Overview

Mrs Emma French

Biography	As Executive Director Governance and Assurance and University Secretary, I have a dual role, with both a responsibility to the University as a senior leader, and also providing independent advice and guidance to the University Council and its Chair. My remit, supported by excellent colleagues in my teams, is to ensure the effective governance of the University and its compliance with duties including data protection, information governance, the Office for Students quality conditions of registration, Prevent and safeguarding. As a member of the University executive, I lead the University Secretary’s Office (USO), the Quality Management Office (QMO) and the Legal and Compliance Services. USO services Council and its sub-committees, and the University Leadership Team (ULT), as well as running the University’s internal audit service, which acts as business assurance for the University and Council. QMO is responsible for quality assurance across the University and our academic governance, and services Senate and some of its sub-committees. The Legal Services team is the first point of contact for all staff requiring legal advice in the University, and maintains our Prevent, Safeguarding, Whistleblowing and data protection responsibilities. Prior to joining the University in February 2023, I had worked in higher education for 15 years, and truly believe in the transformational impact of HE. Having started my career in marketing, my HE background is in student administration, quality assurance, admissions and student recruitment, and I have worked in both large and small institutions. I am the co-chair of the Gender Equity Group, and through this, work to deliver the University Athena SWAN action plan and applications, as well as promoting gender equity at the University of Salford.

Biography

As Executive Director Governance and Assurance and University Secretary, I have a dual role, with both a responsibility to the University as a senior leader, and also providing independent advice and guidance to the University Council and its Chair.

My remit, supported by excellent colleagues in my teams, is to ensure the effective governance of the University and its compliance with duties including data protection, information governance, the Office for Students quality conditions of registration, Prevent and safeguarding.

As a member of the University executive, I lead the University Secretary’s Office (USO), the Quality Management Office (QMO) and the Legal and Compliance Services. USO services Council and its sub-committees, and the University Leadership Team (ULT), as well as running the University’s internal audit service, which acts as business assurance for the University and Council.

QMO is responsible for quality assurance across the University and our academic governance, and services Senate and some of its sub-committees. The Legal Services team is the first point of contact for all staff requiring legal advice in the University, and maintains our Prevent, Safeguarding, Whistleblowing and data protection responsibilities.

Prior to joining the University in February 2023, I had worked in higher education for 15 years, and truly believe in the transformational impact of HE. Having started my career in marketing, my HE background is in student administration, quality assurance, admissions and student recruitment, and I have worked in both large and small institutions.

I am the co-chair of the Gender Equity Group, and through this, work to deliver the University Athena SWAN action plan and applications, as well as promoting gender equity at the University of Salford.