The Chartered ABS Professional Managers Annual Conference (PMAC) is the yearly gathering of professional services teams working in, and for, UK business schools. The conference is a supportive environment in which common challenges can be discussed, new networks formed, and fresh ideas created.
PMAC 2021 will be a fully online event and will take fully advantage of the opportunities afforded by technology. The programme is in development and alongside the high-level keynote sessions, the interactive breakout sessions, and networking opportunities that are a hallmark of the conference; there will be a range of international speakers and valuable asynchronous content.
Speakers include:
Professor Judith Petts CBE
Vice-Chancellor, University of Plymouth; Climate Commissioner
Professor Amir Sharif
Associate Dean (International and Accreditations), University of Bradford, School of Management
Hema Tank
Managing Director, Higher Education, The London Institute of Banking and Finance
Dr Iwi Ugiagbe-Green
Associate Professor, Leeds University Business School
Dr Andrew Glanfield
Director of Administration, Cardiff Business School; Fellow, Chartered ABS
Dr Kendi Guantai
Senior Teaching Fellow, University of Leeds Business School; Vice Chair, Chartered ABS Race Equality Action Group
Sonia Singh
Business Development & Mentoring Officer, School of Business and Management, Queen Mary University of London
Professor Petra Molthan-Hill
Professor of Sustainable Management and Education for Sustainable Development, Nottingham Business School and Head of NTU Green Academy
James Norman
Head of Operations and Business Service, Essex Business School
Merrill Jones
Head of Professional Services, University of Sussex Business School
Amy Norton
Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Office for Students
Fiona Ritchie
School Administration Manager, University of Aberdeen Business School
Emi Chiu
School Manager, Huddersfield Business School
Professor Mohammad Ali
Dean, Royal Docks School of Business and Law
Dina Dajani
Head of Marketing, Analytics and Communications, London School of Economics and Political Science
Join us to explore:
- The future direction of business & management education and the role of professional services teams in finding the right balance between online and face-to-face delivery
- Addressing digital poverty among students and better supporting students from disadvantaged groups
- Recruiting and inducting new staff during a pandemic and creating resilient and supportive teams
- Creative ways to optimise the use of physical assets and exploring the sorts of buildings that business schools will need in the future
- Tackling racial inequality and creating cultures of diversity and inclusion among staff and students
- The role of professional services in driving organisational change initiatives during a period of uncertainty and unrest
"A fantastic opportunity to network with like minded people - a good reminder that we all experience similar issues and can overcome them with innovative solutions"
Feedback from PMAC 2020
Day One: Wednesday 28 April
13:00 - 14:00
Keynote panel discussion
Operating in extraordinary times
In this opening session a high-level panel will reflect on how business schools have responded to the challenges of Covid-19; on the new opportunities that the pandemic has created for learning & teaching, research and business engagement; and on the strategic priorities for business schools in the months ahead. Particular attention will be paid to the role that professional services staff play in delivering business school strategy in these extraordinary times.
Professor Mohammad Ali, Dean, Royal Docks School of Business and Law
Professor Robert MacIntosh, Head, School of Social Sciences, Heriot-Watt University; Chair, Chartered ABS
Amanda Oliver, Director of College Operations, Brunel University London; Chair, Association of University Administrators
Moderator: Emm Barnes, Strategic Project Manager, School of Business and Management, Queen Mary University of London; Chair, Chartered ABS Professional Managers Committee
14:00 - 14:30
Break
14:30 - 15:30
Marketing & student recruitment
Recruiting international students during, and after, a pandemic
Reflecting on the experiences of recruiting international students in 2020-21 and exploring the prospects for international student enrolments for 2021-22.
Dina Dajani, Head of Marketing, Analytics and Communications, London School of Economics and Political Science
Fiona Ritchie, School Administration Manager, University of Aberdeen Business School
Professor Amir Sharif, Associate Dean (International & Accreditations), Faculty of Management, Law & Social Sciences, University of Bradford
Chair: Professor Agnes Nairn, International Director, Faculty of Social Science and Law, University of Bristol
Student experience
Supporting student mental health and wellbeing
A candid discussion between business school staff and students about the effectiveness of the provision that is being given to support student mental health and wellbeing and what institutions need to do to ensure students are supported in future.
Ripa Parvin, Student Support Officer, School of Business and Management, Queen Mary University of London
Alan Percy, Head of Counselling, University of Oxford; Chair of MWBHE (Mental Wellbeing in Higher Education/Advance HE) 2018-21
Anne Rowan, International Student Advisor, Queen's Management School
Dr Alicia Peña Bizama, Life Tools Service Manager, Student Wellbeing Service, University of Reading
Chair: Janine Ellis, Head of School Operations, Alliance Manchester Business School
14:30 - 15:30
Leaders and managers
Recruiting and onboarding new staff
Exploring the challenges that have been faced in bringing new professional services staff on board during an extended period of remote working; and what team leaders and managers can do to embed new staff whilst working remotely.
Lesley Glass, Associate Dean, Visiting Lecturer Development, Hertfordshire Business School
Dr Karl Knox, Associate Dean Recruitment, International & Partnerships, University of Bedfordshire Business School
Sonia O’Hare, School Manager, Queen’s Management School
Nicky Randall, Head of Resources and Planning, Faculty of Business and Social Sciences, Kingston University
School administration
Managing the health and safety of staff working on campus
Exploring the various approaches that are being taken to support the health and safety of staff when working on campus; and the longer-term priorities to create safe working environments for business school staff.
Nicola Hallas, Mental Health First Aider, Dispute Resolution Facilitator, Director of Operations, LSBU Business School
Don Rintoul, School Manager, School of Management, University of Bristol
Chair: David Stannard, Director of Administration, Henley Business School
15:30 - 16:00
Break
16:00 - 17:00
Roundtable discussions. School administration, Student experience, Marketing & student recruitment, Learning & teaching support, Leaders & managers
Enabling and delivering the strategic objectives of our business schools
The purpose of these discussions is to explore the role professional services staff play in enabling and delivering strategic objectives. The discussions are an opportunity for those with common interests to have in-depth discussion in a relaxed and supportive environment. Each discussion is limited to a maximum of 18 participants and everyone will be expected to have their camera/microphone enabled and actively contribute to the discussion.
Discussions include:
Future working habits of professional services staff: On campus vs working from home
Nicky Randall, Head of Resources and Planning, Faculty of Business and Social Sciences, Kingston University
Susan Steggles, Faculty Manager, Stirling Management School, University of Stirling
Improving diversity and inclusion among business school staff (academic and professional services
Emm Barnes, Strategic Project Manager, School of Business and Management, Queen Mary University of London
Assessing the financial implications of the pandemic
David Meech Mazumdar, Department Manager – Strategic Planning & Development, Department of Management, LSE
The only certainty is uncertainty: Working practices in light of Covid-19
Matthew Moir, School Business Manager, School of Business and Creative Industries, University of the West of Scotland
Colleague engagement – discussion on new and existing channels for engaging staff both remotely and in-person
Kathryn Howard, Content and Communications Manager, Alliance Manchester Business School
17:00
End of Day One
Day Two: Thursday 29 April
9:00 - 10:00
Keynote panel discussion
Responding to the climate emergency
In this session we explore the pressing need for business schools, and their parent universities, to take meaningful climate action. Particular attention will be paid to the ways in which professional services teams can enable change through a school’s operational strategy, student/alumni action, teaching and research.
Professor Petra Molthan-Hill, Professor of Sustainable Management and Education for Sustainable Development, Nottingham Business School and Head of NTU Green Academy
Professor Judith Petts CBE, Vice-Chancellor, University of Plymouth; Climate Commissioner
Professor Zoe Robinson, Professor of Sustainability in Higher Education, Director of Education for Sustainability, Keele University
Professor Jaime Toney, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Solutions, University of Glasgow
Moderator: Andrew Glanfield, Director of Administration, Cardiff Business School; Fellow, Chartered ABS
10:00 - 10:30
Break
10:30 - 11:30
Leaders and managers
The mental health and wellbeing of professional services teams
Exploring the impact of the last 12 months on the mental health and wellbeing of business school professional services staff; and how leaders and managers can best support their teams through to the summer and into next academic year.
Zoë Allman, Associate Dean (Academic), De Montfort University; QAA 'Embedding mental wellbeing' Collaborative Enhancement Project Leader
Hema Tank, Managing Director, Higher Education, The London Institute of Banking and Finance
Bob McKay, Education and Student Experience Manager, Kent Business School
Dr Jummy Okoya, Senior Lecturer, Organisation Behaviour & HRM, Chair, UEL Women’s Network & Athena Swan Lead, University of East London
Learning & teaching support
Addressing the challenge of digital poverty
How business & management educators and learning & teaching teams can support the progression and attainment of students disadvantaged and marginalised by online learning.
Professor Debra Leighton, Professor in Management Practice, University of Bedfordshire Business School
Dr Cathy Minnett-Smith, Associate Dean for Learning, Teaching & Student Experience, Faculty of Business and Law, University of the West of England
10:30 - 11:30
School administration
Professional services as ‘change managers’ during reorganisations and restructuring
The role that professional services team play during institutional reorganisations and the management of associated issues such as redundancies.
Emi Chiu, School Manager, Huddersfield Business School
Stephen Ellis, formerly Dean, Regents Business School
Rachel Fryer, Director of Strategy, Planning and Resources, Faculty of Business and Law, The Open University
Chair: Paul Verrion, Director of Operations, Kent Business School
Student experience
Employability: supporting students into jobs
Exploring the challenges facing students entering the graduate jobs market in 2021/22, how Covid-19 has impact opportunities for internships and placements, and what business schools are doing to boost student’s employability.
Hiba Dabis, Career Consultant, London School of Economics and Political Science
Dr Iwi Ugiagbe-Green, Associate Professor, Leeds University Business School
Sonia Singh, Business Development & Mentoring Officer, School of Business and Management, Queen Mary University of London
Sue Thorn, Careers and Corporate Relations, Hardcastle & Associates
Chair: Steve Gaskin, Head of Student Careers, University of Plymouth
11:30 - 12:00
Break
12:00 - 13:00
Keynote panel discussion
Tackling racial inequality and improving inclusion
Exploring the challenges facing non-white staff and students and the ways in which business schools through individual and institutional action can become more culturally nuanced and diverse.
Dr Kendi Guantai, Senior Teaching Fellow, University of Leeds Business School; Vice Chair, Chartered ABS Race Equality Action Group
Dr Vanessa Iwowo, Programme Director, MSc., Human Resource Development & Consultancy, Department of Organizational Psychology, School of Business, Economics and Informatics (BEI), Birkbeck, University of London.
Amy Norton, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Office for Students
Moderator: Pradeep Passi, Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, University of Central Lancashire
13:00 - 13:30
Break
13:30 - 14:30
Student experience
Engaging with students and encouraging the student voice
Reflecting on how best to engage with students on sensitive issues and areas of complaint, and how to engage with students in a meaningful way so as to reflect the ‘student voice’ in business school strategy.
Alex 'Jazzy' Jasiulek, MSc Organizational Behaviour Candidate, London School of Economics
Andritha Rebello, MSc Human Resources and Organisations Student, London School of Economics
Andrew Rogers, Faculty Academic Director for Student Experience, University of the West of England
Chair to be announced
School administration
Managing changing needs: utilising space and physical assets post-pandemic
Exploring how Covid-19 has influenced the way in which business schools use their buildings and new ways in which to monetise physical assets.
Janine Ellis, Head of School Operations, Alliance Manchester Business School
Professor Robert MacIntosh, Head, School of Social Sciences, Heriot-Watt University; Chair, Chartered ABS
Professor Alexi Marmot, Founding Director, Global Centre for Learning Environments. Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, UCL
Chair: James Norman, Head of Operations and Business Service, Essex Business School
13:30 - 14:30
Leaders and managers
Working in partnership with Deans and senior leadership teams
Assessing the key ingredients for a successful relationship between professional services teams, senior academic colleagues and business school Deans.
Merrill Jones, Head of Professional Services, University of Sussex Business School
Yvonne Hackforth-Williams, Director of Operations, Birmingham Business School
Helen Montgomery, Fashion Business School Developments Manager, London College of Fashion
Chair: David Meech Mazumdar, Department Manager – Strategic Planning & Development, Department of Management, LSE
Marketing & student recruitment
Student recruitment and admissions: Looking ahead to September
Exploring the latest trends in business school student recruitment, and on what needs to be done between now and September to prepare for new cohorts.
Angela Chapman, Recruitment, Admissions and Diversity, Hardcastle & Associates
Joёl McConnell, Executive Director of Marketing, Recruitment and Admissions, Imperial College Business School
Dr Dawn Reilly, Associate Professor of Accounting Education, Business School, University of Greenwich
Chair: Matthew Moir, School Business Manager, School of Business and Creative Industries, University of the West of Scotland
13:30 - 14:30
Leaders and managers
Business school advisory boards: How professional services can make a difference
Exploring how professional managers can help their business schools gain greater value from their advisory boards. This session will share findings from Hardcastle & Associates' recent research and will also highlight the benefits of measuring impact and increasing board member visibility.
Sarah Hardcastle, Director, Hardcastle & Associates
Andrew Miles, Corporate Relations Manager, University of Birmingham
James Pinchbeck, Chair, Lincoln International Business School Advisory Board
Tania Easton, Strategy and Accreditation, Hardcastle & Associates
14:30 - 15:00
Break
15:00 - 16:30
Professional Development Workshops
The final part of PMAC 2021 will be given over to professional development workshops designed to help professional services staff build critical skills and behaviours.
Exploring bias in the business school
A practical workshop to explore how stereotypes and bias and can affect black, Asian and minority ethnic staff and students within the business school and steps we can take to reduce bias.
Shereen Robinson, Equality and Inclusion Project Officer, Leeds University Business School
We are all TV presenters now: Communicating effectively via lens & microphone
Julian Dismore, TV Series Producer and Media Skills Trainer, Direct Productions UK Ltd
Transform complaining into coaching: Essential coaching skills to empower you and your team
This workshop offers participants the opportunity to be trained in essential coaching tools and concepts, that will be useful in a variety of professional and personal settings. The facilitators will explore powerful questions, active listening and more, all of which can be utilised to support colleagues navigate challenge, and how to communicate with more impact. This workshop promises to be interactive, lively and informative, leaving participants equipped with skills they can use immediately and feeling inspired to take action in their own institutions.
Faye Kilgour-Neves, The ‘What If’ Coach
Dr Lorenzo Todorow, Executive Coach and Lecturer (Education) in Organisational Behaviour, UCL School of Management
16:30
Close of conference
Fees
- Members £80
- Non-members £100
- Groups of six or more £480 (Members only and up to a maximum of 15 participants after which each ticket is priced at the individual member rate.)
Not sure whether your institution is a member? Full list available here.
Note to non-members: Commercial organisations who are not sponsoring PMAC 2021 are not eligible for more than one pass. If you are from a non-member business school and you would like to purchase multiple passes please contact Pritika Pau (pritika.pau@charteredabs.org)
View the Chartered ABS policy on cancellations, transfers and substitutions.
Who should attend?
Designed in consultation with members of the Chartered ABS Professional Managers Committee and experts from across the business school community, the two-day programme is designed for the full community of professional services staff working in, and for, business schools. It will be of value to:
- Faculty Managers
- Heads of Administration
- Heads of Operations
- Accreditation Managers
- Business Partners
- Admissions Managers
- Education Managers
- Administrative Managers
- Marketing & Recruitment Managers
- Programme Managers
- School Managers
- Student Services Managers
Practical information
This section will be updated shortly with Frequently Asked Questions and other practical information.
The Chartered ABS PMAC 2021 takes place online from 28-29 April. The Conference will take full advantage of the opportunities afforded by technology and will feature high profile speakers from business schools and the HE industry, as well as international speakers and valuable asynchronous content.
The programme comprises engaging keynote sessions alongside interactive breakout sessions, and networking opportunities that are a hallmark of the conference. For more details, view the programme.
Sessions will take place within our conference portal on ‘Hopin’ and you will receive your login details by Monday 26 April. Hopin enables conference delegates to access live sessions and fully participate through either written or video chat functions.
General FAQs about Hopin
The information on this page will be updated at regular intervals prior to the conference. Please ensure you check this page before contacting us should you have any enquiries
1. What is the best internet browser to access the Conference from?
You will need to access the online conference via Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox and via a desktop/laptop. Other browsers will not work on Hopin
2. How do I log in?
The details you provided when booking your place at the conference will be uploaded to Hopin. Once your details have been uploaded, you will receive an email with your ‘unique link’ and further instructions on how to join the conference. PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY.
The ‘Virtual Doors’ of the conference will open at 10:00 on Tuesday 27 April. The programme itself will commence at 13:00 on Wednesday 28 April.
If you have any issues accessing the platform, please contact events@charteredabs.org to find out!
3. My Unique Link
Once your information has been uploaded to the platform, you will receive two emails from: Chartered Association of Business Schools <no-reply@hopin.to>.
The first email will be with the subject line: Your individual login details for PMAC 2021. Clicking on the blue button in the email will sent across the second email.
The second email will be with the subject line: You are confirmed! Join Chartered ABS PMAC 2021. Click on the blue button to join the conference.
IMPORTANT: If your default web browser is GOOGLE CHROME or MOZILLA FIREFOX, go ahead and click on the ‘Click to access PMAC 2021’ or ‘Go to Event’ blue buttons in the emails.
If your default web browser is NOT GOOGLE CHROME or MOZZILLA FIREFOX, please right-click on the ‘Click to access PMAC 2021’ and ‘Go to Event’ blue buttons and copy and paste the links to Google Chrome or Mozzilla Firefox. If your default internet browser is not Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, you will find difficulty in accessing some features of the conference platform.
You will need to go back to email one and follow the instructions above to access the conference on day two. Please keep the first email safe.
The magic link you receive is unique to your email address, the desktop/laptop you will use to attend the conference and the browser you access the conference from the first time, therefore cannot be shared with anyone.
4. Looking to share your audio and video in a session?
All sessions will be moderated by the chair and a Chartered ABS staff. If you would like to share your audio and video, you can request this to the moderator. Further details can be found in the participant guide below. Please ensure that before sharing your audio and sound, you have closed all other applications on your desktop/laptop which use your video and audio and you are accessing the platform out of your VPN network.
To check the quality of your video and audio, please click on: https://app.hopin.com/precall
5. Still unable to access the conference?
- Make sure you are using Google Chrome or Mozzila Firefox as your browser. Hopin is not supported on Safari or MS Edge
- You should use a laptop/desktop rather than a phone or tablet
- Make sure that other applications that might be using your camera or microphone (eg Teams/Zoom) are fully closed down.
- Make sure any other internet tabs are closed down.
- Make sure you are disconnected from a VPN
- For your camera and microphone to work on Hopin you must enable these in the browser.
- Still not working? Try the switch it off and on method!
For further information on how to navigate Hopin as an attendee, please click on the participant guide below.
Although we don’t anticipate any issues, technical support will be available from the Chartered ABS prior to and during the Conference by emailing events@charteredabs.org.
Sponsor PMAC 2021
Sponsoring PMAC 2021 is a great opportunity to strengthen your relationships with senior professional managers working in, and for, UK business schools.
For information about sponsorship opportunities please contact:
Oliver Lowe, Head of Conferences & International, Chartered Association of Business Schools
Direct: +44 (0) 207 634 9581 Email: oliver.lowe@charteredabs.org
