The Alumni Network Group
The Alumni Network Group Committee (otherwise known as ANG) was formed in 2008. The main purpose of the group is to advise and take a lead role in helping the University build lifelong relationships with alumni, to promote alumni engagement with the University and fellow alumni, and to give alumni the opportunity to share their views with the University. The Alumni Network Group Committee provides an informal ‘sounding board’ for the Vice-Chancellor and senior management and is consulted on strategic issues on an ad-hoc basis as individual members or as a collective Group.
- Advise and take a lead role to help the University build lifelong relationships with alumni
- Take an advisory role in developing, piloting and helping to implement policies, strategies and activities which involve alumni and strengthen their relationship with the University, focused on specific remits. For example, Group members have guided policies for alumni volunteering and the Career Mentor Scheme
- Link alumni activity to the University’s strategic aims
- Act as sounding boards for proposed University initiatives; for example, University fundraising, employability and marketing campaigns
- Provide strategic and practical advice, especially in their fields of expertise, and partake in specific subgroups, for example:
- Innovation Exeter (Innovation, Impact and Business led)
- Employability (EGD led)
- Act as ambassadors for the University in their spheres of influence:
- Provide leadership, especially amongst their peer groups.
- Identify, provide updates on and involve fellow alumni in volunteer activity which supports university goals (e.g., around employability).
- Encourage alumni to contribute support, leading with their own gifts.
- Act as “lightening rods” to sound out peers about these initiatives and provide feedback to the University; for example, giving key feedback on proposals.
- Help with or facilitate through their networks:
- Hosting, securing speakers and encouraging alumni to attend events; for example, hosting ‘Showcasing Research’, Alumnae, and Networking events.
- Providing introductions to their networks, which have resulted in significant gifts to our recent fundraising campaign.
- Identifying peer alumni and other key alumni working in their sector. For example, these alumni have contributed specifically to student employability by providing career talks and practice interviews.
The Committee will be target-driven in its activities, setting measurable targets against which it can evaluate its performance.
Targets will be set and progress measured against goals as shown in delivery plans for the University and the Global Advancement team. These may include, amongst others, targets for numbers of alumni providing career support, work placements, faculty-specific initiatives and numbers of new and repeat volunteers. For example, a member of the Group leads on initiatives for recent alumni, including targets for participation from this group. Objectives will be shared and reviewed as appropriate at Committee meetings.
- Members serve a minimum three-year term, renewable if mutually desired. Renewal of membership will be discussed with each member, the Chair and the University as the end of the member’s term approaches to ensure succession planning. At least one of the members should be drawn from alumni serving on the University’s Council.
- Alumni can express an interest of consideration for membership of the Alumni Network Group Committee or can suggest other alumni for consideration, however new members will be only be selected and confirmed by the University and the Chair based upon the current priorities and targets that are set. The group retains the right to grow and contract under the guidance of the University and the Chair.
- Each member holding a specific remit may be asked to coordinate with a larger, ad hoc, group of alumni who can provide guidance and additional points of view on specific activities within the remit.
- The Committee meets formally three times a year at which we would expect members to attend, usually in London but with one meeting per year at one of the University’s campuses. Outside of this formal structure, members meet or conduct business on an ad hoc basis by any appropriate means, such as email or video-conference.
| Name | Membership Role |
|---|---|
| Julian Bird OBE (Economics, 1995) CEO of Green Room Ents Ltd |
Humanities, Arts and Culture |
| Gerry Brown (Economics, 1966) Chairman, Novaquest Capital Management LLC |
Former Chair of the Campaign Board & Council Member |
| Jeremy Budd (Geography, 1985) Vice President, IBM Asia Pacific |
Digital strategy, Chair of Cornwall Advisory Board, member of Business School Advisory Board, and Corporate Partnership development |
| Peter Baldwin (History, 1991) Partner at Macfarlanes law firm |
Chair of the Law School Advisory Board |
| John Gilbert (Economics, 1972) Chief Executive, JGFR |
Alumni sports and activities |
| Ronnie Henderson (Ancient History, 2014) Met Police Officer | 30-40 alumni communities and support |
| Graham Hill (Economic and Political Development, 1992) Highclere International Investors |
US Foundation of University of Exeter |
| Emma Priestley (Minerals Surveying & Resource Management, 1995) | Chair of the Camborne School of Mines Alumni Association |
| Ben Norris (Psychology, 1999) Director (Private Equity) M&G Investments |
Member of the Business School Alumni Association Advisory Board |
| Jon O'Sullivan (Psychology, 1999) Director of Onshore Wind, Hydrogen, and C&I at EDF Energy |
Advisor to the 'Greener' university strategy theme |
| Georgie Treen | Chair of the Alumnae Group |
| Sarah Turvill (Law, 1975) Non Executive Director, Willis Limited |
Former Chair of Council |
| Anna George (Criminology, 2019) | Chair of Exetra (London alumni group who graduated in the last 10 years) |
| Vacant role | Retired Alumni and Legacy |
| Vacant role | Alum who is a University of Exeter Council Member |