Governance SIG
About the Governance SIG
AHEP’s Governance SIG was launched in 2019 to bring together anyone in a HE professional services role with a professional specialism, remit or interest in corporate and/or academic governance.
We want to create a community for all those who work in different areas of governance and those who seek to understand more about this essential and diverse area of work.
We are really pleased that over 220 people from a range of institutions across the UK have already joined the network and look forward to working with you to see this continue to grow and develop. Everyone is welcome.
What can you expect from the Governance SIG?
– Fostered connections across the diverse HE sector between professionals involved in governance activity.
– A space for sharing best practice and giving/receiving mutual support.
– A strong focus on professional development in this space through wider links for the SIG with AHUA, CUC, Advance HE and others.
To access more information and become a member of this SIG, sign into your AHEP account. Not an AHEP member? Join now!
Meet the Coordinators
Katherine Wass, Governance SIG Coordinator
Governance and Projects Officer
University of Bradford
I became involved in the association through the PGCert in Higher Education Administration, Management and Leadership. Something I decided to undertake to develop my knowledge of HE as someone who was quite new to the sector. Having previously worked in the Financial Services sector, I can confirm the differences are substantial!
In 2018 I moved to a role in the University Governance Team and was looking at options to develop my knowledge and network in this area. I could not find anything that was really sector specific and aimed at my level. I decided to approach the association about creating a new themed network. It turned out I was not alone, and the association agreed to merge the proposal with one that had been put forward by colleagues from Newman University and the University of Leicester. In late 2019 the Governance Themed Network was born, with 3 Co-leads, lots of ideas and enthusiasm. In 2023 there are two AHEP Governance SIG Co-ordinators and we are developing several exciting plans.
I look forward to seeing you at one of our events.
Alison Benson, Governance SIG Coordinator
Deputy Secretary and Head of Compliance
De Montfort University
In the day job, Alison has been Deputy Secretary and Head of Compliance at De Montfort University since September 2024. In this role she deputises for the Registrar and Secretary, provides strategic leadership for the operation of governance and compliance activities and oversees the Corporate Governance, Information Governance and Executive Services functions. Prior to joining DMU she was Strategic Planning Manager (Governance) at the University of Leicester from 2019-2024, and Senior Manager (Governance) at the Open University from 2016-2019. In both roles she worked across a variety of corporate and academic governance processes and managed portfolios of governance projects with a particular focus on effectiveness.
Alison has over 13 years of experience in governance management roles across a variety of complex, highly-regulated sectors including national museums and academy schools as well as higher education.
Alison is committed to professional development and has been an AHEP member ever since joining the HE sector. Alongside her work she is completing a Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship at DMU.