Interview
MEET UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON’S CEO (Chief Enabling Officer, that is)
Exclusive interview with the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Debra Humphris
D
ebra Humphris has been the ViceChancellor at the University of Brighton for less than a year, but she has made a
“I’ve come to an institution where there is
“There were some changes in the previous
a very clear imperative to refresh and renew,
senior leadership - retirement, people moving
and to reassert our role and our purpose in
on to take new opportunities - and that has
big impact already. Straight-talking and ready
society,” says Debra. “There are numerous
opened up opportunities for me to create a
to embrace change, Debra is determined to
opportunities for us. The economic climate
new team.”
strengthen the bond between the university
and the policy context that we find ourselves
and the wider business and local community.
in as an institution are changing dramatically,
has mirrored that of Chief Executive in
and we must adapt if we are to improve.
a company. The aims may ultimately be
If anyone has been coasting in the sheltered bubble that can often be found in university
“We have had a period of flushing out a
More than ever, the role of a Vice-Chancellor
different, with educational attainment
campus life, they may well have had a bit of a
whole load of things that we need to speak
replacing the search for profits, but the
shock. Debra Humphris is on a mission, as she
openly about, speaking truth unto the
pressure on budgets and tough decisions
makes clear when we meet to discuss her plans
institution and ourselves so that we can re-
mean that the two worlds are becoming more
for the university.
base and start to move forward.
intertwined. Pragmatism is the key, and this
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