Syd is the Chair of AUDE, NW Regional Chair and member of the AUDE EDI and Professional Development Groups. He is in his tenth year at the University of Liverpool following on from six years within the NHS and prior to that at Edge Hill University for over eleven years.
Syd's honours degree is in Building Surveying. Now, with over 30 years in the construction, estates and facilities sector, Syds breadth and depth of experience is demonstrated by the range of professional qualifications he holds: Fellow of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers, Chartered Environmentalist, Chartered Builder and Certified member of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management along with project management, H&S and business continuity qualifications.
Whilst in the NHS Syd was active within the Health Estates & Facilities Management Association and was also NW Regional Chair for the Chartered Association of Building Engineers.
Speaker details to be announced shortly.
Jane Harrison-White is the Executive Director of the Association of University Directors of Estates (AUDE), a role she has held since 2015. In this capacity, she leads initiatives to support university estates and facilities management teams across the UK and internationally, aiming to foster innovation and excellence in creating optimal learning environments.
Jane's career spans over two decades, with significant contributions to both the public and non-profit sectors. Prior to joining AUDE, she served as Head of Research and Policy at the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), where she led substantial investments in academic research and facilitated the translation of research findings into practical applications. Her tenure at IOSH also included active participation in the United Nations 'Work Safe' campaign, where she led research and conferencing efforts across Europe and the Middle East.
Jane's earlier career includes extensive experience in local government estates management, notably with Leicestershire County Council. There, she played a pivotal role in overseeing estates and facilities, contributing to the development of safe and efficient educational environments.
Jane is also a Trustee at E-ACT, a multi-academy trust overseeing numerous academies across England.
An alumna of the University of Leicester, Jane holds a Master's degree in Geographical Information Systems and a Bachelor's degree in Human Geography and Populations. She is a Chartered Director of the Institute of Directors (IoD), a Chartered Member of IOSH, and a member of the Chartered Management Institute. Her commitment to continuous professional development is evident through her attainment of various qualifications, including a Diploma in Company Direction from the IoD and a Level 4 Management of Equality and Diversity in Organisations certification from the Institute of Leadership and Management.
Beyond her professional endeavours, Jane is an avid trail runner, reflecting her passion for adventure and the outdoors.
As the Director of Estates at the University of Oxford, I play an active role in the strategic planning and operational delivery of the university's world-class estate. I have 28 years of Senior NHS estate management experience and 10 years of Russell Group HE Director experience. My role focuses on sustainability and innovation, with a commitment to net zero carbon strategies. I manage campus environments, from heritage sites to new builds, through asset management and IoT deployment, supporting world-class research. I have a focus on the digital estates and am responsible for a unique portfolio of heritage buildings, enhancing the university experience for students, staff, and visitors. I have significant experience in Campus Master planning. My career is marked by successful project delivery, efficiency improvements, and a dedication to excellence. I am also a Professorial Fellow and governing body member at Jesus College Oxford, a visiting lecturer, author and a trustee for a conservation charity, and a regular judge for various industry awards. My legacy includes the delivery of a £1bn capital program at the University of Birmingham, a photographic summary of completed projects can be seen at https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/campus and includes the planning and delivery of a new 50,000 student campus in Dubai and numerous award winning new build and refurbishment projects.
Damien joined The University of Edinburgh in January 2023 and prior to that he was Director of Estates at Queen’s University from March 2015. Before joining the Higher Education sector Damien was a senior Director for one of the UK’s largest infrastructure support service companies and has worked in both the public and private sectors. Damien is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and a graduate of the University of Ulster with over twenty five years’ experience in the construction, real estate and facilities management industries.
Session facilitator:
Syd is the Chair of AUDE, NW Regional Chair and member of the AUDE EDI and Professional Development Groups. He is in his tenth year at the University of Liverpool following on from six years within the NHS and prior to that at Edge Hill University for over eleven years.
Syd's honours degree is in Building Surveying. Now, with over 30 years in the construction, estates and facilities sector, Syds breadth and depth of experience is demonstrated by the range of professional qualifications he holds: Fellow of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers, Chartered Environmentalist, Chartered Builder and Certified member of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management along with project management, H&S and business continuity qualifications.
Whilst in the NHS Syd was active within the Health Estates & Facilities Management Association and was also NW Regional Chair for the Chartered Association of Building Engineers.
Roddy is a sustainability expert with ideas and vision. He leads the University's Climate Change and Social Responsibility work. He is a strong and well-connected network builder who brings people together to enable climate action.
He is a Project Sponsor for scalar climate and social responsibility projects across all University assets, including the multi-award winning 10 project Climate Neutral Districts Vision.
Roddy sits on a number of panels and boards related to sustainability including:
Chair of Clyde Mission Net Zero Group; Convenor of Climate Ready Clyde; Board member of West Dunbartonshire Energy Company LLP; a member of the EAUC Advisory group; board member of Clyde Climate Forest Programme; external advisor to the Scottish Parliament Sustainability Board; Monklands Replacement Hospital Committee member; Glasgow Metro Strategic Advisory Group member and Trustee of the Friends of Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.
Roddy is an EAUC Fellow and an IEMA Fellow.
Speaker details to be announced shortly.
Paul Davis is Deputy Director of Estates & Facilities at Birmingham City University and chair of AUDE Professional Development Group. He is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with a Post-Graduate Diploma in Project Management.
He is a forward thinking, enthusiastic leader with a track record of delivering significant and influential projects, implementing strategic initiatives and leading change within complex organisations. With over 25 years of experience working within the Higher Education estate sector, he has built up an exceptional knowledge and skills in capital project management and strategic planning and is passionate about encouraging career development in others.
Before joining Birmingham City University in 2020, Paul’s HE experience includes a senior project management role at the University of Birmingham before moving to the University of Wolverhampton where he progressed to Assistant Director of Estates.
Lucy is Associate Director - Facilities & Student Accommodation at the University of Plymouth, delivering in-house and outsourced services. She is chair of the Association of University Director’s (AUDE) Strategic FM group, leading a group representing FM’s across the UK’s higher education sector.
With 30 years experience in facilities management, Lucy has previously held similar roles in university, local authority and charity sectors, leading and developing teams and services. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) where she was a non-executive director, Chair of Members’ Council and chaired the Sustainability Special Interest Group.
Speaker details to be announced shortly.
With over 14 years in Higher Education, Brett is the Systems and Digital Information Manager at the University of Warwick, known for advancing service delivery through strategic digitisation of Estates data. Originating from a customer service background, Brett ensures a stakeholder-centric approach to operational efficiency.
As Vice-Chair for BIM4Estates, an AUDE Special Interest Group and Nima affiliate, Brett shares insights across Higher Education and Healthcare sectors. Expertise includes diverse systems such as CAFM, Compliance Software, Wayfinding Applications, AutoCAD, and ArcGIS, with a focus on efficient BIM integration from projects to stakeholders.
A NEBOSH General Certificate holder with distinction, Brett blends managerial proficiency in Facility Management, People Management, and Administration. A graduate of the AUDE 21st Century Leadership Programme, Brett champions operational efficiency in the digital transformation of Estates departments, actively contributing to industry conferences and shaping the future of Higher Education through visionary leadership.
Specialising in the Higher Education sector, with broad experience of Space Management, BIM integration and CAFM configuration. I recognise how data governance across our systems enable University Estates to achieve real savings by greater collaboration, decreased risk and accurate data for reduced operational expenditure. Resulting in projects completed on time and within budget, delivering value and efficiency.
A comprehensive understanding of the industry gained from construction site management, through to architectural experience, BIM/CAD Management and implementation of CAFM systems has provided insight into every stage of the building life-cycle.
Paul has been involved in the Estates Management Record for 18 years in Estates and Facilities roles at Director level at three universities.
Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, Member of the Energy Institute and an Incorporated Engineer. Paul has held Director positions at three Universities over the past 18 years, with a background in local government and consulting engineering.
Paul leads the Capital Development and Estate Operations Teams at Lancaster University, delivering significant capital investment in recent years and overseeing a wide range of complex projects. He has a passion to drive efficiency and effectiveness through asset management, partnership delivery, master-planning and property based solutions with an ever increasing sustainability focus.
My Facilities experience within the HE sector spans 18 years, currently working as Head of Business Services at Lancaster University and before joining Lancaster I worked at the University of Lancashire. The earlier years of my career were spent working in the Civil Service in various managerial roles and as a performance improvement consultant.
As a Facilities leader I am responsible for strategic property and estate management, risk and performance management, space planning, marketing and communications, facilities systems, EMR, design, print and photography and continuous improvement projects.
Proud to be a member and advocate of the AUDE network and delighted to have attended the AUDE Summer School Programme in 2021 and member of the winning project team. I also feel very privileged to be a member of the Lancaster Team who were winners of the AUDE Estates/Facilities Team Award 2024.
Helen has been exploring the dark art of space management for more than 25 years (yes, she’s a little surprised by that number herself!). From her early days at DEGW—a renowned design and think tank firm—through to her current role as Assistant Director of Estates at the University of Exeter, Helen has tackled the complexities of managing space in government, the commercial sector, and higher education.
She’s juggled motherhood, navigated a return-to-campus strategy post-Covid, and spent a decade at the University of Exeter shaping everything from Design and Strategy to Learning Environments and Digital Estates. Helen has also worked closely with AUDE, serving as Chair of the Space Management Special Interest Group, developing guidance and collaborating with partners to support best practices.
Whether it’s designing flexible learning spaces that embrace new teaching technologies or diving headfirst into the challenges of agile workplaces, Helen loves nothing more than a good puzzle. Recently, she’s been geeking out about the promise of digital estate technology and has establish a small team of specialist to rethink Exeter's Information Management. She believes this could transform the way we plan, operate, and measure our environments. In her talk, she’ll shed light on why space management feels so mystical (and sometimes downright tricky!), offering insights from her own experiences on how to make it work in real-world contexts.
Stephen Wells has worked as a Director of Estates in the Higher Education (HE) sector for over sixteen years in a variety of different Universities. Currently Stephen is the Director of Estates and Facilities at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich. Stephen is a chartered member of the Institute of Building, with a degree in Project Management for construction and an MBA. Prior to working in the HE sector Stephen held similar roles within the NHS.
Stephen holds a number of non-executive roles, external governor at PETROC, a further education provider in mid and north Devon and is also a co-opted member of the resources and employability committee at the University of Bedfordshire. Stephen has also just finished his term as past Chair of the Association of University of Directors of Estates (AUDE); and continues to lead the special interest group for AUDE on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), AUDE is the representative body for higher education estates and facilities management (FM) in the UK.
The AUDE Showcase will be CPD accredited.
