New for 2023, and aimed at senior and strategic leaders within HE, this conference will focus on the sector’s responsibilities in relation to the UN SDGs, civic responsibility, new sustainability initiatives and research.

By way of keynote speakers that include Professor Clare Pollock, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, Western Sydney University, panel sessions with expert panalists such as Carlos Shanka Boissy Diaz, University of Bristol, and workshops that feature industry leaders like Dr Ishan Cader, Director, Consultancy at Times Higher Education (THE) this conference will provide a forum for learning about evidence-based and co-produced initiatives that engender real change and offer a safe space for discussion on how to achieve your institution’s sustainability targets.

Universities have a critical role as models of good practice, enabling the knowledge, ideas and opportunities to solve local and global challenges and valuing all their stakeholders. This requires organisational strategy and KPIs aligned to sustainability, delivered through committed and distributed leadership.

Sustainability Conference 2024: From vision to impact


Date: 11 June 2024, Virtual

Conference themes

Supporting and challenging organisational leaders to take a holistic approach to aligning their sustainability strategy and practice this conference will focus on three key themes:

What we do: What data and information do we need, want and have?  What evidence and insights can we draw from the data and how do we use this for informed decision making?

How we do it: How can the organisational leadership, executive and governance, strategically develop and plan to stimulate and create shared understanding about direction of travel in a way that unites? What principles and values drive organisational strategy?

What success looks like: How do we measure it? How do we engage stakeholders and tell our story? 

Sustainability for Student Success podcast

Listen to the Advance HE podcast “Sustainability for Student Success” with Kim Ansell, Dr. Kay Hack, and Dr. Kate Mori where they discuss the significance and connections between student success and education for sustainable development (ESD). 

In this podcast the speakers explore the meaning of education for sustainable development and its importance as well as “a whole institutional approach”. For the very latest on sustainability in HE, click the link.

Programme

This conference is aimed at senior and strategic leaders of higher education institutions wishing to progress the sustainability agenda within their institutions and make impactful change.

Sustainability Conference 2023 Programme

Welcome Address

Alison Johns

Alison Johns

Damien Ashford

Damien Ashford

Partner, Education Sector Lead, PwC UK

Keynote Speaker

Professor Clare Pollock

Professor Clare Pollock

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost

Western Sydney University

Dr Kay Hack (PFHEA)

Dr Kay Hack (PFHEA)

Independent Higher Education Consultant

Mega trends and the sustainable future

Lord Gavin Barwell

Lord Gavin Barwell

Senior Advisor to PwC on UK politics and geopolitics

Panel Session: Purpose

Carlos Shanka Boissy Diaz

Carlos Shanka Boissy Diaz

University of Bristol

Sustainability can only be achieved with transformative, bold, ambitious efforts. Young people are not just about the future, but should also be part of the solution and should challenge universities in shaping a sustainable world.”

Carlos Shanka Boissy Diaz
Kim Ansell

Kim Ansell

Senior Consultant Governance and Leadership

Advance HE

Polly Mackenzie

Polly Mackenzie

Chief Social Purpose Officer

Dr Nishat Riaz MBE

Dr Nishat Riaz MBE

Global Head of Higher Education Systems and Internationalisation British Council

British Council

Data and Evidence Presentation & Case Study

Chair: Kay Hack, Advance HE

Dr Ishan Cader

Dr Ishan Cader

Director, Consultancy at Times Higher Education (THE)

Connecting people and place: Building together

Chair: Kim Ansell, Advance HE

Stuart Norton, PFHEA

Stuart Norton, PFHEA

Head of Educational Excellence

Advance HE

Digital Campus

Ashley Wheaton

Ashley Wheaton

Principal at University College of Estate Management

Strategic Change Model

Dr Kay Hack (PFHEA)

Dr Kay Hack (PFHEA)

Independent Higher Education Consultant

Dr Ishan Cader

Dr Ishan Cader

Director, Consultancy at Times Higher Education (THE)

Final plenary and Panel Session: Place and People

Paul Kett

Paul Kett

Senior Advisor, Education and Skills, PwC

Kezia Dugdale

Kezia Dugdale

Director of the John Smith Centre

University of Glasgow

Higher Education is all about ‘people’ and Universities create value through their people, educating students, undertaking research and engaging with communities and partners. An impactful skills agenda which enhances our social sustainability and adds value to our communities is key to achieving sustainable institutions and I look forward to this conference.”

Kezia Dugdale

Closing remarks

Kim Ansell, Advance HE

Sponsors

At PwC, education and skills matter to us all, to ensure we are developing a workforce fit for the future and to improve opportunity for all. This workforce, are rightly putting sustainability high on their priorities when choosing a Higher Education provider, in addition to security and empathy, and a responsible brand they can trust in a changing world. With sustainability at the heart of driving transformation through innovative use of technology, data and insights, we must collaborate with real change in mind. We are delighted to be hosting this event for Advanced HE, which will be a thought provoking, action orientated and inspiring day. We look forward to welcoming you on 7 June. 

PwC

Shakespeare Martineau have been providing full service legal advice to education institutions since 1900 and now act for over 100 further and higher education institutions. With a long-standing involvement in and commitment to the education law sector, our team have extensive experience across all legal issues that affect the sector, guiding and supporting our clients through challenges and opportunities.

The firm’s purpose is clear; to unlock potential, and its ambitions are unlimited; aiming to become one of the most admired top 30 legal & professional services groups by 2025.

Shakespeare Martineau has been listed in Best Companies 2021 as an outstanding company to work for, including as a top 10 law firm, a top 100 Midlands best company and top 75 large London company to work for. With more than 1,000 people, Shakespeare Martineau has offices in Sheffield, Lincoln, Nottingham, Leicester, Birmingham, London, Milton Keynes, Stratford-upon-Avon, Solihull, Bristol and Edinburgh.

SHMA

Related content

Sustainability Conference 2023: sharing success in sustainability

Senior and strategic leaders in higher education attended Advance HE’s first-ever Sustainability Conference on 7 June, in collaboration with Conference Partners PwC and Shakespeare Martineau our supporting Partners.

Aligning organisational strategy to Sustainable Development Goals: Projects and Workshops

Advance HE in collaboration with Times Higher Consultancy have developed a range of products for institutions and governments to support the higher education sector to promote and utilise the SDGs to drive institutional change across research and culture, curricula and civic responsibility.