Pen profiles of nominees

The following people are standing for election to the Board of Trustees

Office holders

Mat Flower - nominated for the position of UCISA Secretary Assistant Director & Head of Digital Architecture/Information Security University of Wolverhampton

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With almost 30 years in IT, Mat is Assistant Director and Head of Digital Architecture at the University of Wolverhampton. He leads the strategic and technical design of the University’s core infrastructure and services, ensuring they reliably enable delivery of the University’s Digital Vision and Strategy and wider priorities. Alongside this he chairs the Digital Services Change Advisory Board and represents Digital Services on multiple University committees—bringing strong governance, stakeholder engagement, and delivery focus.<

Mat has been an active member of the UCISA community since 2013, when he joined the Infrastructure Group (IG). As well as planning and delivering numerous events and conferences, Mat also served as group Chair, during which time he oversaw the merger of IG and the Networking Group to form the Digital Infrastructure Group. This new special interest group aligned much better to the to the needs of UCISA’s membership and demonstrated Mat’s continued commitment to sector collaboration and member value.

Since 2021 Mat has served on the UCISA Board of Trustees and has held the elected Officer role of Secretary to the Board since 2022. In addition, Mat also served as a Director of UCISA Services Limited, the trading arm of UCISA, between 2022-2025. Most recently Mat has been overseeing the Business Systems Review programme of works. This transformative programme of works is delivering efficiencies and capabilities to the systems and services the underpin the work of UCISA, and to rich and frictionless experience for its members.

It is this experience of governance, assurance and oversight, and continued and demonstrable commitment to enabling and delivering value to UCISA’s members that supports Mat’s nomination to server a further two-year term as Secretary to the Board of Trustees.

Please describe how your experience will support UCISA delivering the strategic plan

With an IT career spanning almost thirty years, the majority of which have been in the Higher Education sector, I believe that I am ideally placed to continue to help UCISA deliver its 2022-2027 strategic plan ‘Building on Success’. In my role at the University of Wolverhampton, I have strategic and technical responsibility for architecting of the University’s digital infrastructure, ensuring that this is aligns and directly enables the delivery of the University’s Digital Vision and Strategy.

Since my initial involvement began in 2013 as a member of the special interest Infrastructure Group, I have been a strong advocate and supporter of fellow UoW colleagues being involved with UCISA, through engagement, contribution or through participating in the work of the various groups and communities.

My ‘career’ with UCISA has been fundamentally intertwined with that of my professional development. Highlights of my work with UCISA include:

• Plan and deliver multiple events and multi-day conferences.
• Serving Chair of IG and overseeing the merger of IG with the Networking Group, in doing so much ensuring that the Group more appropriately reflected and aligned to the needs of the membership.
• Served as an active member of the UCISA Leadership Council.
• Plan and deliver multiple events and multi-day conferences.
• Serving Chair of IG and overseeing the merger of IG with the Networking Group, in doing so much ensuring that the Group more appropriately reflected and aligned to the needs of the membership.
• Served as an active member of the UCISA Leadership Council.
• Being a member of the Board of Trustees since 2021 and has overseen the transformative Business Systems Review programme of works. This transformative programme of works is delivering efficiencies and capabilities to the systems and services the underpin the work of UCISA and effective member engagement.

With my role as a senior IT leader at the University of Wolverhampton, coupled with my extensive work with UCISA, I believe that I can offer the ideal experience and knowledge to continue to support UCISA in the delivery of its strategic objectives.

Please describe your motivation for applying to be a UCISA Trustee or USL Director:

Since I first became involved with the UCISA in 2013 as a member of the special interest Infrastructure Group, the overarching emotion that I experience when reflecting is that of extreme pride. This stems from the not only the value that UCISA brings to our sector, but also how UCISA itself has transformed to ensure that it can continue to support its members in delivering operational effectiveness, research, teaching and learning, and an excellent student experience. My work with UCISA has been fundamental in my professional and personal development. There continues to be a symbiotic relationship between my own career development and that of my involvement with UCISA, both of which have been essential to the development of the other.

My motivations for my nomination to be re-elected to the role of Secretary are twofold:

• Firstly, I would very much welcome the opportunity to continue to use my skills and knowledge to continue to support UCISA in the delivery of its ‘Building on Success’ strategic plan 2022-2027, and to continue to support the Business Systems Review programme of works. It is this programme of works that will enable to UCISA to continue to effectively and efficiently continue to meet the needs of our membership, whilst at the same time enabling the smooth and effective engagement of our members.
• Secondly, I truly believe in the value that UCISA offers to its membership and am extremely proud of all that it does. I very much want to continue to support UCISA in both the delivery and the growth of that value. Not only is that value realised at an organisational and departmental level, based upon my own wholly positive experiences, it is also very much realised at an individual level. As part of this, I want to be able to draw upon my extensive experience of knowledge to support UCISA and to support our members, at an institutional, departmental and individual level.

Mark Johnston - nominated for the position of UCISA Treasurer Director of IT University of Glasgow

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Chat-GPT claims:
Mark Johnston is a highly accomplished technology leader with over 20 years of experience in the Higher Education sector. He has a proven track record of developing and implementing successful strategies for digital transformations. With a keen eye for detail and a strong focus on delivering results, Mark is highly respected by his peers and colleagues for his analytical skills and strategic thinking.

Mark's strengths include his technical proficiency, strategic vision, and collaborative approach. He is skilled in managing teams and fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. Additionally, he is a skilled communicator who can convey complex topics in a clear and concise manner.

As a natural leader and forward-thinker, Mark is passionate about driving innovation and pushing the boundaries to achieve success in the quickly evolving digital landscape.

Mark would add that he is evangelical about technology, hence asking Generative AI for an ego-boosting pen-portrait sourced from LinkedIn. He is still a geek at heart, and has been serving the sector as a co-opted trustee for two years before being elected as a UCISA trustee in 2024. As the current term comes to a close, Mark is excited about serving as Treasurer having just completed the Treasurer role for RUGIT.

Please describe how your experience will support UCISA delivering the strategic plan

Having been fortunate enough to experience employment in three very different Higher Education Institutions, I feel that I understand the challenge in the sector from a number of vantage points.

For me, capitalising on the sector to form stronger representation to vendors is an incredible position we have, but also looking at emerging opportunities and exploring how the sector could best embrace them as we all face into challenging times.

The last four years as a Trustee for UCISA has also allowed me to support sector representation (e.g. as we negotiated the Oracle Java license), to host the stage at Leadership Summit, and to be part of a great team shaping the future strategic direction of UCISA, as well as cultivating stronger relationships with other sector bodies.

Please describe your motivation for applying to be a UCISA Trustee or USL Director:

As a long-standing advocate of UCISA and with approximately 20 years of engaging with UCISA materials and events, I feel the need to put something back in. I was delighted when the board approached me in July 2022 with an invitation to be co-opted as a Trustee which happened again in 2023. With my fourth year coming to a close, and reflecting on my contribution and the benefit it is bringing to me and the sector, I feel that I want to continue adding value back in to a great organisation that supports inspirational members.

Nominees for the two elected positions on the UCISA Board of Trustees

Simon Corbett CIO Northumbria University

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Simon leads Digital, Technology & Transformation Services, the team responsible for all technology and transformational change across Northumbria University, keeping staff and students connected, working collaboratively, and unlocking potential in a digital world.

As Chief Information Officer, Simon provides strategic leadership and management of the University’s Digital, Technology & Transformation service. He works closely with the University Executive to shape and deliver the University Vision, Strategy and supporting plans.

As a member of Northumbria’s University Executive, Simon supports colleagues as to how technology can support the achievement of organisational wide ambitions, providing resilient infrastructure enabling business outcomes around teaching, research, and Knowledge Exchange.

Prior to joining Northumbria, Simon was a Senior Manager at Accenture, a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Prior to 2005 Simon ran his own privately owned software development company based in Newcastle upon Tyne and Houston, Texas.

Please describe how your experience will support UCISA delivering the strategic plan

I have been CIO at Northumbria for seven years and prior to that working in IT for over 25 years across various sectors. I have written IT and digital strategies, as well as led large scale transformation projects across offshore oil and gas, construction, financial services, government and higher education and so bring an experience broader than just education. Over the last two years as a trustee I have demonstrated my knowledge, collaboration and professionalism and how I can support UCISA to drive and deliver its strategic plan.

Please describe your motivation for applying to be a UCISA Trustee or USL Director:

Having been a UCISA trustee for the last two years I feel I have added value, providing guidance and support and being part of representation groups. I have therefore seen the value of being a trustee in helping the wider sector and the change that can make for the better across Higher Education. Personally, I appreciate the insight being a trustee provides and the collaboration with my peers who are similarly motivated.

Nathalie Czechowski CIO University of South Wales

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Originally from France, I relocated to the United Kingdom upon completing my studies with the aim of improving my English language proficiency—a choice that ultimately led to my permanent settlement and career development in the UK. My professional journey encompasses a variety of experiences across multiple corporate sectors, including positions at Nestlé and Mondi Packaging. In 1999, I transitioned into the Higher Education sector as a programmer.

My career has been characterized by the development of leadership skills and an understanding of the importance of diversity within teams to achieve successful outcomes. Collaboration with UCISA, in various capacities, has illustrated the impact of its collaborative approach on the sector. Over time, I have observed the benefits of collective working. UCISA is a significant institution that leverages the sector's voice to address challenges collectively, which would be difficult to tackle individually. This improves the overall outcome for both the sector and the institution. Being part of UCISA offers the opportunity to support the sector as a whole. Engagement with UCISA has facilitated my professional growth and encouraged me to embrace challenges, contributing to my development as an executive leader.

As a Chief Information Officer within the Higher Education sector, I am dedicated to driving strategic digital transformation aimed at achieving business outcomes, reducing costs, and facilitating overall transformation. My commitment to Higher Education is deeply rooted in my passion for its core values, including the commitment to widening participation.

I possess extensive expertise in developing and implementing digital strategies that are responsive to potential policy changes in the UK and Wales. Our latest strategy focuses on creating seamless, connected communities of learning and working, both online and offline. This strategy leverages emerging technologies to foster authentic and immersive learning experiences, advances our smart campus initiative to deliver personalised experiences, reduce costs, and support the university’s sustainability commitments—all while ensuring a safe and secure environment. I am leading our transition towards a connected data environment that supports predictive and prescriptive analytics, which is critical for enhancing student success, reducing overheads, and achieving carbon neutrality. Due to current financial challenges, at USW we are re-architecting our infrastructure to transform our infrastructure into a commodity model, reducing our overall expenditure by £1 million per year. It leverages from our fully cloud environment, These initiatives address common challenges within the sector, positioning me to contribute significantly to UCISA’s mission to guide the sector through these challenges.

My leadership style is distinguished by strong interpersonal skills, which have been vital in establishing and sustaining high-performing, motivated teams within a multicultural, fast-paced global environment. I advocate for a culture of transparency, trust, constructive critique, and innovation. As a proficient communicator, I excel in conveying complex information across various levels and routinely lead discussions on sensitive and demanding topics as the chair of the Digital Strategy Board.

My extensive professional network, both domestic and international, underscores my active participation in cross-university committees and international projects. Serving as a member of the UA IT group, a board member for the UKK/JISC Software negotiation, and a trustee of UCISA for the past three years, I offer a wealth of expertise that I am keen to utilize in advancing UCISA’s strategic objectives, particularly in steering intricate dialogues concerning supplier relations and cyber essentials.

Please describe how your experience will support UCISA delivering the strategic plan

With over 14 years of dedication as a member of the CISG committee, including two years of leadership, and my recent role as a UCISA trustee, I have been deeply involved in shaping the framework and strategic direction of our sector. My tenure in CISG was marked by the development of a comprehensive skills matrix and unified job descriptions, alongside a review of our operating methodologies. This period also saw the orchestration of numerous events aimed at addressing the pressing challenges of our sector.

My commitment to fostering a united sector is driven by a strong belief in the collective benefits it can yield. This belief has motivated me to engage with various action groups, including Blackbaud, TC Global, and skills development initiatives, focusing on resolving the specific issues our sector faces. My involvement ensured that we maintained a Welsh perspective and contributed positively towards successful outcomes for the benefit of all involved.

In my role within the Welsh IT group HEWIT, I have taken a leading stance on critical cybersecurity challenges. I led the development of a proposal to circumvent an impasse concerning the delivery of new Welsh NHS education provisions, necessitating cybersecurity essentials compliance. This proposal, developed through close collaboration with the Welsh NHS for Education and through leading targeted workshops, was successfully accepted, allowing institutions a four-year window to meet cybersecurity requirements. I am also taking the lead on exploring opportunities for collaboration and potential for shared services. I am now the chair of HEWIT and with the co chair are looking to establish some shared procurement services around key contracts.

Collaboration is a core principle of our IT department, as demonstrated by our cloud migration initiative. After presenting our strategy to the sector and addressing numerous inquiries, we organised workshops with other universities, including Bath Spa, to address common challenges collectively. We have also shared our future plans with a broader group of universities at a meeting in Greenwich this year. The next phase of our strategy involves developing working relationships with other universities such as Huddersfield and Swansea, identifying areas where resources can be shared, such as desktops as a service.

Furthermore, as a member of the University Alliance (UA) IT director's group and a representative for USW in UA's Teaching & Learning committee, I demonstrate my passion for education and our sector's advancement. This role ensures I remain well-informed about new policy proposals and their potential impacts, thus facilitating the effective delivery of our digital services. I also serve on the UUK/JISC Software negotiation board, where I am an active participant.

Inclusivity remains a pivotal challenge within our industry, prompting me to implement improvements to our recruitment processes, such as providing interview questions in advance, based on insights gained at a UCISA leadership conference. My commitment extends to promoting STEM among young girls, supporting female-focused cybersecurity activities, and developing a three-year graduate scheme to enhance IT talent diversity. As someone with a hidden disability, I am deeply invested in ensuring equity and inclusivity, with every initiative undergoing an equality impact assessment.

My passion for our sector is the driving force behind my longstanding involvement with UCISA. I am convinced that, together, we can leverage the right technologies to enable our students to achieve their full potential. This can be achieved through enhanced analytics and by providing platforms and resources that facilitate value-added activities, enriching the lives of individuals within our communities. I believe that my continued participation in UCISA, supported by my extensive experience, expertise, and passion, will contribute to the strategic agenda of our sector.

Please describe your motivation for applying to be a UCISA Trustee or USL Director:

My motivation to apply for the trustee position at UCISA stems from a deep sense of collegiality and a profound appreciation for the invaluable experiences gained through my close collaboration with UCISA over the years. Eager to contribute back to the sector and to UCISA itself, I am enthusiastic about embracing greater responsibilities within the organisation. Serving as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at USW for the past six years has not only equipped me with a solid understanding of our sector's challenges and opportunities but has also afforded me the time and capacity required to fulfil the demands of this role effectively.

I believe my accumulated experience positions me well to support and guide the strategic direction of UCISA, while simultaneously presenting me with a stimulating opportunity to further my own professional growth. My commitment to the organization and the sector is driven by a desire to leverage my skills and insights to foster UCISA's continued success and to contribute meaningfully to its mission of enhancing the impact and effectiveness of technology in education.

Nick Gilbert CIO London School of Economics and Political Science

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Nick is Chief Information Officer at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has spent more than two decades working in universities across Australia and the UK — starting on the helpdesk at the University of Sydney in 2002, holding progressive operational and digital leadership roles there for seventeen years, then leading transformation at the University of Surrey from 2019 before joining LSE in 2024.

Nick’s career has been defined by a focus on lifting the quality of administration and digital services so that academic colleagues, students and professional staff can get on with the things that really matter.

Nick has been a UCISA Trustee since 2022 — first co-opted, then elected at AGM24. Over those years he has contributed to UCISA’s representation work, including with Microsoft on storage and licensing, supported CIOs and digital leaders through transformation and the occasional crisis in the UK and overseas, represented UCISA and the sector internationally at CAUDIT and at events overseas, and contributed to the sector’s collective voice through HEPI, sector conferences and UCISA forums. He brings a high-energy, deeply engaged approach to the role of CIO and is a passionate advocate for the collective strength of the UCISA membership.

He remains profoundly grateful for what the UCISA community has given him, both personally and professionally, and considers his time as a trustee the most rewarding part of his career.

Please describe how your experience will support UCISA delivering the strategic plan

I have been a UCISA Trustee since 2022 — first co-opted, then elected at AGM24 — and the time I have spent alongside fellow trustees and members has shaped how I think about the sector and about leadership. UCISA’s strength comes from the willingness of its members to share, to challenge each other, and to act collectively where individual institutions cannot, and that strength matters more now than at any point in my career.

Over my time with UCISA I have tried to put my time and experience to work for the membership in the ways the Association needs. I have contributed to our sector’s representation work, including with Microsoft on storage and licensing as that issue tested members across the country and institutions across the world. I have spent many hours supporting CIOs and digital leaders through transformation, restructuring, and the occasional crisis, in the UK and overseas. I have represented the UK sector and my pride in UCISA internationally. I have written and published with HEPI, spoken at sector and cross-sector events, and tried to bring evidence and energy to the conversations our institutions cannot avoid — AI, operating model reform, institutional simplification, cyber, and the commercial pressures shaping what is possible.

What I would bring to a further term is my energy, diversity of thinking, the breadth of having led whole-of-institution transformation across three universities and two countries, the credibility that comes from negotiating globally significant commercial outcomes with Microsoft, Anthropic and others, and a genuine, undiminished enthusiasm for the work UCISA does — the convening, the representation, the development of our people, and the quiet, persistent work of lifting the maturity of the sector. I would continue to put all of that to work for our members.

I have huge respect for the leadership Deborah Green provides as UCISA’s CEO, and for the Trustees and Team UCISA I would continue to serve alongside. I am prepared to do what it takes to bring the vision of the membership and our community to life.

Please describe your motivation for applying to be a UCISA Trustee or USL Director:

I moved to the UK in 2019, right before a global pandemic. UCISA and peer digital leaders gave me support, friendship, and connection at a time when I needed it. Being involved with UCISA has been the single largest influence on my development as a CIO, but it has also had a profound personal impact — when I arrived in 2019, through COVID in 2020 and 2021, during cyber incidents, and in introducing me to many people who have become dear friends. And I know it has done the same for others, when dealing with personal or work crises, or just in creating a community of people facing the same challenges. That is enough of a reason, I think.

Being a UCISA Trustee has been the most rewarding part of my career, bar none, and I am not done yet. I believe in the current Trustee group and in the leadership of the Association, and I believe that finding the best way for me to help UCISA move forward is one of the strongest contributions I can make to higher education in the UK and globally.

I have strong views on what the role of a CIO can be in modern higher education — and the way UCISA can help shape it. If elected I would continue to passionately advocate, and bring challenging and critical thinking to what we do as UCISA, while remaining very conscious that each of our institutions and each member of our digital community is different, and that UCISA must address the issues our members are experiencing today. That diversity of thought, and the ability to come together around what is right for the sector even when it differs from individual preference, is what matters.

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First and foremost, Iain is a dedicated family man, husband to Becky, father to Rose and Mae, stepfather to Phoebe, and devoted walker of Caius the dog.

An experienced IT professional with over 21 years in digital technology, Iain's career began in the Kent and Medway Health Informatics Service (NHS) before transitioning to Higher Education in 2015. Since then, he has held leadership roles spanning award-winning service management, operational leadership, and strategic delivery. In 2024 he joined the London School of Economics (LSE) as Director of Service Delivery, where he has the privilege and occasional challenge of shaping a globally leading service management function within IT and beyond.

Passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, Iain uses his experience and platform to support the next generation of technology professionals. He delivers presentations to young adults in local colleges, teaches specialist service management content at university level, and champions engagement with digital technology from underrepresented demographics. Outside the digital world, he volunteers as a rugby coach for a local youth team, with a particular focus on increasing girls' and young women's participation in the sport and building a clear pathway to the senior game.

Iain has been an active member of UCISA for over nine years, previously serving as Vice Chair of the Support Services Group. As a co-opted Trustee he has taken on an expanding portfolio of responsibilities, including serving as a Director of UCISA Services Limited and as a member of the UCISA Risk Committee, roles he has embraced not out of obligation, but because he genuinely cares about the long-term health and sustainability of an organisation he believes in deeply.

UUK's Towards a New Era of Collaboration sets out an urgent call for the higher education sector to move beyond incremental efficiency and embrace deeper, cross-institutional collaboration on digital transformation, shared services, leadership development, and common approaches to benchmarking and improvement. For Iain, this isn't a new direction. It's a description of work already underway and a signal that the sector needs UCISA, and people willing to give their best to it, more than ever.

His contributions to the sector through UCISA directly support the report's ambitions:

• Enterprise Service Management- Iain has played a central role in promoting and distributing the Service Reference Model across the UK higher education sector on behalf of UCISA, and in preparing its alignment into the HERM framework ahead of a consolidated next release. It is the kind of painstaking, unglamorous work that moves the sector forward and he is committed to seeing it through.
• Continual Professional Development - A committed advocate for growing talent across the sector, Iain continues to mentor digital leaders through the UCISA mentoring scheme, encouraging a diverse membership to progress and deliver to their full potential. He is also an active ally for women in technology, regularly attending and supporting events that champion greater gender diversity because he knows the conversations about inclusion only move forward when the people who don't need to be in the room choose to show up anyway.
• Community and Inclusion - At the UCISA Leadership Summit, Iain chaired the newcomers' induction session and acted as a buddy for first-time attendees. He is proud of what UCISA has achieved on inclusion, the neurodiversity event accreditation being a genuine marker of an organisation that acts on its values rather than just stating them and he wants to be part of building on that progress across gender, neurodiversity, and the next generation of digital leaders who are not yet fully represented in the community.
• Corporate Membership Engagement - Iain regularly chairs events with UCISA corporate members, ensuring their involvement meaningfully supports the wider community rather than the other way around.
• Social Secretary - Unofficial, unelected, and apparently undefeatable in this role. Someone has to make sure the evening holds together.

Please describe how your experience will support UCISA delivering the strategic plan

The UUK report asks established sector organisations to step up. UCISA is one of those organisations, and Iain has no intention of being a bystander. There is unfinished work he cares about, a community he wants to see thrive, and an elected Trustee role he is putting himself forward for with genuine ambition and commitment, not because it is the next logical step, but because he believes the next two years matter, and he wants to be part of shaping them.

Authentic, driven, and ever-so-slightly caffeine-fuelled, Iain brings strategic thinking, energy, dry humour, and an unshakeable belief in the power of collaboration. He remains a passionate advocate for UCISA, for the higher education IT community, and for the idea that the sector is always stronger when it works together.

Early in my career I established a set of personal values that continue to guide everything I do, trustworthiness, collaboration, passion, and inclusivity. They are not aspirations; they are the way I try to work every day. What drew me to UCISA when I joined higher education in 2015, and what has kept me deeply invested ever since, is that these values find a natural home here. UCISA's strategic ambitions — to represent the sector with authority, to harness collective voice, and to develop the professionals within it, are things I believe in genuinely, not just on paper.

Since being elected as a Trustee, my commitment to UCISA has deepened considerably. Taking on the role of Director of UCISA Services Limited and joining the Risk Committee reflects not just an expansion of responsibility, but a genuine investment in UCISA's long-term health and sustainability. I care about this organisation, its people, its governance, its finances, its reputation and I want to be part of making sure it is built to last.

The work I am most proud of over the past year sits squarely within UCISA's strategic ambition to represent the sector with authority and influence. The Service Reference Model, developed by a mix of membership and corporate partners represents exactly the kind of collaborative, community-driven output that UCISA exists to champion. My role has been to promote and distribute it across the UK higher education sector, and to review and prepare the content for alignment into the HERM framework, ahead of a consolidated next release with the SRM fully embedded. It is painstaking work, but important work which positions UCISA as a credible convenor of global best practice.

This work is directly relevant to the moment the sector finds itself in. UUK's Towards a New Era of Collaboration is an explicit call for institutions to share services, adopt common approaches to benchmarking, and accelerate digital transformation. UCISA is one of the established sector organisations the report asks to step up. The SRM and its integration into HERM is exactly the kind of shared infrastructure that makes that possible, and I am committed to seeing it embedded and built upon in the next term.

Beyond the technical, I remain passionate about people. Through the UCISA mentoring scheme I continue to support aspiring digital leaders from across the sector, and I am an active ally for women in technology, regularly attending and supporting events that champion greater gender diversity in our community. I am also increasingly focused on how UCISA reaches demographics that remain underrepresented, particularly younger professionals. One area I am keen to explore in the coming year is how we might better engage early-career digital leaders, whether through a dedicated young leaders network or other targeted initiatives, to ensure the pipeline of future trustees, committee members, and community contributors reflects the full diversity of our sector.

My career has spanned people, process, and technology in roughly equal measure, and that breadth allows me to engage credibly across the full range of issues a trustee encounters from operational service delivery to strategic governance. I bring the perspective of a practitioner who is still doing the work, leading significant transformation at LSE while simultaneously contributing at sector level. I think that combination matters.

UCISA's strategic vision is to harness the collective strength of its membership to equip digital and IT leaders to drive transformation across UK education. That is not an abstract ambition to me it is something I have been actively working towards, and something I want to continue. UCISA has given me an enormous amount. I want to continue giving back with the same energy, the same honesty, and the same belief that the sector is always stronger when it works together.

Please describe your motivation for applying to be a UCISA Trustee or USL Director:

I am applying to be elected as a UCISA Trustee because I believe the next two years matter more than most. The sector is under genuine pressure, the UUK collaboration agenda is gaining momentum, and UCISA has a real opportunity to be at the centre of the response, not as a commentator, but as an active driver of change.

During my time as a co-opted Trustee I have grown significantly in this role. From contributing to individual initiatives to taking on broader governance responsibilities through UCISA Services Limited and the Risk Committee, my understanding of what UCISA is, how it works, and what it needs to thrive has deepened considerably. Being elected would mean a great deal to me personally, it is the natural next step in a commitment I have built steadily over nearly a decade and I want to build on what has been started.

There is unfinished work I care about. Sector-wide collaboration on shared frameworks and common approaches to service maturity is gaining real traction, and I want to see that through to the point where it delivers tangible value for institutions. The mentoring programme is growing but could go further, and I am keen to explore how UCISA engages the next generation of digital leaders before they become the generation after next.

I also want to be part of continuing the progress UCISA has made on inclusion. The neurodiversity event accreditation is a genuine marker of an organisation that takes this seriously, not just talks about it, and I want to contribute to that momentum on neurodiversity, on gender, and on making sure UCISA's community reflects the full breadth of the sector it serves. Most of all, I believe in what UCISA stands for, a community that is genuinely greater than the sum of its parts. I have seen that at its best, and I want to keep contributing to it.

Krishnananda Pilicudale Director of Digital Information University of Huddersfield

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Krish holds postgraduate degrees in Management (MBA) and Computer Science (MSc), underpinning his work with strong theoretical and practical expertise. He is a Certified Enterprise Architect (TOGAF), ITIL Intermediate–certified in Continual Service Improvement, and a Chartered Fellow. An experienced senior technology and operational leader, Krish brings over 20 years’ experience delivering complex business and digital transformation across Higher Education and banking. He has a strong track record of leading end-to-end, full lifecycle initiatives spanning enterprise systems, infrastructure, cloud migration, software development, and data management, supported by deep domain expertise in Higher Education, trade finance, banking, and retail.

Please describe how your experience will support UCISA delivering the strategic plan

I have 15+ years of leadership experience in a large complex organisation, with a proven track record of managing and delivering results. Extensive experience at board level, with a deep understanding of the strategic and operational challenges facing large organisations. I am adept at building and leading high-performing teams, and driving change through innovation and collaboration. For instance, I have worked at a senior leadership level at King’s College London as Head of Enterprise Solutions implementing ERP and currently at the University of Huddersfield leading on development and delivery of Digital strategy. In my current role at the University of Huddersfield as Chief Information Officer, I am responsible for Computing and Library Services delivering a range of services to the University including central IT function and library services. I was previously a member of the University Council (Board of Directors) for 6 years, University Senior Leadership Team, University Senate, Joint Consultative and Negotiation Committee (JCNC), University Business Continuity Management Group and many more. As a member of the University Council and the University Exec team, I have the experience of assessing strategies applying business acumen and subject matter expertise in shaping the strategies to deliver the objectives.

At Huddersfield, I have led and defined a comprehensive transformational seven-year digital strategy comprising the vision, goals and outcomes. To achieve this, I have engaged and communicated with stakeholders and committees across the University in a consultative manner gaining feedback and buy-in to the digital strategy. I have also produced a roadmap of initiatives through the identification of technical debts, emerging technologies and business improvement initiatives needed to transform the University’s digital estate and enabling University strategy.

I have extensive experience and knowledge of leading transformational programmes delivering better outcomes involving process, technology and organisational changes. I have played a key role in change initiatives to meet business, schedule and budget objectives. I have led and delivered change programmes focussing on the people side of change – including changes to business processes, systems and technology, job roles and organisation structures. For instance, in my current role, a large number of digital strategy initiatives such as data centre migration to Azure, sector leading Teams automation, Teams telephony, Curriculum Management programme, etc. has delivered significant outcomes transforming the University’s operations. Also, whilst at King’s College London, I was the technical lead for implementing transformational £15M Finance and HR programme which involved substantial changes to business processes, job roles, technology stack and organisational changes.

Cyber security is pivotal for all organisations due to the ever evolving threats it poses to its existence and business continuity. I have substantial experience in this domain and have led a transformation across the organisation to mitigate and secure the university. For instance, a recent audit on cyber security has benchmarked University of Huddersfield digital cyber security as sector leading.

As evidenced above, I have extensive experience in digital transformation leadership in Higher Education which will be instrumental in supporting UCISA's strategic plan for 2022-2027. My role as Chief Information Officer at the University of Huddersfield has demonstrated my ability to lead transformational strategic change, which aligns closely with UCISA's vision.

• Trustworthiness: I believe in the importance of integrity and transparency in all my personal and professional endeavours. Also, as a Board member since 2019 at the University of Huddersfield, I have built relationship with all Board members upholding these values. I will ensure that my actions and contributions are always in the best interest of our members and the sector in line with UCISA’s core values.
• Collaboration: I am a firm advocate for collaborative efforts. My experience in working with diverse teams internally and externally has allowed me to harness the power of collective intelligence and shared goals in achieving the transformation. I am eager to contribute to UCISA's initiatives by fostering partnerships and engaging actively with stakeholders.
• Passion: My enthusiasm for digital transformation is unwavering. I am driven by the potential of technology to revolutionise education. I would bring this passion to the forefront, advocating for continuous innovation contributing to enhancing the depth and breadth of engagement.
• Inclusivity: I am dedicated to championing diversity and inclusivity. Ensuring that all voices are heard and valued is crucial for the success which I have experience of as a strategic leader over 15 years. I would use this experience and strive to make UCISA's resources and opportunities accessible to all members, regardless of their background or experience.

Please describe your motivation for applying to be a UCISA Trustee or USL Director:

I am deeply passionate about UCISA and recognise the vital role it plays within the Higher and Further Education community. With a substantial portion of my career dedicated to Higher Education, I possess a comprehensive understanding of the sector's challenges and issues at both macro and micro levels. Over the past few years, UCISA has significantly evolved, providing crucial support to the sector in navigating various strategic and operational challenges. I am eager to contribute to UCISA's mission by leveraging my expertise in digital strategy, cyber security, cloud technologies, artificial intelligence, integration, and more.

Throughout my career, I have actively engaged with UCISA in several capacities:

• Served as UCISA Trustee over the last year contributing to various aspects of UCISA’s function and strategy.
• Part of UCISA and represented sector with the Tribal negotiation for HEFS model.
• Served on the UCISA CISG committee, sharing best practices and helping address sector challenges.
• Co-chaired the UCISA BTS Community of Practice.
• Been part of UCISA group representative for Tribal negotiations for the sector.
• Actively participate in the UCISA Directors forum by responding to colleagues in the sector where I can.
• Actively collaborate sharing information and best practice with number of peers in the sector
• Presenting in UCISA Leadership conferences over the years
• Encourage other senior managers in my organisation to be part of UCISA community such as UCISA CISG and UCISA EA group wherein University of Huddersfield colleagues are part of the committee.

Bruce Rodger Assistant Director, IT (Cyber & Infrastructure) University of Strathclyde

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Bruce Rodger is Assistant Director of Information Services at the University of Strathclyde, with responsibility for Cyber Security and Infrastructure.

He has spent almost his entire career in the higher education sector, working in central services and academic areas, initially in systems administration and network management roles. In 2010, he was appointed Head of Infrastructure (Assistant Director), building and leading a multidisciplinary team that has grown to around 60 staff.

The team’s remit spans Windows and Unix platforms, server and storage management, cyber security, cloud services, Microsoft environments, end‑user computing for staff and students, enterprise networking, and audiovisual services.

Bruce has led or contributed to major metropolitan‑scale network delivery projects and has worked closely with estates and design teams on new‑build and redevelopment programmes. This has included overseeing end‑to‑end technical design for a wide range of facilities, from specialist research buildings to sports centres. Recent projects have included coordinating design and delivery of IT and AV infrastructure for a new campus in Bahrain.

He has a strong interest in the wider role of IT within universities, particularly operational technologies that underpin estates, teaching, and audiovisual services, but which are often viewed as “outside IT”. He is a consistent advocate for treating these capabilities as core components of institutional digital infrastructure.

Cyber security has always formed part of his remit and is now one of its fundamental pillars. Bruce established a dedicated cyber security team in 2016 with two staff; this has since grown to eight specialists, alongside four additional colleagues with primary cyber responsibilities embedded across other operational teams.

Within UCISA, Bruce has contributed to a number of sector initiatives. He served on the Networking Group committee (later incorporated into the Infrastructure Group) and has been Vice‑Chair of the UCISA Security Group since its inception in 2021. He has represented UCISA and the wider higher education sector in National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) consultations on Cyber Essentials and is a member of the NCSC Universities Trust Group.

Please describe how your experience will support UCISA delivering the strategic plan

UCISA has a clear and compelling vision for how it will develop and how it will benefit its member community. I am fully supportive of the direction of travel UCISA has taken in recent years, becoming a dynamic organisation that is unrecognisable from its earlier incarnation and one that delivers genuine and tangible value to its members.

UCISA brings together practitioners working across a wide range of digital and IT disciplines. I have the technical skills and experience to contribute to, and lead within, some of these areas, while also recognising the importance of learning from colleagues whose expertise sits outside my own core remit. However, despite being an organisation comprised of digital specialists, technology itself is not UCISA’s primary purpose.

UCISA represents our community: identifying and nurturing common challenges and opportunities; enabling the sharing of knowledge and experience; and providing an authoritative, trusted voice when engaging with suppliers, legislators, and the wider sector. I strongly align with this mission and believe it is central to supporting digital transformation across UK education.

With over 30 years’ experience working in the university IT sector, I bring not only technical knowledge, but a deep understanding of how the sector functions in practice. I am familiar with the funding challenges institutions face, the differing pressures experienced across professional groups, and the balance required to support researchers’ demands, the teaching community’s need for stability and flexibility, and students’ expectations that services should simply work.

UCISA’s core values of Trustworthiness, Collaboration, Passion and Inclusivity align closely with my own personal values Through my experience, relationships, and understanding of the sector, I believe I can make a positive and valuable contribution to UCISA in delivering its strategic plan.

Please describe your motivation for applying to be a UCISA Trustee or USL Director:

I have been involved with UCISA for many years. Initially, as a technical specialist in networking and infrastructure, I participated in various sector events, and was invited to join the committee of the Networking group, a role I held until that group became part of the wider Infrastructure group a number of years ago.

More recently, the UCISA community formed a specialist Security group, and I have held the role of vice-chair of that group since its inception.

UCISA is, I believe, in a unique position in our sector; a member-led collaborative organisation, representing the diverse needs of a diverse set of organisations, sharing knowledge and best practice among our community, and presenting a unified voice to our suppliers, and to our government.

UCISA is a good thing, an organisation that has improved in so many ways over recent years. I am proud to be part of it.

However, that doesn’t fully explain my motivation for applying to be a trustee.

At the 2026 Leadership Summit, I “bared my soul”. I spoke openly about health, about wellbeing, and my own health journey – a journey which for me has had a positive outcome. I did not anticipate the reaction that talk would have. The warmth, the affection, the friendship, the care. It made me realise that our community is bigger than just “tech stuff” – it’s about the people. People make this organisation.

I want to give something back to our community, by contributing to UCISA’s continued growth and evolution.

Lee Rose Assistant Director & Projects CTO University of Sussex

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As an Assistant Director in the Projects CTO function, I am known for a human focused, pragmatic approach to technology leadership. I bring resilience, sound judgement, and collaborative working to complex environments, with a strong commitment to inclusive decision making and outcomes that positively support users and institutions.

Please describe how your experience will support UCISA delivering the strategic plan

UCISA’s strategic vision resonates strongly with both my professional experience and my personal values. Its emphasis on collective strength, transparent representation, collaboration, and inclusive engagement reflects how I approach leadership and contribution within the sector.

Throughout my career, I have worked in roles where success is dependent on bringing together diverse perspectives, IT and digital teams, academic and research communities, professional services, external partners, and students, to enable meaningful and sustainable change. I don’t believe progress in our sector is achieved in isolation. Instead, it comes from shared purpose, constructive challenge, and collaboration across institutional and professional boundaries. This mirrors UCISA’s role in harnessing the collective voice of its membership to influence and lead digital transformation across UK education.

In my current position as Assistant Director & Projects CTO, I operate at the intersection of strategy and delivery, supporting institutions to navigate complexity with pragmatism, empathy, and resilience. This experience aligns closely with UCISA’s commitment to trustworthiness and authority in representation, ensuring that decisions and influence are grounded in lived experience, good governance, and an understanding of the realities faced by our stakeholders.

I am motivated by a strong belief in inclusivity and engagement. UCISA’s strength lies not only in expertise, but in its ability to create a sense of shared identity, support peer learning, and provide a trusted forum for open dialogue. I have seen first hand how difference of opinion, encouraged and managed constructively, leads to better outcomes and stronger communities. This approach underpins my own leadership style and aligns directly with UCISA’s guiding principles.

While I bring a broad range of professional experience within the sector, I also bring deep lived experience of working within the cultural, political, and historical complexities that characterise higher education institutions. I understand the pressures, constraints, and opportunities faced by IT and digital leaders, and the importance of having a consistent, trusted body to provide guidance, advocacy, and collective direction.

UCISA has been and continues to be a constant for the sector, acting as both anchor and compass during periods of change. As a Trustee, I would use my experience, judgement, and values-led approach to support UCISA in delivering its strategic plan, strengthening engagement, supporting digital leadership, and ensuring the organisation continues to represent the sector with credibility, transparency, and purpose.

Please describe your motivation for applying to be a UCISA Trustee or USL Director:

Throughout my long career in the sector, I have benefitted significantly from UCISA’s role as a connector, advocate, and collective voice for digital and technology professionals. While I have engaged with UCISA frequently as a participant through events, peer discussions, and shared practice, I have increasingly reached a point where I feel ready to make a more valuable contribution.

The question of “why now” is an important one. Earlier in my career, my focus was understandably centred on delivery, developing my professional capability, and navigating competing priorities. With experience, perspective, and greater capacity now, I am motivated to give back to a community that has played a meaningful role in supporting both my own development and the effectiveness of the sector more broadly, and particularly at a time where we are facing challenges more significant than we have ever seen.

In my current role at the University of Sussex, I sit at the intersection of digital and IT services, academic and research communities, estates, external partners, and students. Much of my work involves bridging perspectives, building trust, and enabling collaboration across complex and historically siloed environments. This has reinforced my belief that progress is often achieved not through large, disruptive change, but through pragmatic, human centred approaches that shift thinking, strengthen relationships, and create the conditions for sustainable improvement.

This is the same value I see UCISA providing to the sector. UCISA acts as the collective “glue” that brings institutions together, enabling shared understanding, informed challenge, and outcomes that are difficult to achieve individually. Its ability to represent the sector, amplify voices, and support collaborative progress aligns strongly with my own values and experience.

I am motivated to become a UCISA Trustee because I believe I can now contribute effectively, bringing resilience, sound judgement, and lived sector experience to support the organisation’s mission. This feels like the right time to move from beneficiary to steward, and to support UCISA in continuing to serve the community that underpins so much of our collective success.

I’ve often said that I love technology. But what really motivates me are people and the meaning and purpose that we, collectively as enablers and purveyors of technology can achieve, manifested through the journeys our student communities take in the pursuit of academic excellence, and the part that we are able to play in support of their achievements.

This is why our sector is so great and why bodies such as UCISA are critical in holding us together.

Suraj Uturaju Director of IT University of West London

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Raj Uturaju is the Director of IT Services at the University of West London, where he provides senior leadership for institutional technology services with a strong focus on service management excellence and digital transformation. He is responsible for ensuring that IT services are resilient, customer-focused, and aligned to the University’s strategic priorities.

Please describe how your experience will support UCISA delivering the strategic plan

I have led diverse and business critical IT portfolio that underpins the day to day operation of the University as well as its longer term transformation ambitions. This includes major service areas and initiatives such as Unified Communications, Data Integration Services all of which directly support teaching, learning, research, and professional services functions. My role spans both operational assurance and planned change, balancing service continuity with continuous improvement.

A key strength is my ability to the application of structured service management and delivery disciplines, supported by strong capabilities in project management and business analysis. Continue to ensure that technology services are designed, delivered, and governed in a way that is transparent, measurable, and outcome focused, with clear accountability and risk management. This approach supports consistent service quality while enabling innovation and transformation at pace.

Working closely with senior leaders, governance bodies, auditors, and strategic partners to translate institutional objectives into achievable technology roadmaps and service improvements. I also play an active role in formal reviews, assurance activities, and stakeholder forums, ensuring that IT Services is seen as a trusted partner rather than a purely technical function.

Please describe your motivation for applying to be a UCISA Trustee or USL Director:

I am applying to become a Trustee of UCISA because I strongly believe in the organisation’s role as a collective voice for digital leadership in higher education, and I am motivated to contribute my experience to shaping its continued impact and relevance across the sector.

As Director of IT Services at the University of West London, I work at the intersection of strategy, service delivery, and institutional transformation. My role requires me to balance the realities of operational IT services with longer term digital ambitions, ensuring that technology remains a dependable foundation for change rather than an obstacle to it. Through this work, I have developed a strong appreciation of the challenges faced by universities of varying sizes and contexts, particularly around service maturity, affordability, and organisational change.

As a Trustee, I would seek to support the Executive not only through challenge and assurance, but also by offering constructive insight grounded in lived experience of service delivery within a complex university environment.

Personally, I am motivated by the principle of sector service. Higher education faces increasing pressure around cost, resilience, skills, and expectations of digital capability. UCISA offers a powerful mechanism for collaboration and shared problem solving, and I see trusteeship as an opportunity to further give back to a community from which I have benefited and proudly inducted to the illustrious Stonephish Club; while helping ensure UCISA remains inclusive, relevant, and forward looking.