Speaker profiles

Jeff is Vice-Principal Knowledge Management, Chief Information Officer and Librarian at the University of Edinburgh. He is responsible for the University’s integrated Information Service which contains the Library, the IT services and the eLearning Services, and for the current major initiatives in high performance computing, research data services, selection of the next generation VLE, the digital and information literacies programme and e-assessment including implementation of the e-portfolio.

Jeff is also Professor of Education and Technology in the School of Education. His research interests are in the development of strategies for effective use of ICT in education at institutional, national and international levels, with a particular emphasis on understanding learner experiences. Jeff is a member of the JISC Board and immediate past Chair of the Coimbra Group Taskforce on E-learning (www.coimbra-group.be).

Mike Boxall has many years of experience as a consultant and observer of the higher education sector over many years.  He currently leads PA Consulting Group's services to the HE sector, and has worked with many universities and colleges in the UK and overseas, as well as working extensively with HEFCE and other sector bodies and government agencies.  His consultancy work is mostly concerned with the strategic and business management of universities, and also with the development and implementation of national policies towards the sector.  He is also known for his frequent articles and papers on university matters, and is a regular speaker on HE conference platforms.  He is the author of PA's influential series of Red Queen papers on the changing world of HE, which have been used by many universities as a stimulus for their own strategic reviews and plan. 

Derek Watson is Quaestor and Factor of the University of St Andrews. In this role his primary responsibility is for the development and implementation of the University’s financial and business strategies. During his time in the University, annual turnover has doubled, while supporting a major capital investment programme and coinciding with a period unprecedented academic success. In addition to the financial role, he also has executive responsibility for the University’s estate, its residential and business services, procurement and pensions. A qualified accountant, he joined the University in December 2002 from the National Health Service where he was Deputy Director of Finance and Property Development Manager of an NHS Trust. 

Clive moved from Hong Kong to Bradford in 2002 where he is currently the Director of Estates and Facilities at the University of Bradford.  He is responsible for the development and maintenance of the University’s estate and facility services, and  also responsible for delivering the new estates strategy for the next ten years which currently stands at around £200 million.  As part of these plans, he manages the estates team working on the notion of the University becoming the first Ecoversity in Europe.  An ambitious programme which, once complete, will provide a unique model of sustainable development in the HE sector.

Steve is an experienced CIO with leadership positions in UK and US organisations, across education, government and business.  His special interests are in developing high performing teams, in processes to support internationalisation and in delivering the benefits of technology enabled change.

Martyn’s early career was in local government, where he was responsible for internal management consultancy and corporate computer systems in a large County Council.  Subsequently, his career involved global roles as CIO for a number of different operating companies within Unilever and ICI.  As Director of Information Services at Cardiff University, Martyn ensures that Cardiff invests sustainably and successfully in the IT, information systems, high performance computing, and information and media resources necessary to enable its world leading ambitions.

John Mahoney is a vice president and distinguished analyst Gartner.  An experienced strategic leader, coach and executive board member, his research covers the development and transformation of CIO and IT leadership roles and the future of IT organisations.  He has written about strategy, leadership and organisation, has spoken at many high profile events in more than 30 countries, and has led in house, board level workshops.  Most of his 32 years of experience have been in senior management executive board positions in high profile, world class companies.  Prior to joining Gartner, John was director of IS at the British Library.

Chris Bishop has a BA in Physics with First Class Honours from Oxford and a Phd in Theoretical Physics from the University of Edinburgh.  Chris joined the Microsoft Research Laboratory in Cambridge where he became the Chief Research Scientist.  He is a Partner in Microsoft, and is head of the Machine Learning and Perception group. In 2010 he was awarded the accolade of Distinguished Scientist, representing the highest level of research distinction within Microsoft, and is currently the only person in Europe holding this title. His research interests include probabilistic approaches to machine learning, as well as their application to fields such as biomedical sciences and healthcare.