GuildHE Annual Conference: 'Transformation and change - opportunities for the future'
Join us at GuildHE Annual Conference 2025!
(Note: Registrations are now closed as of 11 November 2025, 5:00 pm)
GuildHE's Annual Conference 2025 brings together the Heads of our member institutions and sector colleagues for a fantastic event with superb keynote sessions, policy discussions and interactive panels on leadership, student engagement and institutional resilience, all hosted at our brilliant member Rose Bruford College. This year’s theme, 'Transformation and change: opportunities for the future' will explore how the sector can lead through change and embrace innovation.
View the full conference agenda
We're delighted that the sector thought leaders and officials joining us include:
- Minister for Skills, Jacqui Smith (Keynote)
- Ruth Talbot, Deputy Director, DfE
- Seb Gordon, Director of Communications, UUK
- Josh Fleming, Office for Students
- Professor Sir Chris Husbands, Higher Futures
- Liam Earney, Jisc
- Dr Debbie McVitty, Wonkhe
- Rose Stephenson, HEPI
- Ruairí Cullen, British Academy
- Jess Lister, Public First
- Cheryl Watson, TechnologyOne
- Andrea Turley, KPMG
- Professor Ramita Tejpal, BPP University
- Smita Jamdar and Dr Paul Greatrix, Shakespeare Martineau
- Daniel Fairbairn, Windsor Colleges Group
- And more!
The conference will kick off Wednesday evening with a networking reception and entertainment and run through Thursday evening, capped off with our annual members’ dinner. Our host VC Professor Randall Whittaker provides a taste of what's to come:
"Get ready for a dazzling finale to the GuildHE Conference! Join us for an unforgettable evening of dining, fabulous performances, and a few jaw-dropping surprises. As you savour each course, students from Rose Bruford College will light up the room with a thrilling medley of choral showtunes — and don’t be surprised if the performance comes right to your table! Expect the unexpected. Hold on to your wine glass. This is dinner with a dramatic twist!"
We are pleased to be delivering the conference in partnership with TechnologyOne, and our sponsors Shakespeare Martineau and Strengthify this year. Their support enables us to deliver this flagship event, reflecting their shared commitment to supporting transformation and innovation across the higher education sector.
We're looking forward to you joining us!
