This event in partnership with the BUFDG will consider early warning signs around financial sustainability, both financial and non-financial, highlight the importance of timely and accurate information – and explore the interplay between the executive team, committees and the Board, including how do you know you have the right information at the right time.
Who is the programme for?
This event is designed for all governors (not just those who hold financial qualifications/expertise), including Chairs and independent members, as well as Finance Committee members and Committee Chairs who are responsible for financial oversight. It is also relevant for University Secretaries and both staff and student governors seeking to strengthen their understanding of governance in a financial context. Chief Financial Officers and Finance Directors may also find the programme valuable as contributors, supporting the development of effective practice at the interface between finance and governance.
Booking Information
We are pleased to offer a 5% early booking discount on bookings made before 31 August 2026:
Event type
Governance
Event summary
This event explores the complexity of universities and their financial environments, drawing on recent financial information and emerging sector trends.
Event times
Wed 14 Oct 2026 – Wed 14 Oct 2026
Event prices
| GCPD Financial Assurance for HE Boards 26/27 – Member Ticket | Member Ticket | £245 |
| GCPD Financial Assurance for HE Boards 26/27 – Early Booking Member Ticket | Member Ticket (Early Bird) | £235 |
| GCPD Financial Assurance for HE Boards 26/27 – Non-Member Ticket | Non-Member ticket | £325 |
| GCPD Financial Assurance for HE Boards 26/27 – Early Booking Non-Member Ticket | Non-Member Ticket (Early Bird) | £310 |
Learning Outcomes
- Strengthen financial assurance at governing body level, aligning this clearly with the institution’s strategy and developing understanding of the role of committees in supporting effective oversight.
- Create a plan to show how the finance cycle fits with the governance cycle, and how this can be managed in practice across the year.
- Identify key tips for induction that support governing body members to engage confidently with financial responsibilities.
Speakers
Karel Thomas MBE
Executive Director
Karel has worked in higher education since 1993, when she made a career change from banking, and financial systems. Since joining BUFDG in 2003, Karel has built a great team of colleagues, and gathered a lot of information and contacts that she uses for the benefit of BUFDG members, the H E sector, and Financial Services. In 2012 she was the founding Executive Director of Professional HE Services Ltd but passed the company to other capable administrative hands as it expanded, to concentrate on BUFDG. She has a degree in Banking and Finance from Loughborough University, is a member of the London Institute of Banking and Finance (ACIB), and was awarded an MBE in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours for services to Higher Education.
Rachel Ward
Learning and Development Manager
Rachel is BUFDG's Learning and Development evangelist, and has a wealth of experience in communications and marketing. She joined BUFDG in 2016 from a well known supermarket chain where she led the learning and development for their clothing business. She has a degree in Geography and an MBA from the University of Liverpool.
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