The committee is responsible for advising the Board on the integrity of the statutory financial statements and the work of the external auditors. In conjunction the committee reviews the effectiveness of internal control and risk management arrangements. In relation to financial matters the committee gives consideration to the formulation of the finance planning for the organisation, including the annual budget and medium-term financial forecast ensuring the financial health and solvency of Advance HE.
Paul Woodgates (Chair)
Paul is an expert in strategy, operations, change and leadership in universities.
He was previously responsible for building and running the education consulting practice of PA Consulting internationally. He has worked with more than 30 universities in the UK as well as many others overseas. His experience was in delivering major programmes to define strategy, improve academic outcomes, deliver better services, and reduce cost. He has also worked extensively with government departments, regulators and funding bodies in the higher education sector in the UK and elsewhere.
Paul graduated from Durham University with a BA (Hons) in Economics and then qualified as a chartered accountant. He worked as a consultant, programme leader and change manager in a range of organisations particularly in the public sector.
He is a Governor of De Montfort University and works as an independent advisor and writer on change in universities.
Saad Qureshi (Co-optee)
Saad Qureshi is currently developing a new digital media start up while also being CEO of a new care provider launching to market in 2023. He has previously spent nearly 15 years in higher education most latterly as an Executive General Manager and European Dean for Navitas, a global education provider. He has vast experience in strategic leadership, change management and turnaround, and leading multi-campus and multi- disciplinary teams. He is also a “dual professional”, being a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and is passionate about pedagogical development and the student experience. He has designed educational strategies and infrastructure that have improved student outcomes and teacher experiences. His focus is on developing socially responsible graduates.
He is a Reviewer for several reputable research journals, and previously sat on the Board of Studies and the Professional Development Group of the Association of University Administrators (AUA) driving the growth and standards for the AUA’s CPD offer and the flagship PgCert programme. He was also part of the Universities UK TNE group that later released the new framework for TNE provision.
Professor Mark E. Smith
Professor Mark E. Smith is the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton. As President and Vice-Chancellor he is the Chief Executive of the University and has overall responsibility for its operations. He took up this role on 1 October 2019. Professor Smith was Vice-Chancellor at Lancaster University from January 2012 until September 2019. He was previously Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick.
Throughout his academic career, he has published more than 380 papers about advanced magnetic resonance techniques, helping to understand a range of problems in the field of materials physics. He is currently a member of the executive group overseeing the National High Field Solid-State NMR Facility at the University of Warwick.
In addition to his role as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton, he holds a number of external appointments including Senior Independent Member of UKRI EPSRC’s Council; and board member of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, chairing their Research Wales Committee. He also chairs UKRI’s Financial Sustainability of Research Group and was the former Chair of the University and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) 2016-2022. He has also served on the Boards of Jisc, HESA and HESCU.
He was awarded a CBE for Services to Research and Higher Education in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Alexandra Owen BSc (hons) BFP FCA
Alexandra is a Chartered Accountant and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accounts England and Wales (ICAEW) and has held the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Inspire Education Group, a Group of Further Education Colleges based in the East Midlands, since January 2026. As CFO she has Executive responsibility for Finance and MIS services for the Group, oversight of University College Peterborough (UCP), the Higher Education arm of the Group, and provides strategic financial advice to the Inspire Education Board, UCP Board, and other various Committees.
Alexandra also holds a non-executive role as Governor of Northampton College, a large Further Education College since November 2024.
Previously as Chief Financial Officer of Loughborough University, she led the Finance and Commercial functions of the University and provided strategic financial advice to the University Executive Board, University Council, Senate and various Committees.
Prior to working in Higher Education, Alexandra held the post of CFO and Trustee at St Andrews Healthcare, a large Charity in the Mental Healthcare sector. As CFO and Trustee, Alexandra was a member of the Charities Executive Committee and Unitary Board of the Charity, its subsidiaries and joint ventures, which were held to account by the Charity’s Court of Governors. Alexandra provided financial leadership to the Executive Committee and Board, took a lead role in the development of the Charities 5-year strategy and the development of key strategic relationships with commissioning bodies and other third parties.
Prior to this, Alexandra has held Senior finance roles in various sectors including Welfare to Work, Education (MAT’s and Independent Schools), Commercial organisations and a number of voluntary positions, starting her career in Practice.
