WHEA Annual Report 2025 Final Digital with links v3 - Flipbook - Page 35
WHEA team
Jess Humphreys
Inca Hide-Wright
DIRECTOR
WARWICK GRADUATE MANAGEMENT
TRAINEE (EIGHT-MONTH PLACEMENT
WITH WIHEA)
I have been involved with WIHEA since its
inception, serving in various roles including
Fellow, Alumna, Deputy Director, and now
Director. Over the years, I have led Learning Circles and
projects, witnessing first-hand the potential for WIHEA to create
meaningful impact – personally, institutionally, and across the
sector. One of the most rewarding aspects of my current role has
been opportunities to connect with inspiring Fellows, foster new
collaborations, and extend WIHEA’s reach through partnerships
with academies and colleagues both within Warwick and
beyond. The energy and innovation that emerge when we work
together are powerful, and the potential for positive change feels
especially vital in today’s educational landscape.
Lisa Drummond
ACADEMIC MANAGER
Over the last 10 years, I have had the pleasure
of being a key part of WIHEA’s small but
dynamic team. It has been a privilege to have
been involved in the early concept stage, be pivotal in the
establishment and now celebrating our 10th Anniversary. I have
thoroughly enjoyed working alongside Michelle, three inspiring
Directors and a range of talented students over the years,
to develop and manage the range of educational leadership
initiatives and processes that underpin all WIHEA’s activities.
The heart of WIHEA, really is the community. It is so rewarding
to see the unique partnerships form between staff and students,
who are all in different stages of their careers or studies, and
from the many disciplines and professions at Warwick. Even
in challenging times, so many Fellows have, and continue
to contribute and lead, wide reaching learning and teaching
initiatives. It is so inspiring and rewarding to see their dedication
to and positive impact on Warwick’s education and student
experience. As we step into our new decade and deepen and
grow our national/international presence and partnerships,
I look forward to working more closely with our exceptional
Student Fellows, and both supporting and showcasing all our
community’s work and achievements across the sector.
Michelle Kulpa
PA TO THE DIRECTOR, EVENT
CO-ORDINATOR, AND
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
As part of WIHEA’s close-knit team, I manage
a wide range of administrative and event coordination tasks,
from supporting the Director and managing communications to
organising professional development and networking events.
Over the past nine years, I’ve loved watching our community
grow from 44 founding Fellows to over 1,000 members, including
Alumni, Warwick colleagues, and external partners. It has been a
privilege to support this talented and inspiring network. This year
has been particularly memorable with WIHEA’s 10th Anniversary
Celebration, welcoming over 100 guests including our ViceChancellor, Stuart Croft. I was honoured to be a finalist in the
West Midlands PA Awards for Project Champion and shortlisted
for the National PA Awards in the Admin Support category, and
was also awarded a WIHEA Honorary Fellowship. I really look
forward to seeing our fantastic community continue to grow and
thrive at Warwick and beyond.
When I became a WIHEA Student Fellow
in 2023, I had no idea just how much I would gain and be
able to give to the WIHEA space for many reasons. WIHEA
has not just given me a platform but has equipped me with
skills, knowledge and experiences that feel like I do and
can be part of it all because of the phenomenally diverse
community. A highlight of my time with WIHEA, as a Student
Fellow and now Alumni, has been developing an idea, a
chance conversation with Tom Ritchie my WIHEA mentor,
into an institutionally, nationally, and internationally used
project and framework supporting Building Belonging in
student and staff communities in higher education. It is
incredible that the Building Belonging work has formed part
of the winning CATE submission and was shortlisted for the
‘Belonging Through Culture’ Social Inclusion award. We are
now co-developing a Centre for Belonging in Education,
for Further and Higher Education Sectors to bring together
Policy, Practice and Research, open to all students, staff,
policymakers, practitioners and researchers.
So far, during my time as a Warwick Graduate Management
Trainee, I have completed a placement with WIHEA
supporting the development of WIHEA Connect, piloting
community-led sessions for students and staff to connect,
share and learn about WIHEA and the different work
happening in this space and beyond. My key goal with
my WIHEA placement was to break down barriers to
engagement. I had the pleasure of working with a number
of SSLCs, Warwick SU, and networks across the university
to share what WIHEA is and how anyone interested can
get involved. My current placement is with Warwick SU
supporting the Full Time Officers with bringing their vision to
life, embedding the new SU strategy into all workings of the
organization, as well as developing Custom GPTs to support
the onboarding and development of students and staff.
Special thanks for their outstanding
contribution this year go to:
Dr Reece Goodall
PROJECT OFFICER (PART-TIME)
Mevin Babu
STUDENT PROJECT OFFICER
(PART-TIME)
Simran Naik
STUDENT PROJECT OFFICER
(PART-TIME)
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