Who we are

Nkechi is a Social Investment Analyst, and a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science and the University of Sheffield. She holds an MSc in Development Studies and a BA in Business Management and Economics. In addition to her interests in fair access and participation in higher education, she is interested in financial inclusion, innovation, and technology as a force for social good.

Summer is a care-experienced undergraduate law student at the University of East Anglia. Prior to joining the Student Interest Board, Summer attended boarding school on a scholarship for A-levels. This opportunity provided exposure to a wide range of perspectives and played a significant role in shaping a strong commitment to social justice, equity, and the transformative power of education.

John is Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students. He took up his position in January 2022.

Prior to joining the OfS, he was a senior leader and researcher in the schools sector, leading on public affairs and curriculum research and design for Ark, policy and strategy for Now Teach, and History initial teacher education for the Harris Federation.

John has also worked as Head of Education and Social Reform for the think tank Policy Exchange, was a founder governor of Oak National Academy, and served as an advisor to the government on reforms to initial teacher training and continuing professional development.

Ridhka is an economics degree apprentice at the Office for National Statistics. Alongside this role, Ridhka co-chairs the Kent Apprentice Events and Socials Committee, organising events to support the apprentice community, and sits on two higher education youth advisory boards.

Shani is a Campus Manager at Arden University with a passion for student support and delivering an excellent student experience.

Oscar is a Student Experience Officer currently working at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Oscar has a passion for student representation and works closely with the school's Students' Representative Council to support its effectiveness.

Alongside work, Oscar is also studying the Bar Course at the Inns of Court College of Advocacy. Previously, he studied a Master of Laws at the London School of Economics and Political Science and, before that, a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Reading.

Cassie is Head of Membership at University of Derby Union of Students, leading the strategic development of all things student life for the union and supporting her teams that deliver advice, activities, and voice for students.

Cassie's background is in students' unions, starting as Education Officer at the University of Nottingham Students' Union and continuing to work across the sector in both operations and membership roles.

Izzy is an Undergraduate Engineer at Dyson, currently pursuing a degree apprenticeship at the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Sian is the Head of Higher Education and Adult Learning at Yeovil College in South Somerset, where she is responsible for leading the provision of an exceptional educational experience for undergraduate and adult learners across domains including data, regulatory compliance, academic standards, pastoral support, outreach, and community engagement.

Before joining Yeovil College in 2019, Sian worked in outreach, as part of the consortium delivering the Uni Connect project across Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall.

Chris Shelley is the Director of Student Experience at Queen Mary University of London. He is responsible for ensuring students are supported through their journey from before they arrive to beyond graduation. His areas of responsibility include student wellbeing, registry, careers and enterprise and library services and a range of functions that support the journey of students.

He has previously held similar leadership positions at the University of Greenwich and King's College London and has served on the Executive Committee of AMOSSHE, the Student Services Organisation.

Fay is Director of Student Services at Edge Hill University in Lancashire, where she has worked for the past ten years. She has 20 years’ experience in the higher education sector, having previously held roles at Lancaster University and the University of Salford.

Alongside her professional roles, Fay has contributed to sector-wide initiatives through voluntary positions, including as Chair of the Compliance, Assurance and Scrutiny (CAS) Board and a member of both the Governance Board and CAS Board for the UUK/Guild HE Accommodation Code of Practice. She was also actively involved in AMOSSHE, the Student Services Organisation, serving as an Executive Member and Vice Chair.

Shaalinie is the Acting Head of Student Experience at the Royal College of Art. This job involves an assortment of responsibilities, but at its core, it concerns shaping services to ensure that the university's important provisions, whether in learning and teaching, student safety, or psychological support systems, remain in sync with student need.

Her career has been a meandering one — from a career adviser to a disability and inclusion specialist, to overseeing scholarships and financial assistance schemes. She has recently entered leadership roles and was, many years ago, a student parent herself.

Alex has been Vice President of Higher Education at the National Union of Students since July 2024. His main role is to represent students in higher education and to advocate and campaign for their best interests.

Prior to NUS, he studied BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics before spending a year as the Education Officer at Exeter Students’ Guild.

Michael is a student of Clinical Science at the University of Bradford with a passion for healthcare, justice and education.

Before joining the board, he was a member of the OfS student panel where he focused on good governance and student wellbeing. He was also a student officer at Bradford College where he helped design and implement a social space for students after the pandemic.

Caleb is a postgraduate student at the University of Exeter studying an MBA apprenticeship degree. He was previously awarded an MA in Diplomacy and International Relations at Lancaster University and a BA (Hons) in Public Services at the University of Plymouth. 

Caleb brings extensive experience as a safeguarding lead across public bodies, including in education, and currently serves as the Parliamentary Safeguarding Lead for the UK Parliament.

Alongside his operational responsibilities, he has held a range of governance roles and was appointed the youngest Magistrate in 2017, later becoming the youngest Presiding Justice in 2024 for the Ministry of Justice. A committed advocate for youth representation, Caleb actively champions the inclusion of young people’s perspectives within formal governance structures.

As well as chairing the Student Interest Board, Caleb serves on the OfS board and is a member of the Remuneration and Nominations Committee.

Joseph is currently a postgraduate Psychology of Music student at the University of Sheffield, having just finished an undergraduate degree in music also at the University of Sheffield.

Joseph has represented both disabled students and students with caring needs through school advisory boards and local council working groups alongside his research, and plans to continue to do similar work after graduating from his postgraduate degree.

Cassie is the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Student Experience at the University of Bath. In this role she has strategic oversight of the student experience including support and wellbeing, engagement, and employability for students across all levels of study. Cassie took up her role in 2021 and prior to this she held various leadership roles at both the University of Bath and Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Cassie is a Professor of Sport and Exercise Biomechanics and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.