Chris Carpenter (He/Him)
Chair

I am Deputy Academic Registrar within Academic Registry at Loughborough University. My teams are responsible for a variety of student operations from registration through to graduation, including assessment, module choice, teaching timetables, student finance, and immigration & visa compliance, as well as student records, data quality and statutory student data returns. I am also responsible for strategic leadership of our student systems and Student & Programme Administration across the University. After a brief stint in further education, I’ve worked in higher education since 2003 having started my HE career at De Montfort University before moving to Loughborough in 2007. Throughout my career, I’ve worked in a variety of areas, including Registry, the International Office, Admissions, Student Services and Widening Participation.

I find the SROC conferences a great way to broaden my knowledge and meet colleagues with a wealth of experience from around the country. In 2016, we hosted the conference at Loughborough – we very much enjoyed sharing our campus with you all for a few days and hope that you enjoyed your time at Loughborough. I’ve been a member of the Committee since then and previously held the roles of Secretary and Deputy Chair.

Tel: 01509 222228

Email: c.j.carpenter@lboro.ac.uk

Cath Beck (She/Her)
Treasurer

I am the Senior Quality Officer at the University of Winchester.

Before starting at the University of Winchester 10 years ago, I had worked at the University of Southampton and New College (Southampton), working within a exams and student records capacity.

I first attended SROC in 2007, held at the University of Warwick and I have been fortunate to have attended 6 more over the last 11 years. SROC has helped me in my development working within HE and student records and I believe it is an important network for the student record officers’ community. I joined the committee in 2018, and I look forward to spreading the amazing work of SROC.

Tel: 01962 824705

Email: Catherine.Beck@WINCHESTER.AC.UK

Gabby McLaren (She/Her)
Secretary

I am the Head of Data and Insight at Point Blank Music School. My role involves responsibility for all of the statutory returns as well as assorted internal data analysis and data wrangling. As we are a small provider I also get involved in most other processes throughout the student journey.

I have been working in the sector for almost a decade, starting out at HESA in the liaison and training teams and also working at two providers before moving to Point Blank. I am always keen to share my experiences as well as learn from those with even more diverse and interesting student cohorts.

I attended my first SROC in Loughborough in 2016 and I look forward to contributing to future conferences.

Email: gabby@pointblankmusicschool.com

Thomas Moody (He/Him)
Deputy Chair & Media Co-ordinator

I am Student Information and Planning Manager at the Royal Veterinary College; responsible for the student records database, from which I make the College's HESA Student Return along with various other returns. I also provide management information for academic and operational purposes. I am responsible for strategic planning and produce the College's HESES return. I also act in both an administrative and compliance role to ensure the College maintains its UKVI sponsor licence and our students maintain their visas.

Before joining the RVC, I spent five years working for a Further Education College where I maintained the College's student records database, course portfolio and produced the ILR.

Tel: 02074685150

Email: tmoody@rvc.ac.uk

Martha Horler (She/Her)
Deputy Treasurer & Private Provider Representative

I am the Data & Compliance Manager at Futureworks Training in Manchester, leading on data returns, systems development, data governance, planning and overall responsibility for student records. I work with HESA on all our data returns, and I am also the Data Protection Officer for the organisation.

I have worked in Higher Education for many years working in a number of roles including data quality, programme management and admissions. I have also presented at conferences on data topics and career development, and I am keen to find ways to increase the data capability of all staff working in higher education.

I joined the committee in 2018 as their representative for Alternative Providers, and I am keen to build on SROC’s reputation for excellence in conference provision.

Tel: 0161 214 4603

Email: Martha.Horler@futureworks.ac.uk

Paul Norris (He/Him)
Deputy Secretary

I’m Senior Assistant Registrar at Cranfield University, with responsibilities including statutory returns, internal student information, policy development & benchmarking and managing the Quality Assurance team.

I’ve been in the HE sector for some while. My first role was with Bristol Polytechnic and I’ve been through four institutions (with six names) and three student record system implementations since then. I’ve managed strategic planning, course portfolio reviews, timetabling, assessment regulations, resource allocation models, registration & graduation and have been a panel secretary for RAE.

I’ve been attending SROC on and off for 20 years and was delighted to finally be able to host the conference in 2019.

Tel: 01234 754093

Email: paul.norris@cranfield.ac.uk

Andrew Crossland (He/Him)
Breakout Session Co-ordinator

As a Senior Business Analyst at the University of Edinburgh, I lead transformation projects aimed at enhancing the student experience. My recent work has includes the implementation of a new student support model, data protection improvements, enhanced accessibility support, curriculum management, statutory returns, exam scheduling, and graduation processes.

I joined the University in 2008 and first attended SROC in 2011. I immediately felt at home in this wonderful community of professionals who generously share their expertise and experience. I joined the SROC committee at the end of 2017 and now coordinate the breakout sessions. In 2023, I had the privilege of being the local organiser as SROC came to Edinburgh for its first in-person conference since 2019.

Over the course of my 16-year tenure at the university, I've held several operational roles supporting admissions, student records, management information, and statutory returns. This breadth of experience has been invaluable in my current position as a Senior Business Analyst, where I leverage my deep understanding of university processes to drive impactful change.

Tel: 0131 651 4420

Email: andrew.crossland@ed.ac.uk

Siân Stronach (She/Her)
Deputy Breakout Session Co-ordinator

I am a Registry Officer at the University of South Wales; part of a team with responsibility for administering the assessment journey of the students.

With over a decade of experience in Academic Registry functions, I’ve been part of a number of initiatives to bring about positive change for colleagues and students alike. Prior to that, I worked in various student services teams, also at the University of South Wales.

I attended my first SROC conference in 2018 and enjoyed my time in Hull so much, I felt that I wanted to contribute to ensure that others had the same positive experience I had. I went onto join the SROC committee in August 2018 as the Welsh representative and was then appointed into the role of Deputy Breakout Session Co-ordinator.

Email: sian.stronach@southwales.ac.uk

Leanne Elsom (She/Her)
Corporate Liaison

I am a Business Intelligence Analyst at the University of Leeds. I am part of a team responsible for creating and managing management information and business intelligence data analytics University-wide including applications (undergraduate and postgraduate), admissions, registrations, market data and graduate data. I am also involved in the HESA Student Return, league table data and student number planning. I have worked at the University of Leeds for 3 years and in Higher Education for 6 years.

I first attended SROC in 2017 at Northumbria University and was surprised at the wide range of topics covered and the open nature of the conference, with opportunities for networking, both personally and professionally, encouraged throughout. I'm excited to become more involved in the community that this conference helps to foster and look forward to contributing to the future of SROC.

Email: L.J.Elsom@leeds.ac.uk

Steve French (He/Him)
Day Session Co-ordinator

I am the Head of Student Returns & Data Management at the University of Central Lancashire within the Academic Registry. I have worked for the University since 2019 and previously worked at the University of Cumbria for 11 years. I currently have responsibility for ensuring the completion and quality of the HESA Student, Graduate Outcomes, and Aggregate Offshore returns. I am also responsible for the institutions ILR and various other student returns, including those for the NHS.

I first attended SROC in 2009, and since have attended several times, always keeping a keen eye on the conferences even when I was unable to attend. I have always found the experience of attending SROC to be excellent, and the community that has been created through the conference across the sector is an invaluable network for support and information. I joined the committee in 2018 in order to get more involved and help ensure that the conference continues to be a fantastic experience for anyone attending.

Tel: 01772 894963

Email: SFrench5@uclan.ac.uk

Ella Wilson (She/Her)

I am the Awards Officer at the University of St Andrews, leading on all classifications, awards and graduation ceremonies.

Before starting at the University of St Andrews over 5 years ago, I lived in Germany for 6 years working for the British Armed Force and had the opportunity to run my own business. Before that I worked in the finance industry for nearly 10 years, mostly in credit management and internal auditing. Not working that long in the HE sectors, I have found that the diversity the sector provides already gave the opportunity to cover roles in Student Records, Applications and Study Abroad programmes.

I attended my first SROC in Edinburgh in 2023 and had enjoyed the conference so much that I decided to join the committee! SROC provides the platform to share and collaborate on matters that all HE sectors have in common and provides the reassurance that we are all working towards the same goals.

Tel: 01334 462 148

Email: ew98@st-andrews.ac.uk

Kate Faulkner (She/Her)

I am the Assistant Faculty Registrar (Academic) for the University of Wolverhampton’s Faculty of Science and Engineering. I have worked for the University for 20 years in a variety of different roles in areas including registry, individual faculties and central marketing and communications.

Presently, my responsibilities include leading a team of administrators within the Faculty to deliver high-quality customer service to staff, students and external stakeholders. I also oversee the Faculty’s student data processes, ensuring compliance, accuracy and timeliness, and work closely with the University’s Senior Management Team on a variety of working groups. At various times I have managed a broad range of student administrative teams and led on many key student-facing activities, including welcome week, induction, and other retention/progression activities.

I have attended SROC for a number of years and it is my favourite conference because it always provides inspiration for my thinking and approach to student administration.

Email: Kate.Faulkner@wlv.ac.uk

Emmeline Parmenter (She/Her)

I am the Student Records Manager at the University of York. I am responsible for enrolment, changes of circumstances, non-academic progression and supporting other teams within the Student Lifecycle. I have worked across Student Administration for 9 years, primarily in Student Records but also supporting Visa Compliance and Assessment activities.

I first attended SROC in 2016 at Loughborough University and I have been to several SROCs since. I have always found them to be full of brilliant people ready to share their wealth of knowledge. As a small, centralised team in a large institution we’re always looking for ways to work more effectively and have directly benefitted from the insights given.

I am excited to join the committee and look forward to giving back to the sector, sharing my own knowledge and experiences.

Email: emmeline.parmenter@york.ac.uk

Helen Cowley

I am Head of Student Operations, Registry at Cardiff University. My teams work across the student lifecycle from enrolment through to graduation, managing student and curriculum data, and deliver the Student HESA return.

I’ve worked at Cardiff University since 2009 in a variety of roles in central functions, including a stint in SITS development and support.
I really enjoyed SROC 23 in Edinburgh; meeting others working in similar roles, sharing experiences and gleaning ideas.

Cathie Raw