Leading change is no longer an occasional leadership challenge. It is now a core part of everyday leadership practice.
Change Ready Leaders is a series of practical 90-minute online sessions designed for leaders navigating continuous change across higher education. Through expert-led discussions, real-world examples and immediately applicable tools, participants will develop the confidence, capability and leadership mindset needed to support teams, implement change and create positive organisational impact.
Aligned to the Framework for Leading in Higher Education, the series strengthens leadership capability at the heart of institutional transformation, helping leaders translate institutional priorities into meaningful action while supporting people through uncertainty and change.
The Challenge
Leaders across higher education are increasingly expected to navigate complexity, implement change and support their teams through periods of uncertainty.
Whether responding to organisational transformation, workforce redesign, evolving student expectations or new ways of working, leaders often find themselves balancing competing priorities while maintaining engagement, wellbeing and performance.
Many are required to lead change without access to the practical tools, shared leadership language or development opportunities needed to do so with confidence.
Why This Matters
The success of institutional transformation depends on leaders who can help people make sense of change, build commitment and sustain momentum over time.
As institutions continue to evolve, developing confident, capable and adaptable leaders is essential to ensuring strategic priorities are translated into meaningful outcomes for staff, students and the wider organisation.
Stay up to date with the latest information about Change Ready Leaders, including session topics, dates and booking information.
Are you interested in joining?
Five Online Sessions
Change in higher education is rarely a single event. It emerges through shifting priorities, evolving expectations, new ways of working and ongoing uncertainty. This series follows the leadership journey of change, helping participants understand the context for change, engage others effectively, support teams through transition, embed new approaches in practice and sustain progress over time. Each workshop can be attended as a standalone session or as a series. Together they provide a connected framework for leading change in complex environments.
Session 1
Understanding Change
Expert Lead: Sarah Hubbard
Explore different types of change and develop greater clarity about your role, context and opportunities for influence. This session helps leaders make sense of the challenges they face and identify where they can have the greatest impact.
Session 2
Engaging People
Expert Lead: TBC
Explore how leaders can create engagement, trust and shared ownership during change. The session focuses on bringing people into the change process and building commitment through meaningful involvement.
Session 3
Supporting Teams
Expert Lead: Laura Cream
Explore the conditions that enable teams to adapt and thrive during periods of change. Participants will consider how leaders can create supportive environments that encourage openness, contribution and learning.
Session 4
New Ways of Working
Expert Lead: TBC
Explore how leaders can support the adoption of new approaches, behaviours and ways of working. The session focuses on translating change into practical action and embedding it within day-to-day organisational life.
Session 5
Sustaining Change
Expert Lead: Dan Persaud
Explore how leaders can maintain momentum while supporting wellbeing in the context of ongoing change. Participants will consider how to create the conditions for sustainable progress over the longer term.
Who is it relevant for:
This series is designed for academic and professional services leaders who play a key role in implementing change and supporting teams across their institution. It will be particularly relevant for:
- Associate Deans and Deans
- Heads of Department
- Heads of School
- Heads of Service
- Associate Directors and Assistant Directors
- Academic leaders
- Professional services leaders
- Emerging and middle leaders with responsibility for leading change
Project Leads
Fiona Lennoxsmith
Head of Leadership, Governance & Management
Fiona Lennoxsmith is Head of Leadership, Governance & Management at Advance HE, where she leads a team of senior consultants to design and facilitate innovative leadership interventions, programmes and thought leadership for the Higher Education sector.
Hannah Fromageau
Senior Consultant in Leadership and Organisational Development
Hannah Fromageau is a Senior Consultant in Leadership and Management at Advance HE. She is an experienced consultant and coach with expertise in leading and managing leadership development programmes for staff within higher education and research environments.
Expert Speakers Include
Sarah Hubbard
Senior Consultant, Senior Leadership and Strategic Transformation at Advance HE
Sarah works with universities and higher education organisations in the UK and internationally to support leadership, organisational effectiveness, culture change and transformation.
Laura Cream
Strategic Consultancy
Laura is a specialist in working with leaders and their teams to give them the confidence and tools to explore new culture change routes and find new destinations as a result. Her expertise lies in working with organisations to establish a culture of openness in which people and ideas can thrive, difficult subjects can be tackled rather than avoided, and new solutions found to intractable problems.
Dan Persaud
Associate, Advance HE
Dan Persaud has over 25 years’ experience in higher education. A qualified social worker, he has a particular interest in the wellbeing of university communities and has held leadership positions at the University of Warwick and the University of Melbourne. He has provided consultancy and advice to universities, government agencies, charities and public sector organisations in the UK and internationally.
