Helen Fairfoul joined UCEA in October 2007, taking up a new role as Deputy Chief Executive. Prior to this, Helen was HR Director at Roehampton University, where for some years she combined this with responsibility for governance.

Her enthusiasm has been with education throughout her career, in the early years as an employment specialist in a variety of roles within the Inner London Education Authority and then as a head of HR in local government.

In her role at UCEA, Helen interacts with a wide spectrum of HEIs on their HR issues and works with other sector stakeholders, agencies and the trade unions. Helen manages UCEA’s relations with the Partnership of Public Employers and the European Federation of Education Employers, chairing the latter’s HE Network. She is also responsible for UCEA’s internal systems, structures and business planning.