Caroline’s knowledge of and practical experience working in the higher education sector is unique and has underpinned her success in bringing about positive impact and change. She understands the challenges facing universities, the complexity of the stakeholder landscape within and external to universities. She brings knowledge, insights and communications planning needed to build and manage complex projects, including the ability to successfully ensure proactive dialogue between internal and external stakeholders. She is passionate about collaborating with individuals and teams, to build organisational agility, in-house capability and embed sustainable change with a focus on the people side of change.
Caroline’s most recent formal role was Chief of Staff to the Vice-Chancellor at Griffith University in Australia. She has also held senior positions at The University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, the University of Exeter, and the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Caroline has acted as trusted strategic advisor to vice-chancellors and has an outstanding ability to partner and promote collaboration at the highest levels to enable vice-chancellors and their senior teams achieve financial sustainability, corporate and commercial outcomes.
How has Caroline recently supported institutions?
- Caroline supported a Vice-Chancellor, and her senior staff establish and implement a Roadmap to Sustainability program to address the financial impact presented by COVID-19. The program incorporated a comprehensive set of response measures for university operations including the transition to new service delivery models, course rationalisation and reduction in salary and non-salary expenditure (Vice-Chancellor, Griffith University, Australia)
- Caroline coordinated multiple transformation streams within the Research portfolio across a university; leading on the design and implementation of strategies to move to an enterprise model of service delivery for research services. Caroline developed a structured project management methodology, provided guidance on strategic change, process improvement and cultural change. She led a dedicated in-house team engaged in the delivery of the transformation (Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Queensland University of Technology, Australia)
- Caroline was responsible for leading the design and implementation of a strategic cross-Faculty improvement Program in a Faculty of Medicine. Caroline worked closely with the Faculty Executive to identify priority projects for the Program, design the program and oversee its implementation. The role also involved developing a tailored, fit for purpose program and project management framework for application on the program and for future project delivery within the Faculty. Caroline mentored and provided active support to 15+ Project Managers as well as providing training in ‘leading and managing’ change (Executive Dean, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Australia)
- In a large research intensive university, Caroline was responsible for the design of a business improvement program. The strategy encompassed the establishment of a strategic roadmap for the transformation of professional services based on service consolidation, professional role standardisation, stronger functional accountability and a revitalised customer service culture. She designed and delivered a new operating model for Finance and HR services impacting 400+ Finance and HR staff across 100+ operating units. Caroline established professional service teams, enabled capability uplift and achieved lower cost delivery through savings of 14% – 18% in the first year of implementation (COO, CFO, CPO, The University of Queensland, Australia)
Caroline is passionate about the outdoors. She trains weekly with an outdoor bootcamp, competes in outdoor challenges (most recently in the Jurassic Coast Challenge) and she loves hiking. The most challenging hike was an adventure of a lifetime to Everest Base Camp. She is currently planning her next adventure to the Camino Way. Day to day, she loves exploring the Surrey Hills with her family, friends and her faithful black lab.