Staff Profile
Ashley Church
After graduating with a degree from Leeds Business School in 2005 I spent the following 13 years working in development roles across the private sector and within further education. My experience in external engagement and industry collaboration led me to Buckinghamshire New University in 2018 to support the establishment of a new Degree Apprenticeship Hub. As Head of Business Development, I established relationships with multinational organisations and large public sector institutions to develop a significant number of training opportunities for apprentices.
In 2022 I secured the role as Director of Academic Portfolio Development which enabled me to lead strategic expansion projects including the creation of a new School of Engineering and the Built Environment.
As the first member of my family to go to university I have experienced first-hand how higher education has the ability to positively transform lives. I am a passionate advocate for broadening participation and for maximising employment outcomes for graduates.
As Director of Strategy, Transformation and Futures my role at BNU is to lead key strategic initiatives and large-scale transformation programmes.
Ashley became a member of the University Strategy Group in April 2025.