Council profiles: ‘a fine balancing act’

09 June 2022

Kevin Corrigan is a qualified accountant and has worked in investment management for over 25 years. Since graduating from the University of Reading in 1987, Kevin has worked for many high-profile financial bodies and currently runs his own advisory business. He is an active member of several boards and committees, including a children’s wellbeing venture.

What is your role on Council?

I am a lay member of the Council and Chair of the Investment Committee. I am also a member of the Strategy and Finance Committee.

What is a good thing about being a member of the University Council?

I get to work with amazing people from both within and outside the University. I graduated from the University of Reading some time ago and had a great experience while studying there. Fast-forward to today and being a member of the Council has given me the great privilege of reimagining what a great learning experience should look like.

What is challenging about being a member of the University Council?

Universities are incredibly complex entities, serving the needs of multiple stakeholders as well as their own student communities. Balancing the needs of all those stakeholders, with a finite set of resources, is not easy. We have many voices on the Council so building consensus takes time, effort and deep engagement. Recent exogenous events such as Brexit and the pandemic have put enormous pressure on management, staff and students, challenging the Council to maintain a long-term strategic view in the face of critical short-term needs.

Our biggest challenges lie ahead as we better understand how to deliver a first-class education in a more digital, climate-aware environment. We will need great people to help us deliver that.

What are you passionate about regarding the Council or the University Strategy?

Our community and excellence. We cannot attract the right people and elevate the University unless we instil excellence in all that we do. That means in our results, facilities and in the environment we study and work in. Our community needs to feel looked after and healthcare, particularly mental health, has been a long-standing interest of mine – we must ensure we have a joined-up holistic approach to wellbeing for all students and staff.

What has been your single biggest learning during your time as a Council member?

Patience! Even in our most challenging moments where the Council has wrestled with projects that haven’t quite materialised as planned, we have found ways to move forward – largely through patience and taking time to consult. Patience is indeed a virtue.

About University Council

Council is the ultimate governing body of our University and ensures that our institution is properly governed and meets all of its legal and regulatory requirements. Amongst its tasks is monitoring the University Strategy, as well as appointing the Vice-Chancellor and the University Executive Board. Council is made up of 27 members in total, including 15 members external to the University known as lay members.

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