Career growth in HE… it’s closer than you think!
Are you keen to progress in your Higher Education (HE) professional services career but unsure of your next step? You don’t need a detailed roadmap—just the ability to spot and seize opportunities as they arise. Spare one hour of your day and join us for an engaging and interactive hybrid session with speaker Stephen McAuliffe (Executive Director of Business and People Services, Royal Holloway, University of London) on Wednesday 26 February, designed exclusively for Anglia and London Network members.
Why Spotting Opportunities is Essential for Your HE Career:
In Higher Education professional services, career progression isn’t always about following a predefined path—it’s about recognising the right opportunities at the right time. Unlike some sectors with clear-cut promotion routes, HE is a dynamic and evolving environment where new roles, projects, and initiatives emerge constantly. The ability to identify and act on these moments can make all the difference in shaping your career.
Through a mix of presentations, activities, and discussions, the session will explore practical tools and insights to support your professional and career development for professional services in HE. This session will help you reflect on your long-term aspirations while uncovering immediate steps to progress. Forget the need for a rigid career plan—opportunities for growth are everywhere in HE, and this session will show you how to recognise, embrace, and leverage them to advance your career.
What to Expect:
Insightful discussions on career progression in HE professional services
Practical tools to help you recognise and act on opportunities
Interactive activities to reflect on your aspirations and next steps
Networking with like-minded peers
HE is full of golden opportunities—you just need to know where to look! Whether you’re considering a new role, looking for development opportunities, or simply want to be prepared for what’s next, this session will help you build the confidence and awareness to take the next step.
Don’t miss this chance to gain valuable guidance, network with peers, and take control of your professional journey! Register now.
We look forward to welcoming you to this event.

Stephen McAuliffe, Executive Director of Business and People Services, Royal Holloway, University of London
About Stephen…
Stephen is the Executive Director of Business and People Services at Royal Holloway. The directorates reporting in to him include Estates, IT Services, Commercial Services, Library and Cultural Services, Strategic Communication and Marketing, Research and Innovation and Human Resources. Stephen joined Royal Holloway in June 2024 from the University of Nottingham where in his role as Deputy Registrar, he co-chaired the University Operations Board and provided cross-university leadership on strategic projects. He has significant experience in professional services education leadership too, serving as Academic Registrar at Birmingham prior to that at Essex.
He has been in the Higher Education sector for 25 years starting as the president of a student union that has provided a student-first foundation for much of his career. He has worked on major estate projects, led a careers service, a student services function, digital transformations, curriculum change, wider HR transformations, transnational education, student recruitment and external relations work, as well as serving on major institutional boards and with council. He says that he works in the sector because he enjoys being a part of something that makes a positive difference to peoples’ lives. He serves as a governor of South and City College Birmingham and has previously been the chair of the Academic Registrar’s Council.
Interested in attending but not yet a member of AHEP? Our free events are typically only available to AHEP members, with exclusive access to a variety of opportunities throughout the year. If you’re considering membership but not quite sure about becoming a full paid member, why not try our ‘Intro to AHEP’ offering and get a taste of AHEP and our community of HE professionals.
We encourage non-members to register for full membership to gain full access to all of our free events.
Details in brief
Venue: Online, MS Teams or Windsor Building 0-05, Egham Campus (for RHUL members and staff)
Date: Wednesday, 26th February 2025
Duration: 15:00 – 16:00
If you would like further information before booking, please email Alexandra de Guzman (AHEP Membership Coordinator)