

Ten Years of the Higher Education & Research Act and the Future of the Sector
HEPI and Shearwater Global are pleased to invite you to this half-day conference to mark ten years of the Higher Education & Research Act.
A decade ago, the legislation behind the Office for Students, TEF and UKRI was completing its journey through Parliament. Ten years on, with a range of complex issues facing the sector, this conference will examine what has changed since and what should come next for higher education and UK research and innovation.
We are bringing together a high-profile panel of speakers – including those involved in shaping the legislation at the time – alongside an audience of expert sector delegates. Speakers include:
09:30-10:00 Arrivals
09:55-10:00 Welcome
10:00-10:45 Panel 1: The Student Experience
Nick Hillman (Chair), CEO of HEPI
Eve Alcock, Executive Director of External Affairs, QAA
Professor David Phoenix, Vice-Chancellor of The Open University
Alex Proudfoot, Chief Executive, Independent Higher Education
Lewis Wilson, Vice President for Higher Education (England) at the National Union of Students (NUS)
10:45-11:30 Panel 2: Research, Innovation & Economic Growth
Daniel Gilbert (Chair), Partner, Shearwater Global
Professor Dame Jessica Corner, Executive Chair, Research England
Professor David Sweeney, first Executive Chair, Research England
Dr Alicia Greated, Executive Director, CaSE
Stephen Jones, Director, Core Cities
We will pause at 11am for a two minute silence.
11:30-12:15 Panel 3: The Big Picture: The Future of Higher Education
Mary Curnock Cook CBE (Chair)
Lord Johnson, Former Minister of State for Universities and Science
Ruth Hannant, Chief Executive, Office for Students
Sir Philip Augar, co-author of the 2019 Post-18 Education and Funding Review
Steph Harris, Director of Policy, Universities UK
12:30-13:30 Networking Lunch
A pause will be scheduled on the agenda for 11am on 11 November.