- Independent analysis and review of higher education institutions’ performance against their strategic ambitions and aims in terms of financial cost base, operating model, academic performance, identity, profile and reputation.
- Support and guidance to Vice Chancellors/Principals and Chairs - and the wider Executive Teams and Governing Body as appropriate. For example, with respect to strategy development, implementation and delivery; addressing challenging circumstances and delivering sustainable and impactful change, including financial and academic performance turnaround; executive team structure and performance; effective governance arrangements; and engaging meaningfully with staff, students, unions and external stakeholders.
- Serving as the independent expert advisor on Boards and Committees
- Confidential one-on-one support for Vice Chancellors/Principals and senior leaders through a mentoring or coaching role, particularly at points of role transition and significant challenge.
- Support and guidance to Chairs and Boards of higher education institutions, especially during periods of transition and change.
- Support and guidance to institutions in working effectively with their banks and other financial institutions in university turnaround and to secure private investment.
These are turbulent times for Higher Education Institutes. As a learning organisation, we wanted to get an informed, external view on our strategy and to understand our gaps. We commissioned Susan to carry out a review to help us identify how we could significantly improve our performance to make us sustainable for the future.
Susan put enormous care and professionalism into this mission and delivered in a very intense time period. Her engagement with colleagues was open and empathetic and she handled sensitivities constructively. Susan’s final report was clear, holistic and strategic. She clearly highlighted areas for development and made practical, helpful suggestions for next steps.
I found Susan very easy to work with and her knowledge of the sector, ability to listen and strategic understanding are second to none.