Diversifying Leadership in Elite Universities

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Who gets to lead? The soft intelligence at the heart of university leadership

David Bass, Advance HE Director of Inclusion and Governance, introduces a blog by Tessa Harrison which "challenges us to look beyond the visible architecture of recruitment and ask how power, reputation and so-called “soft intelligence” shape who is seen as credible, appointable and ready to lead."

CGHE 2026: Navigating the equity crisis in global HE

This panel examines persistent inequalities in senior leadership across global higher education, where executive roles remain dominated by predominantly white, male leaders. Drawing on findings from the ESRC-funded project Diversifying Leadership in Elite Universities, the session explores the hidden “success factors” behind Vice-Chancellor/President appointments and the structural barriers that shape leadership pathways.