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AHUA Expert Exchange: Navigating the Future – Learning from others

Click here to register to this free online exchange meeting

This exchange meeting is suitable for primary and secondary member representatives (or designated alternates) from all of the AHUA regions and nations including associate members.

A workshop focused on the learning from mergers and acquisitions in the further education sector. 

This workshop will provide insights from the national programme of FE sector reorganisation and restructuring and help you navigate the opportunities and challenges universities face with regards to organisation change and structure development. Learn from other parts of the education sector and their experiences over the last decade of structural change and managing the complex challenge of managing relationships and dynamics. This session will give participants the opportunity to hear from two experienced senior leaders from the FE sector and to share their own experiences and strategic priorities for change.

Speakers

Matt Atkinson

Matt Atkinson is Executive Chair of University Leadership Associates, Managing Director of FE Associates (FEA) and CEO of FEA-I, a new AI solutions provider for the education sector. Matt is also Chair of South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, a large general further education college serving North Bristol and Stroud which was formed by merger in 2012. During his time with FEA Matt has supported 17 organisations with significant structural change programmes, many of which

resulted in mergers or acquisitions, working with boards and leadership teams to deliver transformational change in a way that benefits students and communities.

Graham Razey OBE

Graham is a Non-Executive Director of FE Associates and provides strategic advice to the company to ensure its service offering is relevant to the needs of today’s challenging environment. Up until April 2026 Graham was CEO of the EKC Group, one of the largest college groups in the South East with colleges in Ashford, Cantebury, Dover, Folkestone and the Isle of Sheppey. Graham was also founder of the EKC Schools Trust which now has 9 schools. As the founding CEO of

the EKC Group, Graham supported large scale structural change across the further education landscape in Kent and grew the organisation through several mergers. Graham has previously served on the council of the University of Kent. Graham has recently been appointed as a Deputy Commissioner for Further Education by the Department of Education.  He has previously served as a National Leader of Further Education which saw him supporting providers with large scale structural change and financial sustainability.

About University Leadership Associates (ULA)

ULA is the new higher education search brand of established education search, training and consultancy specialists, FE Associates. FE Associates have been serving the learning and skills sectors since 2004 and have now expanded their search and recruitment offer into the HE sector. ULA’s deep roots in education provide unique insight into leadership through transformation, reform, and strategic change. These are areas increasingly relevant to universities. At ULA, we bring this

depth of experience into the HE sector, with a dedicated focus on Board, Chair, C-Suite, senior professional services roles, and specialist academic appointments.