Executive Team

Dr. Peter O’Brien

Executive Director

Peter leads the Yorkshire Universities’ (YU) Executive Team, and he is Company Secretary for the Limited Company and Charity. With over two decades’ experience, as both a senior practitioner and academic, Peter has driven YU’s increasing and influential policy engagement and activity in Yorkshire. He has worked extensively, at a senior level, across the north of England, and he has published widely on a range of matters relating to local and regional development. Peter is a Commissioner on the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission, and he also represents YU and the higher education sector on many high-level regional groups and committees.

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Lucy Graham

Executive Assistant

Lucy joined YU in November 2023 in the role of Executive Assistant. She leads on support for a range of admin functions and is the primary contact person for calendar management and working group servicing. With a career spanning over 20 years, Lucy’s admin acumen was honed in a diverse array of sectors ranging from student and gap year travel to government and non-profits. Her career has since transitioned into education, with her most recent role being at a private college. Her expertise spans executive support, operations and administrative management in large and complex organisations.

Kate Hainsworth

Associate

Kate has extensive experience in leadership roles, including as the current Interim CEO of Saffron, former interim CEO of Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, and former CEO of Leeds Community Foundation and GiveBradford. Through these roles, Kate has built a strong reputation amongst communities for delivering pioneering work around impact, inclusion, and resilience. Furthermore, she has worked with a wide range of senior leaders in the public, private, and community sector organisations across the region. Kate is also a trustee with The Young Foundation and Local Trust and regularly chairs Bank of England community engagement sessions. She continues to chair the steering group shaping work for the West Yorkshire Mayoral Authority, the Fair Work Charter.

Lauren Hunter

Communications and Data Insights Officer

Lauren possess over a year of experience in higher education and policy communications and is familiar with navigating regional partnerships. In her role as Communications and Data Insights Officer, she contributes to the delivery of Yorkshire Universities’ weekly news digest and seasonal newsletter, which covers national and regional updates. She also Chairs the YU Communications Network, working closely with colleagues from across the membership. Lauren has experience in sustainability communications for community interest companies throughout the region and has supported the work of HEIs in hands-on roles as part of the widening access and engagement teams.

John Harrison

Associate

John brings over 15 years of senior leadership and consultancy experience across education, public service, and skills sectors. John has a proven track record of advising national and regional bodies on complex policy environments, translating theory into practical tools that enable leaders to act with clarity and confidence. Prior to his role at YU, John served as Director of Student Development at the University of Hull, where he led reforms that reshaped professional services provision. He also represented the University on regional skills boards and enterprise partnerships, driving initiatives that supported graduate mobility and regional development. John is known for his collaborative, pragmatic approach and his ability to foster engagement through clarity, accountability, and evidence-informed dialogue.

Jennifer Gibbard

Administrator

Jen’s career in admin, operations and project management spans more than 20 years. She cut her teeth working in fast-paced, no-nonsense roles in the travel industry then transitioned into Professional Services roles in Higher Education. She’s subsequently worked with universities and HE consultants across the UK on diverse and complex projects including admissions and recruitment, compliance, learning enhancement, student satisfaction and university governance.