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Conference Information

In partnership with the University of Leeds, the conference will run in-person from Wednesday 3rd April to Friday 5th April 2024.

We hope you enjoy our facilities, carefully chosen speakers, breakout session topics and social events and look forward to you joining us to make the 2024 conference a valuable and enjoyable experience. This year's breakouts will be aligned with the theme Navigating Change: Transforming University Processes for a Progressive Future.

Meet our plenary speakers 

Professor Jeff Grabill

Professor Jeff Grabill, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Education, University of Leeds

Our welcome plenary will be delivered by Professor Jeff Grabill, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Education. Prior to joining the University of Leeds, Jeff Grabill was at Michigan State University (MSU) in the United States for nearly 20 years. He served Michigan State University as the Associate Provost for Teaching, Learning, and Technology. In that role, he was responsible for facilitating innovation in learning and educator professional development via his role as Director of the Hub for Innovation in Learning and Technology. Jeff Grabill’s research focuses on how digital writing is associated with citizenship and learning. That work has been located in community contexts, in museums, and in classrooms at both the K-12 and university levels. Jeff Grabill is also a co-founder of Drawbridge, an educational technology company.

Richard Puttock

Lesley O'Keeffe, Registrar, Brunel University London

Plenary two will be presented by Lesley O'Keeffe , Registrar, Brunel University London. Lesley has worked in Higher Education for over 20 years in both student residences and more recently in Student and Academic Services. Her current position includes overall responsibility for the Directorate of Student and Academic Services, which as well as the departments in the directorate name, include Library Services, Apprenticeships, Academic Skills and Business Support (which covers funding, records and SITs data management). Lesley is currently the professional development lead for ARC (Academic Registrars’ Council). She spends time mentoring women to help them navigate their careers, and runs the Aspiring Academic Registrar training course. 

Outside of work, Lesley is a Doctoral Researcher for a Doctorate in Education with a special interest in the Awarding Gap.

Lesley O'Keeffe

Richard Puttock, Head of Business Intelligence and Data Analytics, University of Leeds

Plenary three will be presented by Richard Puttock, Head of Business Intelligence and Data Analytics, University of Leeds. Richard is currently the Head of Business Intelligence and Data Analytics at the University of Leeds. In his current role he is responsible for ensuring that the University has the right data insights and analysis to support its strategic decision making with a particular focus on admissions. Prior to taking up his current position Richard spent nearly thirty years working for the PCFC, HEFCE and ultimately the OfS in various analytical roles largely focussed on student data. Richard’s final position at the OFS was the Director for data, foresight and analysis where he was responsible for the OfS relationship with HESA. 

David Kernohan

David Kernohan, Deputy Editor, Wonkhe

Plenary four will be presented by David Kernohan, Deputy Editor, Wonkhe. Until June 2016, he worked at Jisc as a programme manager and senior codesign manager, after being seconded from HEFCE in 2006. He has also worked for the University of Glamorgan (now the University of South Wales).  As Associate Editor, David has responsibility for the development and delivery of a variety of editorial content. His key areas of wonkishness include teaching quality enhancement policy, funding policy, sector agency politics and history, research policy, and the use of technology and data in Higher Education.

David has written for Wonkhe since foundation, and also maintains a personal blog.

Meet our conference sponsor

Technology One Logo

TechnologyOne provides a global SaaS ERP solution that transforms business and makes life simple for our customers. Our deeply integrated enterprise SaaS solution is available on Any device, Anywhere and Anytime and is incredibly easy to use. As Australia’s largest enterprise software company and one of Australia’s top 150 ASX-listed companies, with offices across six countries including the United Kingdom. Over 1,200 leading corporations, government agencies, local councils and universities are powered by our software. For more than 32 years, we have been providing our customers enterprise software that evolves and adopts to new and emerging technologies, allowing them to focus on their business and not technology. 

General information

Local Organising Committee

  • The local organisers are Leanne Elsom and Daniel Gibbins from the University of Leeds.
  • For enquiries before the conference, please contact sroc24@leeds.ac.uk.
  • For enquiries during the conference, please contact the Conference desk which will be situated in the Esther Simpson Building.

Registration for the Conference

  • Day one: you may register for the conference from 3.30 pm.
  • Day two: a conference information desk will be available in the Esther Simpson Building 8:30am.
  • Day three: a conference information desk will be available in the Esther Simpson Building from 9:00am.

IT/Internet Access

  • Visitor Wi-Fi will be available throughout the University campus.  Further details on how to access this will be available in your delegate pack.
  • If your device is logged into Eduroam prior to arrival you should be connected automatically while on campus.

Your SROC Account

  • When first registering to attend the conference you will be prompted to create an account on the SROC website or login to your existing account.
  • Your email address will be your username and will allow you to sign into your SROC account.
  • Your invoice can be found in your account. Please make sure you download a copy of your invoice for payment, unless you used the on-line store to pay for your delegate place.

Conference App (Guidebook)

  • We will be using Guidebook as our conference app (click here for a how-to on using Guidebook).
  • You’ll need to have the Guidebook app on your device, but you won't be required to create an account or log-in.
  • Download the guide to access up-to-date information about the conference, to build your personal schedule, maps, and much more. 
  • You can download our guide here: https://guidebook.com/g/sroc24 and will need to use the passphrase ‘sroc24’.
  • We will be using the app to collect feedback on individual breakouts and the conference.

Dietary requirements

  • Special diets can be catered for. Please inform us of your needs using the conference booking form. 
  • Additional queries can be sent to sroc24@leeds.ac.uk.

Opening night social

  • Our opening evening social event will offer a drinks reception and buffet meal.  
  • The evening's events will be held in Terrace Bar at the Leeds University Union (LUU).
  • After the meal there will be the traditional quiz.
  • The conference will have excusive use of the Terrace Bar until 10pm,  and thereafter the bar will re-open to general access. 

Conference Dinner

  • The Conference dinner and entertainment will be held at the Royal Armouries Museum.
  • The dinner is not ‘Black Tie’, but we do encourage you to put your ‘glad rags’ on!
  • Coaches will be ferrying delegates from the accommodation to Royal Armouries.
  • There will be a coach shuttle running to the accommodation after the dinner.

Follow us on X and Linkedin

  • You can follow updates and announcements on X (formerly twitter) @sroc_he
  • You can follow the conference on Linkedin
  • This year’s hashtag is #sroc24 
  • Please join in and share your experience of the conference!

Retail, Catering Outlets and Bars

  • Alcohol will be served at both the evening events with cash bars in operation as well as those drinks included in the events.
  • The university is in the city centre with many amenities a short walk away.

Emergency Services and Fire Procedures

  • In the event of an emergency or fire follow the instructions provided by university staff.  
  • Delegates should adhere to the Hotel’s emergency evacuation protocol when in their accommodation.

Medical Assistance or other emergencies:

  • Whilst on campus, visitors in need of emergency assistance should contact the conference team/desk in the first instance.