14 May 2025 - The Architecture Exchange 2025 virtual event series – Week 2
Last week marked the second instalment of the Architecture Exchange 2025 virtual event series, sustaining the momentum generated by its opening sessions. Professionals from across higher education gathered to engage with a diverse range of enterprise architecture topics, fostering an environment where innovative approaches and shared experiences could flourish.
The week began with "Introduction to HERM Reference Models," facilitated by Louw Labuschagne (Newcastle University) and featuring a presentation from Russell Boyatt (University of Warwick). This session explored the Business Model Canvas, examining its real-world applications and how it can be tailored to support business capability mapping and organisational maturity within universities. Shailesh Appukuttan (University of Huddersfield) enriched the discussion by sharing practical examples from his institution, while Louw highlighted complementary frameworks such as the Operating Model Canvas and strategy maps, offering participants a holistic view of strategic planning.
Kelly Oliver’s presentation on Newcastle University’s ISO 31000-based risk management was equally compelling. It focused on the institution’s evolution towards a “risk-aware” culture. The session covered the introduction of risk appetite statements, dynamic risk registers, and integrating risk management into business planning. Alan Cecchini (Newcastle University) facilitated and contributed to demonstrating how enterprise risk management aligns with enterprise architecture, using tools like LeanIX and referencing security frameworks such as TOGAF and ArchiMate to visualise and assess risks across various domains.
The Business/IT Alignment session, led by Paul McDermott (Newcastle University), brought together university representatives to discuss the critical role of aligning business and IT strategies. Paul underscored the long-term value of Enterprise Architecture (EA) and the pitfalls of bypassing it, while Mark Taylor (Durham University) shared how his team leveraged Microsoft 365 to map IT assets and drive collaboration. Geoff Smith (Manchester Metropolitan University) added depth by illustrating how application portfolio analysis and frameworks like Gartner’s TIME can streamline systems and inform investment planning, demonstrating the tangible benefits of bridging business and IT through architectural practices.
Rounding out the week, Louw Labuschagne delivered an introduction to the ArchiMate Tool Repository. Attendees learned how ArchiMate provides a shared vocabulary for articulating enterprise architecture's complex, layered nature, supporting collaboration and addressing stakeholder needs. The session also included a hands-on guide to downloading and using the Archi tool, making it an ideal entry point for newcomers to architectural modelling.
These sessions exemplify the spirit of collaboration and continuous learning that defines the Architecture Exchange series, offering actionable insights and practical tools for higher education professionals. As the series progresses, we look forward to exploring the evolving landscape of enterprise architecture further and sharing new perspectives in the upcoming sessions.
