul Layzell (Principal of Royal Holloway, University of London), and Roma Chappell (Deputy Director of Public Policy at the Office for National Statistics) as new board members.
A full list of HESA board members can be found here.
Notes for editors
Professor Chris Husbands is a university leader, academic, educationist and public servant. He has served as Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University since January 2016.
He has undertaken senior roles in universities for over fifteen years, as Head of the Institute of Education at Warwick University (2000-3), as Dean of Education and Lifelong Learning at the University of East Anglia (2003-7), as Dean of Faculty and then Director of the Institute of Education (2007-15) and as Vice-Provost at University College London (2014-15).
He was a teacher and senior manager in urban secondary comprehensive schools before becoming a university lecturer. His academic expertise lies in education policy and practice. He has advised local and national governments in the UK and internationally, across four continents.
Professor Husbands was last year appointed by the Government as the inaugural Chair of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
About HESA
HESA is the recognised source of data on higher education in the UK. Our experts collect, analyse, and disseminate accurate and comprehensive statistical information on all aspects of UK higher education in order to support the strategic aims of our users and enhance the effectiveness of the sector as a whole. We are a charity and a company limited by guarantee. We operate as an independent organisation, working in close partnership with higher education providers, regulators, funders, government departments, policy makers, and other stakeholders.
