Alistair Jarvis CBE
Chief Executive
Alistair Jarvis CBE is the Chief Executive of Advance HE. From 2022 to 2025, he was a Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of London. As a member of the senior executive team his responsibilities included communications, fundraising, marketing, legal, governance support, student recruitment, diversity and inclusion, regulatory compliance, academic quality assurance, partnerships and building relationships internationally.
He was CEO of Universities UK from 2017 to 2022. Leading the representative body for the UK’s 140 universities – a registered charity and six subsidiary entities – his role included influencing policy, strategy and member engagement. Before this, he was Deputy CEO and Director of External Relations since 2013.
Kathryn Harrison-Graves
Deputy Chief Executive
In this role, Kathryn leads Advance HE’s service development, ensuring that the organisation meets the changing needs of its members and partners, both within the UK and across the globe. From 2001 to 2012 Kathryn held a number of teaching and learning focused roles within specialist land-based higher education.
David Bass
Director for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
David is responsible for providing organisational leadership in our work on EDI, both internally and externally. He brings a wealth of experience working with universities and the tertiary sector, in equality and diversity, governance, access, as well as strategic planning and management. David has been central to ensuring EDI is strongly embedded in Advance HE’s new strategy and in the development of our CEO’s Race Action Group.
Hannah Harris
Head of Corporate Support and Company Secretary
Hannah Harris is responsible for ensuring that Advance HE complies with its statutory and regulatory requirements and maintains high standard of corporate governance practice. She oversees all governance arrangements providing advice and guidance in relation to the conduct and running of Board and committee meetings and leads Advance HE’s approach to risk management.
