Monday 14 March

Tuesday 15 March

09:00

Registration and refreshments

09:40

Welcome

Anne Kiem OBE, Chief Executive, Chartered Association of Business Schools
Professor Robert MacIntosh, Faculty Pro Vice Chancellor - Business and Law, Northumbria University; Chair, Chartered ABS
Janine Ellis, Head of School Operations, Alliance Manchester Business School; Chair, Chartered ABS Professional Managers Committee

09:50

Panel Discussion: The contribution of professional services to business school strategy in 2022 and beyond

In this opening session a high-level panel will explore the environment in which business schools, and their parent universities, are operating; and the role that professional services teams play in contributing to institutional strategy. Particular attention will be paid to the ways in which professional services can help drive productivity, innovation and efficiency within their institutions.

Professor Julia Clarke, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Wolverhampton

Janine Ellis, Head of School Operations, Alliance Manchester Business School

Professor Deborah Lock, Director, Birmingham City Business School

Saskia Loer Hansen, Interim Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Aston University

Moderator: Professor Robert MacIntosh, Faculty Pro Vice Chancellor - Business and Law, Northumbria University; Chair, Chartered ABS

10:50

Break

11:30

Panel Discussion: Recruiting, retaining and develop teams in the era of blended working

In this session the panel will explore the challenges and opportunities around blended working, including associated issues of training, coaching and mentorship. The panel will discuss new operational models and strategies for creating a healthy and productive environment in which business school professional services teams can thrive.

Richard Billingham, Executive Director of Human Resources and Organisation Development, Aston University

Dr Kendi Guantai, Senior Teaching Fellow, Leeds University Business School

Nicky Randall, Head of Resources and Planning, Kingston Business School

Wilson Wong, Head of Insight and Futures, CIPD; Visiting Professor, Nottingham Business School

Moderator: Sarah Moore-Williams, Dean, School of Business, London South Bank University

12:30

Lunch

13:30

Welcome back

Janine Ellis, Head of School Operations, Alliance Manchester Business School; Chair, Chartered ABS Professional Managers Committee

Anne Kiem OBE, Chief Executive, Chartered Association of Business Schools

Afternoon Roundtable Discussions

In the afternoon we will break into Roundtable Discussions. Delegates will be able to participate at two 45min roundtables for the opportunity of a deep-dive conversation into an important issue or challenge in an informal setting.

13:40-14:25

Discussion 1
Student engagement success: Rethinking the way we communicate with students
In this discussion we will explore innovative ways to improve communication with students; avoid information overload; and contribute to improved NSS results.

Facilitator: Dr Adam Shore, Director, Faculty of Business and Law, Liverpool Business School

13:40-14:25

Discussion 2
Professional services delivery models
In this discussion we will reflect on the Chartered ABS survey into how professional services teams are resourced and explore some of the issues around centralisation and specialisation of professional services staff.

Facilitator: Dr Emm Barnes, Strategic Project Manager, School of Business and Management, QMUL

13:40-14:25

Discussion 3
Supporting the health and wellbeing of professional services staff
In this discussion we will explore how health and wellbeing strategies need evolve beyond what was delivered during the pandemic, and what wellbeing principles and policies need to look like if they are to be effective over the long term.

Facilitator: Ian Hamley, Director of Faculty of Operations, Faculty of Business and Law, De Montfort University

13:40-14:25

Discussion 4
Helping your teams to thrive
In this discussion we will explore the various ways in which senior professional services staff can nurture their teams including defining career pathways; providing development opportunities; and creating a common language for effective communication.

Facilitator: Keith Portman, Director of Operations, Birmingham Business School

13:40-14:25

Discussion 5
Working with your Dean: ingredients for success
In this discussion we will assess the key ingredients for a successful relationship between Heads of Professional Services, Deans and other parts of the business school SLT.

Facilitator: David Meech Mazumdar, Department Manager – Strategic Planning & Development, Department of Management, LSE

14:25

Break

14:45 - 15:30

Discussion 6
Environmental sustainability and climate action
In this discussion we will explore the ways in which ‘environmental sustainability’ is being interpreted and actioned within business schools; and about what professional services teams can do to help their institutions achieve their climate aspirations.

Facilitators:

Alex Hope, Head Of Department: Leadership and Human Resource Management, Northumbria University

Sarah Verbickas, Faculty Planning Manager, Leeds University Business School

14:45 - 15:30

Discussion 7
Supporting student wellbeing and building student resilience
In this discussion we will explore what professional services teams can do to support the health and wellbeing of students from all backgrounds.

Facilitators:

Nicola Hallas, Dignity at Work Champion, Mental Health First Aider, Dispute Resolution Facilitator; Director of Operations, London Southbank University Business School

Professor Sukanlaya Sawang, Associate Dean (Global Engagement), Faculty of Business and Law, Coventry University

14:45 - 15:30

Discussion 8
Creating cultures of inclusion
In this discussion we will explore the ongoing inequalities that exist within business schools, and the wider HE sector, and what business schools can do to become more diverse, inclusive and accessible.

Facilitators:

Cynthia Akwei, Reader, Liverpool Business School; Member, Chartered ABS Race Equality Action Group

Simon Fanshawe OBE, Partner (and Provocateur with purpose) Diversity by Design

14:45 - 15:30

Discussion 9
International student flows: What will the new normal look like
In this discussion we will reflect on the factors that are influencing inbound and outbound international student flows; the opportunities for ‘blended mobility’; and issues around student travel during Covid and in a carbon-conscious environment.

Facilitators:

Dr Yvonne Carlisle, Head of International, Nottingham Business School; Vice Chair, Chartered ABS International Committee

Dr. Mukul Madahar, Associate Dean International, Cardiff School of Management

Sonia O’Hare, School Manager, Queen’s Management School

15:30

Summation and forward planning
In this closing session we will bring together the key discussion points and actions from the earlier sessions to gather ideas that will help to shape and inform the Chartered ABS’s activities supporting professional services staff.

Dr Andrew Glanfield, School Manager, Cardiff Business School; Fellow, Chartered ABS

16:00

Close

This year's conference takes place at:

Conference Aston, Aston University
Aston Street
Birmingham
B4 7ET

Click for directions

We will ensure that the necessary health & safety measures are in place. If you have any particular concerns then please contact Pritika Pau (pritika.pau@charteredabs.org)

Wednesday 23 March

09:00 - 09:10

Welcome

Anne Kiem OBE, Chief Executive, Chartered Association of Business Schools

Janine Ellis, Head of School Operations, Alliance Manchester Business School; Chair, Chartered ABS Professional Managers Committee

Professor Robert MacIntosh, Faculty Pro Vice Chancellor - Business and Law, Northumbria University; Chair, Chartered ABS

09:10 - 10:00

Panel Discussion: Professional services teams as enablers of business school strategy

In this opening session a high-level panel considers how key themes including sustainability, inclusion, levelling up are influencing university and business school strategy, and the sort of skills, behaviours and knowledge needed within professional services teams to deliver these strategic priorities.

Sara Beck, Chief Operating Officer, Saïd Business School

Mary Curnock Cook CBE, former Chief Executive, UCAS; Chair, UPP Foundation Student Futures Commission

Beth Lawton, Chief Digital and Information Officer, University of Strathclyde

Jackie Njoroge, Director of Strategy, University of Salford

Moderator: Professor Robert MacIntosh, Faculty Pro Vice Chancellor - Business and Law, Northumbria University; Chair, Chartered ABS

10:00 - 10:30

Break

10:30 - 11:30

Parallel Sessions

Your role in change

Professional services staff have a key role to play in organisational change. You may be involved in delivery or be experiencing a departmental restructure. Whatever your focus, there are a number of ways that you can influence what’s happening around you. And there are more opportunities than you think for you to have a positive impact. Drawing on extensive experience from both Higher Education and the private sector, Sarah will lead this interactive workshop to help you:

• Gain a different perspective on what it means to work in a changing environment
• Practice a number of tools and techniques to assist you in your work
• Feel more equipped as you go through or lead change in your team.

Sarah Willcox
Director and Founder, Fairisle

Driving sustainability impact: How professional services can make a difference

Professional services have a critical part to play driving our business school responses to the climate crisis and the adoption of environmental good practice. In this session learn how the LSE is working to embed sustainability across its operations; and explore how business schools across the UK can bring their sustainability aspirations to the next level.

Charles Joley
Head of Sustainability, London School of Economics

An introduction to Carbon Literacy Training 

This interactive session introduces the award winning Carbon Literacy Training for Educators, Communities, Organizations and Students (CLT-ECOS) developed by Nottingham Trent University’s Green Academy in collaboration with the United Nations PRME Climate and Environment Working Group. The session includes a taster of the training to demonstrate how it works, and an opportunity for participants to learn about their own carbon impacts as well as time and space for questions.

Alex Hope
Head of Department, Leadership and Human Resource Management, Newcastle Business School

Dr Sigrun M. Wagner CMBE
Head of Department (Strategy, International Business and Entrepreneurship), Royal Holloway, University of London, School of Business and Management

When, where and how to best engage with students?

From driving responses to feedback questionnaires, evaluations and emails to using tools that help complete assignments, this session will explore innovative ways to help improve and measure the level of engagement, avoid information overload and create excellent relationships with students.

Rachael Carden
Associate Dean, Education and Student Experience, University of Brighton

Serena Mitchell
Communications Manager, University of Sussex Business School

Elaine Clarke
College Director of Education and Students, Lincoln International Business School 

Dr Kate Strudwick
Dean, Lincoln Academy of Learning & Teaching (LALT), University of Lincoln

11:30 - 12:00

Break

12:00 - 13:00

Parallel Sessions

Uncomfortable conversations: Tackling racism in our institutions

A candid discussion about the various forms of racism that exist within higher education and the action that can be taken at an individual and institutional level to tackle racism and inequality.

Cynthia Akwei
Reader, Liverpool Business School; Member, Chartered ABS Race Equality Action Group

Mark Clark
Senior Lecturer (Management), University of Sussex Business School

Dr Jenny Rodriguez
Senior Lecturer in Employment Studies, Alliance Manchester Business School

Supporting student employability
Exploring the challenges facing students entering the graduate jobs market in 2022/23; how the pandemic has impacted opportunities for internships and placements, and what business schools are doing to boost student employability.

Professor Helen Higson OBE
Associate Dean, Accreditations, Aston Business School

Tony Walker
Deputy Director, Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, Alliance Manchester Business School

Chair: Steve Gaskin
Head of Student Careers, University of Plymouth

All welcome: delivering inclusive, accessible and sustainable academic events

This session helps understand the ways in which we can all improve the inclusivity, accessibility and sustainability of the events that we organise, making them more welcoming and successful. The session is led by two of the authors of the recently published BAM/CABS guide to doing this. Martyna and Scott will summarise the guide contents and reasons for writing it, then take any questions you might have. All welcome!

Professor Martyna Śliwa
Durham University Business School; Vice Chair for Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity, BAM

Dr Scott Taylor
Director of External Engagement and Responsible Business, Birmingham Business School; Member, Chartered ABS EDI Committee

All Welcome Guide: click here to download

13:00 - 14:00

Break

14:00 - 15:30

Professional Development Workshops
The final part of PMAC 2022 will be given over to 90min Professional Development Workshops designed to help professional services staff build critical skills and behaviours. Please note the specific duration of each workshop

Mediation – Turning Conflict into Collaboration
Duration: 90min 

In this interactive workshop, Dr. Mike Talbot, Founder & CEO of UK Mediation, will be describing his direct experiences of putting mediation to work, illustrating how mediation skills can be highly effective in repairing breakdowns in working relationships, minimising or even heading off interpersonal conflict.

Dr Mike Talbot
Founder, UK Mediation

Understanding and supporting neurodiversity
Duration: 90min

This interactive workshop aims to provide awareness and understanding regarding neurodiversity, in particular practical advice on how best to support neurodiverse students and colleagues in day-to-day situations to improve inclusiveness and wellbeing for all.

Dr Shalini Vohra
Neurodiversity Researcher and Activist

Setting priorities, managing workloads and keeping calm under pressure
Duration: 90min

An interactive workshop that explores how to best plan tasks and use digital tools to work more effectively in the hybrid work scenario. This session will showcase practical tips and tools that help save time, manage workload and increase productivity.

Karen Eyre-White
Productivity Expert, Go Do

Entrepreneurial Leadership: How to manage change and lead creatively and innovatively
Duration: 90min

At all levels we need agile and creative leadership skills in order to lead effectively and respond to the rapidly changing environment.  Applying an entrepreneurial approach can help you to deal more effectively with challenges by seizing opportunities, developing a competitive edge and achieving success.  This session will give you a taste of entrepreneurial leadership and some take aways to implement straight away.

Professor Lynn Martin
Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Faculty of Business and Law, Anglia Ruskin University

Ceri Nursaw
Chief Executive, National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education

15:30

Close of conference

The online conference will take place via Zoom. Further details will be available nearer the date of the event.