Former Universities UK?head Alistair Jarvis is set to take over as the new chief executive of Advance HE,?overseeing the agency¡¯s?¡°next phase of development¡±.

The professional membership body launched what it called a ¡°highly competitive¡± recruitment round in January, after its outgoing chief executive Alison Johns announced that she will retire in June 2025,?bringing an end to her 34-year career in higher education.

Johns has led?the professional membership body since it was formed in 2018 through the?merger of the Equality Challenge Unit, the Higher Education Academy and the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education.

Jarvis joins Advance HE from the University of London, where he has served as pro vice-chancellor of partnerships and governance for the past three years. He previously spent nine years at Universities UK, where he served as chief executive through Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic.?Prior to this, he worked?as director of external relations and deputy chief executive of UUK.

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He takes over with Advance HE facing scrutiny over the guidance in gives to universities on equality issues.?The University of Sussex was?fined by the Office for Students?over a trans inclusion policy that was in part informed by the work of the agency and its predecessors.?Critics have also said?that a recent Supreme Court ruling?that women are defined by biological sex requires universities to look again at their guidance on facilities, accommodation and equality monitoring.

Johns oversaw the?relaunch of the organisation¡¯s equality quality marks ¨C Athena Swan, covering gender, and the Race Equality Charter ¨C and the development of its leadership programme that now boasts more than 60 vice-chancellor alumni.

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Jarvis, who will?begin his new role in August 2025, said he is ¡°proud¡± to be taking?it on, adding: ¡°Advance HE plays a crucial part in supporting institutions to deliver excellence, and I look forward to working with the talented team to further enhance our support in the areas that matter most to our members.?

¡°The landscape of higher education both in the UK and internationally continues to evolve rapidly, and Advance HE¡¯s work has never been more relevant. I am committed to ensuring that we provide the highest quality services,?resources and solutions to support our members as they adapt and transform to meet challenges and seize opportunities.¡±

Mark E. Smith, chair of Advance HE¡¯s board, and vice chancellor of the University of Southampton, said he was ¡°delighted¡± about the announcement.?

¡°Alistair¡¯s exceptional sector experience gives him excellent insight into the challenges and needs of our members, both in the UK and internationally.?His track record of leadership and his comprehensive understanding of higher education governance make him ideally suited to guide Advance HE through its next phase of development."

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Smith additionally expressed his ¡°sincere gratitude¡± to Johns, who he said has been ¡°hugely successful in launching Advance HE, developing its Strategy 2030, and significantly expanding its membership base in the UK and beyond¡±.?

¡°Her leadership has established a strong foundation upon which Alistair can now build,¡± he said.

juliette.rowsell@timeshighereducation.com