AMOSSHE National Conference 2026

Beth Allender

Programme Manager, National Student Mental Health Partnerships Programme, Cardiff University

Beth was recruited by Cardiff University in January 2021 to support the development and delivery of a pilot to improve understanding, access and support to NHS Mental Health Services for university students in Cardiff, particularly those with moderate to severe, complex or long term mental health symptoms. This has expanded into a national programme of work involving all further and higher institutes and their regional NHS Health Boards. 

Prior to the current role, Beth has been a programme and project manager for over fifteen years. Working in universities in Wales, within Student Services, Strategic Programmes and IT Services, in particular with cultural and student experience transformation programmes. She has supported managing aspects of planning and design for the £450 million Bay Campus development for Swansea University. Starting her career in the NHS, Beth also has experience in hospital administration and Welsh National IT Programmes.

: /beth-allender-13215b24/

Professor Jason Arday

Professor of Education, University of Cambridge

Jason Arday is Professor of Sociology of Education at the University of Cambridge, and a Fellow at Jesus College, Cambridge.  Previously, Jason was Professor of Sociology of Education at the University of Glasgow and has also held the position of Associate Professor in Sociology at Durham University and Deputy Executive Dean for People and Culture in the Faculty of Social Science and Health.

Jason is a Patron of the Adult Literacy Trust (ALT) and Get Further, an award-winning UK charity providing tuition and support in English and maths to disadvantaged students. He is a Trustee of the British Sociological Association (BSA) and sits on the NHS Race and Health Observatory Academic Reference Group and the ITV Cultural Advisory Council. 

Jason was formerly a Trustee of the Runnymede Trust, the UK’s leading Race Equality Thinktank for 11 years.

Kieron Carroll

Student Experience Programme Manager, University of Warwick

Kieron brings over a decade of diverse experience in the higher education sector, having held roles at the University of Southampton, the University of Birmingham, and the University of Warwick. Currently serving as the Student Experience Programme Manager at Warwick, Kieron leads a strategic portfolio of projects dedicated to translating the student voice into tangible, actionable outcomes.

His current initiatives focus on amplifying student representation within Student-Staff Liaison Committees (SSLCs), ensuring campus space design is student-informed, mapping institutional non-academic engagement, and directing tailored user experience projects for specific cohorts. He is deeply committed to fostering a sense of belonging and enjoys building collaborative partnerships across academic departments, the Students' Union, Campus Services, and Professional Services.

: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/studentexperience/
: kieron-carroll

Keith Houghton

Director of Student Support and Wellbeing, The University of Law

Keith is an AMOSSHE Executive Member and Director of Student Support and Wellbeing at The University of Law. 

: https://www.amosshe.org.uk/about/our-team.html

Sally Lambah

Head of Student Support and Wellbeing, Wrexham University

Sally is an AMOSSHE Executive Member and Head of Student Support and Wellbeing at Wrexham University. 

: https://www.amosshe.org.uk/about/our-team.html

Clare McCauley

Associate Director, Uniac

Clare McCauley is an Associate Director at Uniac, specialising in internal audit, governance and higher education regulation. She has over 25 years’ experience working in senior leadership roles across a wide range of higher education providers, including Russell Group, post‑1992, specialist and small institutions. 

At Uniac, Clare leads and delivers assurance and advisory work in academic and corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and risk management. Her work includes extensive experience of auditing compliance with Office for Students conditions of registration, particularly Condition E6 on harassment and sexual misconduct. Clare’s work focuses on supporting institutions to evidence effective practice in meeting regulatory requirements, drawing on a pragmatic, sector‑informed approach to interpreting and applying regulatory expectations for both governance and operational audiences.

She holds a Master’s degree in Linguistics and volunteers for an international charity that supports victims of sexual violence.

: https://uniac.co.uk/

Georgina Pilling

Student User Experience Officer, University of Warwick

Georgina is a Student User Experience Officer at the University of Warwick, specialising in inclusive practice, student engagement, and student‑centred service design. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Business Management and a PGCE.

Georgina became a mature student while working at Warwick, an experience that has strongly shaped her commitment to improving support for those balancing study with work, caring responsibilities, or later‑life transitions.

Before joining Warwick, Georgina spent five years in teaching, focusing on inclusive classroom practice and enhancing the overall student experience. In 2025, Georgina moved into the Student Experience & Engagement team as a Student User Experience Officer. She works on student‑centred projects aimed at developing belonging across the institution, and supports the team through data analysis, insight generation and evaluating the impact of institutional events and initiatives.

: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/studentexperience/
: georgie-pilling-969402311

Andy Shanks

Director of Student Wellbeing, The University of Edinburgh

Andy became the University of Edinburgh’s first Director of Student Wellbeing in August 2017, a key appointment in the University’s commitment to delivering an outstanding student experience. Andy’s remit includes leading strategically on student wellbeing and tackling gender-based violence, and responsibility for the Student Counselling Service, the Disability and Learning Support Service, the Chaplaincy and the Student Wellbeing Service, as well as for relationships with the University Health Centre.

Originally from Edinburgh, Andy graduated from the University of Manchester in 1994 with a BA (Hons) in Russian and Social Policy. Andy trained and worked as a Mental Health Social Worker and then as a Service Manager in London. He was also South West Locality Manager at the City of Edinburgh Council / NHS Lothian with responsibility for the delivery of integrated, statutory health and social care services in that area of the city.

He is a season ticket holder at Hibernian FC.

: https://www.amosshe.org.uk/about/our-team.html