Heather Knight

Director of Students, Education and Academic Services, Lancaster University.

After graduating from the University of Kent at Canterbury in Theology and French, Heather completed a PGCE and worked as a teacher in the south east, teaching mainly post-16 examination classes in the humanities.

A shift in career as an HR Manager for Sainsbury’s provided an opportunity to gain experience in industrial relations, staff recruitment practice and training and development.

On moving to the northwest Heather joined the HR department at Bolton Institute and her career in higher education began to develop. She moved from Bolton to the universities of Manchester, Liverpool, Central Lancashire and finally to Lancaster University, across a period of nearly 25 years, delivering support services to students and senior leadership of academic administration.

She has also worked as a consultant in HE for Tribal Education and as Director of the Centre of Academic Affairs in Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

Now at Lancaster University, Heather is focussing on developing world-class academic services to students and staff that is characteristic of this year’s University of the Year.

As a former GB international runner, Heather enjoys a healthy, outdoor work-life balance which also includes engagement with the arts.