About
Most recently, Christine served as University Secretary at the University of Wolverhampton, where she was responsible for governance, legal affairs, compliance, information governance, risk management, business continuity, health and safety, and executive oversight of human resources and equality, diversity and inclusion. During her tenure, she led substantial improvements to governance frameworks, regulatory compliance processes and board effectiveness, alongside transforming legal service delivery and strengthening organisational assurance arrangements.
Prior to this, Christine was University Secretary at Cardiff Metropolitan University, where she was a member of the Executive Team and Clerk to the Board of Governors. She led services including governance, legal affairs, strategy and planning, compliance, risk management, equality and Welsh standards. She played a key role in the institution’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and delivered a significant governance transformation programme that improved organisational decision-making, compliance culture and regulatory assurance.
Christine’s earlier career includes serving as Head of Performance & Governance at Somerset West and Taunton Council, where she helped establish governance and operating arrangements for the newly merged authority, and over a decade at the University of Bristol as Science Faculty Manager, leading strategic planning and operational delivery across a large and complex academic faculty. She also held policy and advisory roles with the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).
Alongside her executive career, Christine has undertaken consultancy and interim assignments across the higher education sector, working with organisations including SUMS Group, Advance HE and GatenbySanderson. Her work has focused on governance reviews, compliance, Senate effectiveness, sector policy and leadership development.
Christine has extensive experience working with governing bodies, executive teams, regulators and stakeholders to build effective governance cultures, improve organisational performance and support strategic change. Her particular interests include board effectiveness, regulatory compliance, institutional governance, organisational design, risk management and transformational leadership.
She holds an MA with Distinction in Medieval Studies from the University of York and a BA in History of Art from the University of Calgary.
