Queen Mary appoints VP for People, Culture and Inclusion

Sheila Gupta

Diversity and inclusivity are attributes that Queen Mary cherishes deeply: these characteristics set the University apart from its peers, and Queen Mary’s Strategy 2030 sets out the ambition to be the most inclusive research-intensive university in the world. The new role of Vice-Principal for People, Culture and Inclusion has been created to ensure Queen Mary has dedicated strategic leadership of this area across all activities.

Sheila, who will start her new role on 20 January 2020, joins Queen Mary from the University of Sussex where she is a member of the University Executive Group responsible for delivering an ambitious change agenda which includes: defining a new People Strategy; instituting a fundamental change in organisational culture; delivering an innovative programme of equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives; and identifying new models of service delivery that are agile and responsive to the University’s many stakeholder groups.

Implemented innovative people strategies

As a senior University leader with over 25 years’ experience, including positions at the University of Cambridge and The University of Edinburgh, Sheila has shaped, led and implemented innovative People Strategies in complex organisations characterised by highly devolved structures and diverse stakeholders.

In 2006 Sheila received an MBE for services to Higher Education and in the same year she became a Leadership Foundation Fellow for Higher Education.

She said: "I am delighted to be joining Queen Mary as Vice-Principal for People, Culture and Inclusion. For me, this role offers an exceptional opportunity to contribute to delivering a truly transformative vision and one that has particular personal resonance."

President and Principal of Queen Mary University of London, Professor Colin Bailey, added: “This is a vital appointment for Queen Mary. As a University we are incredibly proud of the diversity of our students and staff, and Sheila’s experience will help ensure our student and staff body is at the heart of everything we do to help ensure we fulfil our ambition of becoming the most inclusive university of its kind.”