Conference Information

In partnership with the University of Nottingham, the conference will run in-person from Wednesday 23rd April to Friday 25th April 2025.

We hope you enjoy our facilities, carefully chosen speakers, breakout session topics and social events. We look forward to you joining us to make the 2025 conference a valuable and enjoyable experience. This year's breakouts will be aligned with the theme Generating, Driving and Measuring Value and Impact Amidst Uncertainty.

Meet our plenary speakers 

Professor Jane Norman, Vice-Chancellor, University of Nottingham

Our first Plenary will be presented by Professor Jane Norman. Jane has been President and Vice Chancellor at the University of Nottingham since Jan 2025. Her previous executive roles include Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Nottingham 2022 – 2024, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol 2019– 2022, and Vice Principal (PVC) People and Culture, University of Edinburgh 2013-19.

Jane’s Non-Executive roles include Board Membership of UKRI (UK Research and Innovation, the UK’s largest public funding body for science, research and innovation) 2024 onwards;  University Hospitals Bristol and Weston, 2021 – 2024; and the Equality Challenge Unit 2014 - 2018.

Jane graduated in medicine from the University of Edinburgh in 1986. From 2008 to 2019 she was Director of the Tommy’s Centre for Maternal & Fetal Health and Honorary Consultant Obstetrician in Edinburgh. Her research investigated factors responsible for the initiation of normal parturition and developed strategies for the prevention of preterm birth and stillbirth. She was awarded the quinquennial Eardley Holland Medal by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 2020.

Jane chaired grant award committees internationally, and nationally for the Welcome Trust and the National Institute for Health Research. She has chaired working groups for the MHRA and for National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. She was a member of the clinical medicine panel for REF2021 and the Scotland A National Multicentre Research Ethics committee.  She has held leadership positions in health-related UK societies, including council membership of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

She is Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Academy of Medical Sciences, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Jason Foster, CEO - Cynozure

Plenary two will be presented by Jason Foster. Jason is a strategist, advisor, investor and speaker working at the intersection of digital, data and business. He is the Founder and CEO of Cynozure, a market leading data, analytics and AI consultancy, and the CDO hub, a global members club for senior data leaders. 

He is the co-author of ‘Data Means Business’, the go to book for business leaders looking to develop the strategies required to generate value from data and scale quickly. Jason also hosts the Hub & Spoken podcast, that shines a light on leadership, culture, technology, change and strategy associated data, analytics and AI. 

He has also been featured in the DataIQ 100 Most Influential People in Data for five years, 2020 to 2024.

Helen Blaikie, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Aston University

Plenary three will be presented by Helen Blaikie, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Aston University. Helen joined Aston University in 2020 to develop and deliver the institutional data strategy, becoming their first Chief Data and Analytics Officer in 2023.  

Helen is an executive leader with significant data, finance and commercial experience across diverse sectors including the third sector, FMCG, retail, manufacturing, transport, oil and gas, mainly within Blue-Chip organisations.  A successful track record of leading teams in data and analytics, sales, business development and financial management environments, to achieve sustainable growth and increased shareholder value. 

Helen actively supports the wider data community through thought leadership,  coaching and mentoring data leaders and supporting Women in Data and Women in Technology.

Dr Paul Greatrix, Former Registrar, University of Nottingham

Plenary four will be presented by Dr. Paul Greatrix. Dr Greatrix was, until December 2024, Registrar at the University of Nottingham, a post he was appointed to in January 2007. 

Prior to joining the University of Nottingham he held a number of roles at the University of Warwick, the University of East Anglia and Staffordshire University. Up to the end of 2024 he was also Honorary Secretary of AHUA, the Association of Heads of University Administration in the UK and President of HUMANE, the Heads of University Management and Administration Network in Europe. 

Paul used to blog regularly on Wonkhe but now has his own blog, Wonderful HE, and continues to try other things with podcasting.

Meet our conference sponsors

General information

Local Organising Committee

• The local organisers are Ruth Hall and Geyv Kathoke from the University of Nottingham.
• For enquiries before the conference, please contact SROC@nottingham.ac.uk.
• For enquiries during the conference, please contact the Conference desk which will be situated in the Business School South Foyer.

Registration for the Conference

• Day one: you may register for the conference from 3:30pm in the Business School South Foyer.
• Day two: a conference information desk will be available in the Business School South Foyer from 8:30am.
• Day three: a conference information desk will be available in the Business School South Foyer 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 (Coming soon)

• 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. 
• We will be using the Guidebook 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 SROC@nottingham.ac.uk.

Opening night social

• Our opening evening social event will offer a drinks reception and BBQ.  
• The evening's events will be held in The Atrium.
• After the meal there will be the traditional quiz. 

Conference Dinner

• The Conference dinner and entertainment will be held at Trent Bridge Cricket Club.
• 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 Trent Bridge.
• There will be a coach shuttle running to the accommodation after the dinner.

Follow us on Linkedin

• You can follow the conference on Linkedin
• This year’s hashtag is #sroc25
• 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 Trent Bridge bar will be card/contactless payment only.
• 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.

Last Updated: 2025-01-12