Professor Niamh Downing has over 20 years’ experience of delivering transformative change and strategy in academic leadership positions in public and private Higher Education. Her goal is to deliver exceptional experiences and outcomes for students and staff through developing diverse collaborative teams and high-value industry partnerships.
Professor Niamh Downing
Pro Vice-Chancellor Education & Student Experience
Niamh is interested combining design thinking, systems thinking and interdisciplinary approaches to generate new ways of working, organising and operating Universities, as well as new approaches to learning, educating, and living that help us to respond to social and environmental challenges.
As PVC Education & Student Experience at Canterbury Christ Church University, Niamh leads a number of strategic projects that will deliver excellence for students, staff and the wider University community through the implementation of our Vision 2030.
As Principal and Chief Executive Officer at Corndel College London, Niamh established the Board of Governors, led the Higher Education growth strategy, and launched a programme of Degree Apprenticeships to multiple FTSE 100 clients. Prior to this she was Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Regents University, London, and delivered the institution’s new academic model, portfolio strategy; and had overall executive leadership for the University’s new Strategy. Niamh also led Regent’s submission for TEF2023 which resulted in a step change from Bronze to Silver.
Niamh has also held senior academic positions at Falmouth University and Sheffield Hallam University where she was Co-Director of Off the Shelf Festival of Words represented the University on the Sheffield Culture Consortium, and the DCMS-Funded Culture Collective for the city.
Niamh is Professor of Environmental and Public Humanities and has a track record of grant capture as PI and Co-I funded by Strategic Priorities Fund, AHRC, NERC, National Productivity Investment Fund, HLF and ACE.
Research interests
Niamh’s research is in the environmental humanities, working on interdisciplinary approaches that address public understandings of landscape change and climate adaptation.
Responsibilities in relation to the achievement of University's strategic ambitions
Sponsor and lead various student lifecycle strategic projects including the implementation of a new Curriculum Management System; the design and rollout of a new Academic Framework; and University Portfolio Review.
Oversee the transformation of processes, systems, and ways of working that impact on the student lifecycle, through sponsoring an organisational change project to deliver a new target operating model across Student Services.
What inspires you about Canterbury Christ Church?
Canterbury Christ Church University is a unique community of dedicated educationalists, researchers, students and external partners with the power and commitment to change lives. I’m continually impressed and inspired by our colleagues and students and their desire to make a difference.