Changes to Estates & Facilities from 1 September 2018

Friday, 27 July 2018

From 1 September 2018, Estates & Facilities will be replaced by two separate functions -
Estates and Campus Commerce.

Estates will be led by Janis Pich and consist of services directly supporting the University's estate - including Campus Services, Maintenance & Grounds (including Sustainability), Strategy & Space Management, and Projects. Janis will report to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Planning & Resource).

Matthew White will lead Campus Commerce, which will include the self-financing and income-generating commercial activities - including Catering, Hotel & Conference Services, SportsPark, and the Accommodation Contract Management Office. Matt will report to the Chief Financial Officer, Samantha Foley. The Property Services teams will also report to the Chief Financial Officer.

Health & Safety, which will continue to be led by Jenny Mcgrother, will become part of Academic & Governance Services to ensure a closer link with Risk Management and Business Continuity.

Robert Van de Noort, the University's incoming Acting Vice-Chancellor, and Samantha Foley, Chief Financial Officer, said the changes would enable these functions to offer focused delivery, as the complexity of our estate and the scope of our commercial services increase. "In Janis and Matt, we have two capable leaders who understand the University and its campuses well. With a clear mandate on Estates, Janis will be able to help us develop campuses that are excellent places to work and study, while Matt will focus on self-financing and income-generating activities for the University."

With the current Director of Estates and Facilities, Colin Robbins, retiring at the end of August, Robert thanked him for his service over 13 years. "Colin has been an excellent Director of Estates & Facilities. Under his leadership as Director of Estates and Facilities, the team has established a reputation for delivering big projects as well as offering the best teaching, learning and research environment on our campuses - as well as enhancing the sustainability of our estate. We wish him the very best as he prepares to enjoy his well-earned retirement."

Colin was appointed the Director of Estates & Facilities in 2005. He has overseen a major construction programme for the University - including the construction of Henley Business School, Hopkins and Carrington buildings at our Whiteknights campus, the new Halls of Residence and our Malaysia campus. Colin also worked with the University's Audit Committee to secure a £40m investment in statutory maintenance work, which has helped us improve our estate from 30% in good to excellent condition to nearly 80% now. In 2015, Estates & Facilities received the Gold status from Investors in People.