About
Dr Mark Humphreys
BMus, MusM, DPhil, FCMI
Background
I’ve worked in UK higher education since 2002, in a mix of permanent and interim roles. My background is academic (I have a DPhil in music from Oxford), and that has always shaped how I work with academic colleagues: good professional services start from understanding how teaching and research actually happen.
I have a strong personal commitment to widening access to higher education for people from all backgrounds.
Career in brief
Middlesex University (2025 to date): Director of Strategic Planning and Performance, reporting to the COO. I built a new planning function whose forecasting now sets the University’s tuition fee budget, including for the year it returned to surplus after six deficit years.
Interim and consultancy (2018 to 2024): Interim CEO and Dean, Institute of Law, Jersey; Interim Director of Strategic Insights and Planning, University of Derby; Interim Associate Dean, University of East London; Interim Faculty Director of Operations, Canterbury Christ Church University; Interim Registrar, Istituto Marangoni. Project work for the Universities of Chester and Westminster, Arden University and Middlesex. Since 2023 I have also advised the London campus of Université Paris-Dauphine on OfS and UKVI compliance.
BPP University (2011 to 2018): Head of Registry, Planning and Scheduling, leading more than 70 staff.
SOAS, University of London (2002 to 2011): Head of Space Management and Timetabling, after several roles in learning and teaching services.
Board and trustee roles
Trustee and Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, GDST Academy Trust
Independent Chair, Love Music Trust (Cheshire and Wirral Music Hub)
Interim Independent Chair, Cumbria Music Hub
Formerly Vice Chair and Chair of Finance, Audit and Risk, Liverpool John Moores Students’ Union
Education
Oxford University
DPhil
A biography and thematic catalogue of the works of Daniel Purcell.
University of Manchester
MusM (with Distinction)
Specialist study in historical musicology, with emphasis on source studies and editorial techniques.
University of Sheffield
BMus (First Class Honours)
Music degree encompassing history, theory, analysis, composition and performance.
Professional membership
Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (FCMI); Fellow of the Association of Higher Education Professionals
Get in touch
If you’d like to talk about a piece of advisory work, one-off or ongoing, please get in touch.