10 April 2024 
Ashley Shelbrooke, HEPA and Project Specialist
We are delighted to announce that Cathy Burleigh, Chief Financial Officer at Oxford Brookes University, has been appointed as the new Chair of HEPA; Cathy succeeds Andrew Hewett, Chief Financial Officer at Manchester Metropolitan University, in the role.
Before joining Oxford Brookes University in 2015, Cathy was Deputy Director of Finance at Sheffield Hallam University leading a number of projects to improve efficiency both within the Finance Directorate and across the university. Cathy was also instrumental in designing an integrated planning approach, a new university performance report for use by Executive and Governors, and a new budgetary process.
Cathy began her career in retail, joining Sainsbury's on their graduate training programme after completing her degree at Leeds University. From Sainsbury's Cathy went on to work at Homebase and from there joined the global advertising agency Ogilvy and Mather (part of WPP).
In her role at Oxford Brookes, Cathy provides leadership for the University to ensure financial sustainability, to provide legal services and advice, to manage cash, covenants and loans, oversee capital and estates investment and provide strategic procurement.
HEPA now has a vacancy on the Board for a Deputy Chair. The role should be held by a respected procurement professional with knowledge and experience of the issues affecting the sector; the term of office is 2 years.
The Board meet twice a year, around January and June, and responsibilities of the role include:
Further information, including how to nominate yourself or a peer is available here. The closing date for applications is 3 May 2024.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with Ashley should you have any questions.
