Interim Director Profiles

Fiona leads our schools and FE marketing practice but also contributes to a range of university sector projects.

A former Director of Marketing and Business Development at East Berkshire College, Fiona has spent 3 years consulting for The Knowledge Partnership’s Australian office where she headed up the strategic communications arm working across Australia and New Zealand.

Returning to the UK in 2010, Fiona has been building The Knowledge Partnership’s profile in the schools sector working for a string of prestigious institutions.

Building on her FE experience Fiona has also led research into that sector’s reputation with employers. She has also acted as interim marketing director for a college, revitalising its recruitment processes and brand management.

Fiona holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Relations and a Master of Communications Degree (by research). She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

Specialist Fields:

• Schools marketing – strategy and stakeholder relations
• FE markets and marketing
• Marketing communications
• Brand management and positioning

Chris is an education marketer with more than 20 years experience in research, consultancy and marketing services management.

Originally a senior lecturer in strategic marketing, specialising in innovation, Chris went on to be the Head of Marketing at Northumbria and then Staffordshire universities. He has also held a similar post in the NHS. In 2011 Chris also spent several months as interim director at a research intensive university.  Having been a college governor, Chris is equally at home in the FE and HE sectors.

A longstanding member of the CIM Chris is also an associate member of the MRS having completed his research training at Aston Business School.

Chris’s consulting experience includes many projects that have focussed on the development of flexible and employer led or informed provision. He has also led projects to evaluate student marketing including enquiry and conversion, as well as various branding projects (repositioning, sub branding, employer branding, etc).  Chris has particular experience in the marketing of business schools and business education.

Specialist Fields:

• Employer-led programme development
• Brands and sub brands
• Student recruitment marketing
• Market research
• Business education

Giles was most recently the Director of Strategy and Marketing at the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) the UK’s largest independent organisation for research into education and children’s services. Prior to this he was Director of Marketing and a member of the University Leadership Team at Staffordshire University, responsible for student recruitment, branding and marketing strategy.

Qualified in both marketing (MBA) and market research (MRS) Giles complements his education sector experience with marketing and business development roles in areas as diverse as community health services, utilities, financial services and writing instruments.

Specialist Fields

• Market and marketing research
• Segmentation
• Branding and Value propositions
• Direct marketing
• Fee strategy

Heather has a broad university management background. As Director of Marketing & Market Development at the University of Surrey she helped to deliver a significant and consistent increase in applicant market share. Previously she was the school manager for a business school with leadership for strategy, HR and financial aspects. Heather has also been a member of a VC’s executive team with responsibility for corporate affairs and policy analysis. She also directed the institution’s anniversary celebrations and managed Royal and VIP visits.

Heather’s education leadership career started when she was elected VP (Welfare and Education) for her students’ union. Qualified to MBA level (Henley), Heather is also fluent in German.

Specialist Fields:

• Brand management
• Change management and related communications
• Personalised recruitment communications
• Fundraising communications
• Student unions
• Business and management schools