We caught up with AHEP member Kathryn Whittingham, to hear her thoughts on HE in Australia. Kathryn has been semi-retired since 2020, having moved into higher education from the UK Civil Service in 1988, and was the first professional member of university staff recruited to an Australian institution from outside the country. She has extensive experience of the sector, working in seven institutions across three countries and two hemispheres.

We caught up with two conference delegates who shared their experience of being funded to attend through the conference bursary scheme.

Back in the mists of time I was a member of the CUA (Conference of University Administrators) which predated the AUA! I remember going to some great conferences in Belfast and Manchester in the early 90s and attended an in-depth thorough week-long course on committee servicing at Liverpool University, where we had a memorable and captivating after-dinner poetry recital from Roger McGough.  

Having attended a number of conferences in my previous career, this experience was without doubt the best, most diverse, inclusive, relevant, supportive, accessible and welcoming conference I have ever attended, especially as a first-time delegate and presenter, and I hope that I have conveyed that in this article.

‘The PGCert was something that really jumped out at me and I think the fact that there was a clear pathway to a masters was very attractive, which, ultimately, I knew I wanted to do in order to develop both academically and professionally’.

As higher education grapples with a multitude of challenges that require the sector to reinvent itself, HE professionals are acutely aware of their need to evolve to keep pace.