Despite progress across the sector, women remain under-represented at the most senior levels of higher education leadership. Advance HE’s Senior Women’s Leadership Development Programme is designed to support women in senior roles to extend their influence, shape institutional direction, and take the next step in their leadership journey.
This programme provides a reflective and challenging space for senior women to explore the realities of leadership within complex organisational systems. It combines practical insight into key strategic areas – such as finance, governance, and decision-making – with a deeper exploration of leadership identity, presence, and influence.
Participants engage with the political and cultural dynamics of higher education, build confidence in operating at the most senior levels, and develop the networks and support needed to sustain their leadership impact.
Programme outcomes
Through the programme, participants will:
- Strengthen their leadership presence and confidence to contribute effectively in senior decision-making environments
- Develop strategic capability in finance, governance, and institutional frameworks
- Build insight into organisational politics, power, and influence within higher education
- Enhance their understanding of their leadership style, values, and long-term impact
- Develop strategies to navigate complexity, challenge, and change in senior roles
- Expand their networks and build supportive relationships with peers across the sector
- Increase their capacity to influence organisational culture and contribute to institutional and sector-wide leadership
Booking information
5% early booking discount — book before 30 September 2026
Event type
Open Programme
Event times
Thu 19 Nov 2026 – Thu 25 Feb 2027
Event prices
| Senior Women’s Leadership Programme 26/27: Member Ticket | Member Ticket | £3170 |
| Senior Women’s Leadership Programme 26/27: Early Booking Member Ticket | Member Ticket (Early Bird) | £3010 |
| Senior Women’s Leadership Programme 26/27: Early Booking Non-Member ticket | Non-Member Ticket (Early Bird) | £4005 |
| Senior Women’s Leadership Programme 26/27: Non-Member Ticket | Non-Member ticket | £4215 |
Who is Senior Women’s Leadership Development Programme for?
This programme is designed for women in senior academic and professional services roles such as professors, heads of department, deputy directors and directors, who are not yet at executive level but may aspire to be executive team members or be working closely already with their senior executive team.
I think the SWLDP has made me feel more confident in my abilities as a leader. The allyship of knowing that we all had similar worries, issues and feelings of imposter syndrome made me feel that was normal and not something that should hold me back in my leadership ambitions.
Tessa Assadian, Northumbria University
I really think the programme could be career defining for me as a result of the decisions I have made off the back of it.
Joanne Trueman, The Open University
Dr Anne-Marie Evans from York St John University discusses her experience on our Senior Women’s Leadership Development Programme and recommends it for the supportive conversation, and boost to confidence and leadership visibility.
How is the programme delivered?
Taking place virtually over the course of 4 months, the Senior Women’s Leadership Development Programme consists of a half day introductory session and five one-day development days.
Day 1: Introduction to Senior Women Leading (19 November 2026│14:00-17:00 GMT)
– Introducing the remits of the programme: key principles and frameworks – Building a safe container for deep leadership explorations – Setting the scene for Senior Women’s Leadership in the current HE context
Day 2: Finance and Governance in leadership (2 December 2026│09:40-16:30 GMT)
– Exploring the organisational and decision-making frameworks of the UK’s HEIs – Examining universities’ Annual Report and Accounts or equivalent publicly available financial data – Understanding funding and finance, governance, accountability and regulation contexts of the higher education sector
Day 3: Finance and Governance in leadership (3 December 2026│09:40-16:30 GMT)
-Developing practical strategies for navigating organisational frameworks in HE – Using a real play methodology to explore decision making at the executive level – Applying scenarios for planning financial sustainability in universities
Day 4: Action Learning Sets (12-15 January 2027│10:00-15:00 GMT)
Halfway through the programme the participants meet in smaller groups for their action learning sets. You will be encouraged to discuss practical issues pertinent to their leadership roles and work on solutions using the collective intelligence of the group through non-directive, coaching approaches. Attendance will be required at one of the four dates between 12-15 January.
Day 5: Organisational politics and culture in HE (8 February 2027│09:30-16:00 GMT)
– Using Mythodrama to understand organisational culture and politics in higher education – Developing practical skills to influence positive organisational changes – Working with real life scenarios to impact the internal politics
Day 6: Leading the New: your leadership purpose, presence and impact (25 February 2027│09:30-15:30 GMT)
– Exploring leadership skills needed in the current HE context – Understanding your unique leadership style – Learning about successful leadership from senior women leaders – Enhancing leadership impact by developing your personal purpose and presence
Delivery team
Facilitators
Barbara Bassa
Senior Consultant, Leadership and Organisational Development
Barbara Bassa is Senior Consultant for Women's Leadership, Programme Director and Executive Coach at Advance HE. She leads a portfolio of national and international leadership programmes, including Aurora, Senior Women's Leadership Development (UK and Ireland), She Leads (International Women's Leadership Development), Dowira (Women’s Leadership Development for the Ukrainian Higher Education Sector), and programmes focusing on academic transformation and organisational resilience.
Deborah Harry
Deborah joined the Royal Northern College of Music in February 2024 as Director of Finance and has had wide experience in the Higher Education sector, most recently as Chief Finance and Planning Officer at Sheffield Hallam University and previously in CFO/FD positions at the Universities of Lincoln, Northampton, and Cranfield School of Management. She is currently co-chair of the All FDs group of the British Universities Finance Directors Group (BUFDG), representing Smaller HEPs.
Simone Clarke
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Education and Students
Simone has over 25 years of experience working in a range of academic and leadership roles in a diverse range of universities in England and Wales. Simone taught undergraduates during her doctoral studies and worked as a post-doctoral research fellow on an interdisciplinary history and computing project before beginning her career in professional services.
Phyllida Hancock
Associate
Phyllida is a workshop designer and facilitator, focusing on leadership and organisational development. Her interest is in the physical embodiment of leadership and she specialises in coaching people to be present and impactful in their communication.
Read our Delegate Terms & Conditions for Programmes and Events here.
