The University of Nottingham has appointed a new Strategic Change Director to support delivery of Global Strategy 2020.

Hâf Merrifield has been appointed to the newly-created post, and will report directly to Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Karen Cox, who holds overall strategic responsibility for driving delivery of Strategy 2020. Hâf will leave her current role as Head of Undergraduate Admissions which she has held at the University since 2014.

As Strategic Change Director, Hâf will work closely with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and University Executive Board to lead, co-ordinate and manage the support work required to ensure successful delivery of Global Strategy 2020. Working with the Executive Project Management Office, she will take responsibility for ensuring that the portfolio of projects which are supporting strategy delivery are well-planned, governed and delivered. Beyond this, Hâf will provide advice and support to the Provosts at University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus and University of Nottingham Ningbo China where necessary as they implement Strategy 2020 in their local contexts.

Hâf has a background not only in higher education, but also in national and regional government, and significant experience in developing and implementing strategy and managing a portfolio of change programmes and activities. She graduated with a BA in Philosophy and French from the University of Oxford in 1985 before taking roles in central government including the Departments for Education and Business, Innovation and Skills.

In 2007, Hâf became Deputy Regional Director and later Acting Regional Director for the Government Office for the East Midlands before moving into higher education. From 2010 to 2014, Hâf held the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Bishop Grosseteste University, during which she was instrumental in securing University title for BGU in 2012, implemented a governance and culture change programme across the organisation and led development of the new university strategy for 2014-2019.

Professor Cox said: “We are delighted that Hâf is joining the senior team to lead such an important area of work for the University. Her knowledge, skills and experience of strategic change and programme management will be invaluable as we implement Global Strategy 2020 over the next few years.”