In conversation with… Lucy Winskell OBE

Your role is to work with businesses, so in what ways does Northumbria University contribute to the region’s economic and social development?

The economic impact we bring to the region is huge. We are one of the biggest employers in the region and we have a very large student base, but it’s not just about the financial contribution that the University, our staff and our students make. We provide very able graduates and postgraduates to support businesses and help them develop their workforce and build on their strengths. I think the really important thing to stress is the ‘Knowledge Transfer’ we provide to those organisations and people who drive the North East economy through our research, innovation and collaborations with businesses. The University has partnerships with a range of institutions and government bodies across the North East, including BALTIC, the Centre for Life and Gateshead Council. How do these partnerships benefit students?

We have to ensure that the partnerships are bringing something of real value to the students and that the University offers value to our partners – in simple terms, the whole becomes stronger than the two parts. So, for example, if you’re a Performing Arts student, the opportunity to work with a new writer who creates a play then translates that onto the stage, and being involved with that process step-by-step, would enhance your learning experience. Alternatively, a business student working in a corporate learning partnership with a multi-national would grow to understand their subject better, and that experience would improve their long-term employability.

One of Northumbria’s main objectives for students is to help give their career an edge. What unique qualities do Northumbria students bring to the job market, drawing on your own business experience?

As a result of working with the partners, our students have a greater understanding of how a particular business works and are able to articulate why they want to be in that industry and what they can offer to it. You can learn so much in a classroom, but it’s really important to apply this knowledge in a practical sense too. Our Employability and Enterprise Plan emphasises the need for us to help our students gain life-long skills and attributes.

You were awarded an OBE in the 2014 Honours List in recognition for your services to the regional economy in the North East and to Higher Education. What does this award mean to you?

It means a great deal to me indeed. I have been really touched by the most charming letters, cards and emails from a huge number of people I’ve worked with in the North East and elsewhere over the years. I was overwhelmed by the kind comments people made about my impact on the work we had done together – it was very humbling, and it has reminded me what a privilege it has been to work with such talented individuals and great businesses over the years.

You studied for both your undergraduate degree and MBA in the North East. What made you stay here and pursue a career in the region?

I think the North East is a fabulous place to live, learn and work. I have always lived here and I just love everything the region can bring. I still love to travel and I’ve worked nationally and internationally in some of my previous roles, but home has always been here.

You were a litigation lawyer and have worked in a range of governance roles in public and private organisations. What made you change your career and how have these experiences informed your work at Northumbria?

I had a successful legal career with some national and international roles, but after 27 years I began to think I had another career in me. Through my MBA, I began to learn new skills and gain the confidence to reinvent myself – I really witnessed the power of postgraduate study first hand. I undoubtedly view the MBA as a stepping stone and used it to build a portfolio of non-executive appointments. I worked with Professor Wathey, Northumbria’s Vice-Chancellor, as a non-executive of the Newcastle-Gateshead City Development Company, and learnt so much from him about the University’s strengths and its importance to the region. This resulted in my applying for the role of

Pro-Vice Chancellor, and the interview panel decided I had the right skill set to take up the position – for which I am extremely grateful!

How has the role developed since you arrived in 2010?

The role has changed a great deal as the University has had to respond to the fastmoving environment around us. We’ve seen a recession, a massive economic shake-up, changes to Higher Education funding and a rise in tuition fees. As the environment we work in continues to change, we need to be forward thinking, flexible and resilient. Personally, I continue to learn new things every day and am pushed outside of my comfort zone all the time – and that’s a good thing. Although it’s daunting to move to the Higher Education sector from an established legal career, I’m thrilled that I made the change.

What do you have planned to work on next?

Well, where do I start? There’s so much to do. We need to embed our Employability and Enterprise Plan to bring more benefits to all students. We need to continue to build a culture of graduate business start-ups. We need to work towards ensuring all of our students are able to benefit from placements. We need to refocus our sports strategy and we need to build up our business partnerships. Although we are already doing lots of this work we’re always keen to do more and to find new and better ways of working. We never rest on our laurels and that’s a big part of our success.