Develop the confidence, judgement and capability to lead transformation in a complex and rapidly changing higher education environment
Higher education leaders are being asked to make increasingly significant decisions about people, resources, technology and organisational priorities. Financial constraints, evolving student expectations, workforce challenges, digital transformation and AI are reshaping institutions at pace.
This highly interactive workshop series helps leaders strengthen the judgement, confidence and capability needed to navigate complex organisational challenges while maintaining trust, engagement and institutional purpose. Participants explore how to make informed and defensible decisions when priorities compete, resources are constrained and there are no straightforward answers.
Why this series of workshops?
Participants explore how to make difficult decisions when resources are constrained, balance financial sustainability with academic priorities, work with organisational insight and local intelligence, lead people through uncertainty, understand the implications of AI-enabled change and align culture, people and systems with institutional strategy. Throughout the series, participants are encouraged to examine assumptions, consider multiple perspectives and strengthen their capacity for informed judgement.
What Will You Gain?
Develop the confidence and capability to make informed decisions in complex and uncertain environments.
Strengthen your understanding of resources, sustainability and organisational priorities to support effective decision-making.
Build your ability to lead people through transformation, maintain engagement and navigate complexity with purpose.
Prepare for AI-enabled transformation by understanding emerging opportunities, risks and future workforce capabilities.
Who is it relevant for:
- Designed for Heads of Department or Schools
- Deans, Associate Deans
- Directors, Senior Academic Leaders
- Heads of Organisational Development
- Transformation and Change Leaders
- Executive Directors
- Directors/Heads of professional services
- Senior Professional Services Leaders
Leading Transformation with People, Purpose and Insight helps senior leaders strengthen their judgement, develop a deeper understanding of organisational dynamics and explore practical approaches for leading complex change while maintaining trust, culture and performance.
Fiona Lennoxsmith, Head of Leadership, Governance & Management, Advance HE
The online workshops
Workshop One
AI and Organisational Design in a Changing Organisation
11 February 2027 | 8:00 am – 11:00 am UTC+0
Explore competing perspectives on how AI may reshape leadership, workforce capability, organisational design and institutional strategy.
- AI and workforce transformation
- Organisational agility and adaptability
- Technology governance and risk
- Future workforce capabilities
Workshop Two
Working with Organisational Insight: Data, Culture and Local Signals
15 April 2027 | 7:00 am – 10:00 am UTC
Examine how leaders interpret evidence and local signals, and how assumptions influence organisational decision-making.
- Interpreting quantitative and qualitative insight
- Using student and staff intelligence
- Identifying assumptions and blind spots
- Building defensible decisions
Workshop Three
Research Leadership Through Complexity: Judgement, Culture and Purpose
10 June 2027 | 7:00 am – 10:00 am UTC
Explore the financial, strategic and policy challenges affecting research environments.
- Research strategy and investment
- Research culture and wellbeing
- Funding and resource allocation
- Leading through uncertainty
Programme Approach
Project Lead
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.
