Kerra McClenaghan

Head of Student Wellbeing Services, University of Plymouth

Kerra McClenaghan is a senior leader who has spent her career living by the ethos that compassionate leadership isn’t just a nice idea, it’s non-negotiable. A systems thinker with a knack for untangling organisational complexity, she is interested in trauma‑responsive practice, preventative wellbeing and creating environments where both students and staff can breathe a little easier.

As Head of Student Wellbeing Services at the University of Plymouth, Kerra oversees continual change, countless initiatives and approximately one million emails a week. Her portfolio spans everything from suicide prevention, supporting disabled students to digital transformation, and the kind of policy work that only true sector enthusiasts can love. She is known for bringing clarity, calm and the occasional well‑timed humour to complex institutional challenges.

Before joining Plymouth, Kerra held senior roles across HE and the NHS. At heart, Kerra is a clinician - an experienced integrative psychotherapist and therefore is passionate about embedding compassionate leadership across the sector, championing approaches that prioritise psychological safety, relational practice, and genuine human connection.

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