Professional Services Executive
This page gives short biographies for each director in the Professional Services Executive, along with links to full profiles and their professional service area.
- Registrar and Secretary - Dr Philip Harvey
- Accommodation and Commercial Services - Pat McGrath
- Corporate Affairs - Nick Agarwal
- Corporate Information and Computing Services - Chris Sexton
- Development, Alumni Relations and Events Office - Miles Stevenson and Peter Agar
- Estates and Facilities Management - Keith Lilley
- Finance and Commercial - Bob Rabone and Helen Dingle
- Human Resources - Andy Dodman
- Planning and Governance Services - Tony Strike
- Research and Innovation Services - Sarah Fulton
- Student Services - Andrew West
- The University Library - Martin Lewis
Dr Philip Harvey
Registrar and Secretary
Philip was appointed Registrar and Secretary and Chief Operating Officer at the University of Sheffield in October 2009 and brought with him considerable experience of higher education gained in previous senior appointments, most latterly that of Registrar at the University of Sussex.
His role is that of Chief Operating Officer, responsible for the successful operation of the complete spectrum of Professional Services within the University.
Pat McGrath
Director of Accommodation and Commercial Services
Pat joined the University in 1989 and before that worked in three different higher education institutions, hospitals and hotels in London. She moved to Sheffield to complete an MBA followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Facilities Management.
As Director of Accommodation and Commercial Services Pat is responsible for the teams who provide a range of services and facilities to staff, students and visitors across the University including, student accommodation, catering and delivered hospitality, conferences and event management. Its vision is 'to be recognised and chosen for delivering excellence' and we strive to offer the best experience to students, University staff, conference guests and members of the public who use our services.
On a national level, Pat sits on the Executive Board of the Association of College & University Business Officers (CUBO). She is also Chair of University Hospitality Seminars, which is a limited company owned by UK academic institutions providing courses that are bespoke and specific to the needs of the university hospitality sector.
Nick Agarwal
Director of Corporate Affairs
Nick joined the University in October 2012 as Director of Corporate Affairs, and leads its communications and marketing teams.
During a 15-year career in retail, Nick led high profile domestic and international brand reputation programmes for Asda, where he was Strategic Communications Director and for Walmart in the United States where he was Vice President in corporate affairs and marketing.
Nick has also held communications roles at British Aerospace, BT, N&P Building Society and, prior to these, worked in radio journalism for the BBC. He graduated from Leeds University in International History & Politics and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
Chris Sexton
Director of Corporate Information and Computing Services
Christine has been Director of Corporate Information and Computing Services at the University of Sheffield since 1996. Before that she had a variety of roles in University Administration, including Head of Administration for the Faculty of Medicine.
She has been on the UCISA (University and Colleges Information Systems Association) Executive Committee for the past five years, spending her last two years as Chair finishing in 2011. She has also served as a member of the RUGIT executive, and has been a member of a number of national Steering Groups, including recently the HEFCE Steering Group on Cloud Computing and Shared Services, and the UUK Task Group on Efficiency and Modernisation.
Miles Stevenson
Director of Alumni and Donor Relations
Miles Stevenson became Director of Development at The University of Sheffield in June 2002. This office is responsible for raising philanthropic funds for the University. He is also responsible for the Events Team.
Prior to Sheffield, Miles spent nine years at the University of Bristol working in their Development and Alumni Relations Office. Miles was educated at the University of Durham where he took a Bachelor’s degree in History and a Master’s Degree in Medieval History, specialising on the Crusades.
Miles is married with two children. He is also a trustee of the Sheffield Botanical Garden.
Peter Agar
Director of Campaigns
Peter joined the University in September 2012 in the new role of Director of Campaigns. Working alongside Miles Stevenson and the Development ad Alumni Relations team, Peter is responsible for leading the activities that will realise the University's goal of substantially increasing its philanthropic income.
Prior to joining Sheffield Peter had spent ten years as Director of Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Cambridge which followed a varied career in both the public and private sectors, most notably as Deputy Director General of the CBI and UK Consul General in Toronto.
Keith Lilley
Director of Estates and Facilities Management
Keith started work as Director of Estates and Facilities Management (EFM) at the University of Sheffield in September 2010.
He started his career with the NHS as a management trainee. Keith has held a number of senior positions, including Director of Facilities at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and latterly at the University of York where he worked as Director of Facilities Management.
EFM is responsible for estates management and maintenance, facilities management, Sport Sheffield, Safety Services, Portering, Cleaning, Transport and Logistics, energy and environment. Keith is passionate about delivering services of the highest quality and best value. Central to this is the need to support our students and ensure that they become our ambassadors for the future.
Keith holds a first degree, is a member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, has an MBA from Warwick University and is a Member of the British Institute of Facilities Management.
Bob Rabone
Chief Financial Officer
Bob is the Chief Financial Officer of the University of Sheffield and is responsible for strategic financial and policy matters, with a particular emphasis on commercial, enterprise and development.
He is a director of several University subsidiaries and investments, including Fusion IP plc, which invests in turning the University's world class research into commercial businesses.
Bob is a Charted Accountant and qualified with Coopers & Lybrand (now part of PricewaterhouseCoopers) after graduating at Imperial College as a Mechanical Engineer. After several years of management consultancy, he gained a wide range of commercial experience as a Finance Director with both private and public companies.
Before joining the University of Sheffield in 2005, Bob was Finance Director and a member of the senior management team at the international law firm Eversheds LLP. He has been a member of the HE Sector's TRAC Development Group since its formation in 2008 and is Deputy Chair of the British University Finance Directors Group.
Helen Dingle
Director of Finance
Helen joined the University in 1997 and held a number of different roles within the Finance Department before being appointed Director of Finance in 2012. Prior to joining the University she held a number of roles in further education and the private sector.
Finance are responsible for developing and implementing dynamic and future focussed financial strategies to support the University's aims, whilst maintaining sound financial oversight and administration in managing the University's financial affairs.
Helen is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and has an MBA from the University of Sheffield. She is also a Trustee at the Open College of the Arts.
Andy Dodman
Director of Human Resources
Andy joined the University in 2004 and was appointed Director of Human Resources on the 1 April 2011. He is responsible for leading the University's staffing and employment strategy and activities, which includes operational HR services, training & development, employee relations and staff health and well-being.
Andy is a member of the University Executive Board. He was educated at the University of Bath (BSc) and the University of Leeds (MBA) and is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD).
Tony Strike
Director of Strategy, Planning and Change
Tony was appointed from March 2012 to co-ordinate or direct strategy, projects and transformation activities to deliver University goals. He leads Planning and Governance Services, benchmarking and enhancing performance and outcomes.
Before his current role he was Director of Strategy, Planning and Governance/University Secretary at the University of Southampton. Prior to that Tony was Human Resources Director at Portsmouth Hospitals until 1998 and then with the University of Southampton until 2008.
Tony has published Human Resources in Health Care (1995) and more recently written on academic careers. A Registered Programme (MSP) and Project Management (PRINCE2) practitioner Tony has led several multi-million pound projects. He has a PhD from Southampton (2008), is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, has an MSc in Personnel Management (1998), a Certificate in Education (1994) and a Diploma in Management Studies (1991).
Sarah Fulton
Director of Research and Innovation Services
Sarah came to Sheffield in 1986 to study for a Bachelor's degree in Politics and Social Policy. Like many students, Sarah stayed on and worked in the city.
She spent the first six years of her University career in a number of posts within the Faculty of Medicine, which included a strong policy and delivery interface with the NHS, before being appointed as Head of the Teaching and Learning Support Unit.
Following a period as Head of the Research Office and Deputy Academic Secretary, Sarah was appointed as Director of Research and Innovation Services in August 2008, and through the subsequent merger of several offices, created the new service in June 2009
Sarah contributes to broader University-wide strategy and policy development and represents the University regionally and nationally on various groups and boards.
Andrew West
Director of Student Services
Andrew's remit has a wide scope covering the student journey including student recruitment, admissions, registry, student administration, learning and teaching support and a broad range of student support services.
He was the Chair of AMOSSHE from 2010-2012 – the professional association for Student Services in the UK, and he has previously been Vice-Chair of AUA. Andrew is now is a member of the Executive of IASAS - a global professional organisation for student services. He also serves as a member of the HE Advisory Panel for the Office of the Independent Adjudicator and he is a member of the governing Council of Westcott House, Cambridge.
Andrew's work on student affairs and management and leadership issues has been published in professional journals and other publications, including a chapter on strategy and service quality within UNESCO's guide to global best practice in student services, and a recent piece on the role of professional staff in the student learning experience.
Martin Lewis
Director of Library Services and University Librarian
Martin has been Director of Library Services and University Librarian since 2003. He came to Sheffield in 1986 to head the Health Sciences Library, and was appointed Deputy Librarian in 1994. Previous posts have included subject consultant for science and engineering at the University of Leeds library and a one-year appointment as Visiting Librarian at the MIT Libraries.
Martin studied biochemistry at the University of Cambridge, and took a postgraduate diploma in librarianship at Aberystwyth University. He currently serves on the University's Council as an elected Senate member.