Introducing our SUMS Annual Conference 2026 keynote speaker

Book your SUMS Annual Conference 2026 ticket to see Amanda in action!

Holding Board-level executive and non-executive roles for over 15 years, Amanda leads the University of East London as Vice-Chancellor & President, is Chair of the British Universities & Colleges Sport, HEA Principal Fellow, Council Member for the Association of Commonwealth Universities, and has held Professorships in International Business at multiple institutions in the UK and around the world. Former senior leadership roles include Chair of London Higher; Chief Executive Officer, Newcastle University London; Pro-Vice Chancellor (International Priorities), University of Salford; and Principal of St. Cuthbert’s Society (a Durham University College).

Amanda holds an outstanding track record in transformative organisational change and innovation – currently demonstrated through transformational leadership of the University of East London, now comprising 50,000 students, 3,000+ staff and an annual turnover of c£340m. She has an exceptional profile of forging successful collaborations within and between world-class higher education and business and holds an entre- and intrapreneurial skills set and, in-depth knowledge of alternative educational models and new business ventures in both charitable and for-profit environments. She led the development of the disruptive ‘challenger institution’ – University Academy 92, building the distinctive industry-facing ‘Target Talent Curriculum’ – founded by the Class of ’92 and Lancaster University and launched in September 2017. She led the 2014 Times Higher Education Business School of the Year and has led the University of East London to become: The Times & The Sunday Times University of the Year 2025 (Teaching Quality), to be short-listed as both the 2023 and 2025 Times Higher Education University of the Year; to achieve the UK’s highest, fastest, most diversified, sustained university revenue growth (one of just 15 universities operating without debt); the UK’s largest, fastest mover in new & sustained graduate start-ups; the UK’s number one university for the greatest, fastest improvement in graduate outcomes; and, the UK’s highest, fastest-improving institution for student experience – number 1 in England for graduating students’ positivity.

An eminent social scientist, she holds a rare insight into a cross-section of strategic groupings of universities across the UK and a track record in delivering results and realising value through the triple helix of education, business and government. At the University of East London, she is committed to advancing the diversity of the talent pipeline, building health gain to drive learning gain and delivering a transformative contribution to inclusive futures, skills and innovation. Using the power of sport to unlock positive transformation in many forms has been a golden thread throughout Amanda’s leadership journey. Also an award-winning researcher, her expertise lies in the fields of international business, marketing psychology and strategic communications with particular application to the digital and social business agendas. Her research has appeared in many leading journals and she authors seminal texts in her field. She has contributed to internationally-excellent/world-leading submissions in all four of the most recent UK REFs and RAEs. She has a multi-million pound track-record in research and enterprise funding from governmental, professional & commercial sources.

Married with three sons, she also has particular interests in eventing, dance and the value of sport more generally. She plays the piano, badly but with enthusiasm.

About the University of East London (UEL)

The UK’s most socially inclusive university, UEL is committed to increasing the diversity of the talent and innovation pipeline, though its careers-1st furious focus, and to addressing health and economic inequalities, wherever they are found.

Economic Powerhouse: UEL and its students generated £1.2 billion in UK output and supported over 13,000 jobs in the academic year 2023/2024 – while directly employing more people than other major local organisations West Ham United FC and London City Airport combined (1 in 100 jobs in the London Borough of Newham directly relate to the University of East London).

Global Export Leader: UEL delivered over 17% of all service sector exports for both the London Boroughs of Newham and Hackney combined (based on latest ONS data), cementing its role as a key driver of regional and national prosperity.

Championing Skills and Public Service: UEL is training the capital’s future workforce, educating 1 in 3 of London’s Childhood and Youth Studies, 1 in 14 studying Adult Nursing, 1 in 11 Social Work, 1 in 10 teachers, and 1 in 4 Sport and Exercise Sciences students – ensuring vital sectors are ready for the future.

Engine for Employability and Growth: As well as being the fastest-rising university in England for graduate employability, UEL has seen a 2,100% surge in apprenticeship completions since 2019/2020, while our students’ career confidence exceeds the national average by 9.4%, demonstrating exceptional career readiness.