28 March 2018 
Karel Thomas, Executive Director
This week's annual conference at Hull was a good place to catch up with news of moves, as well as chat to colleagues who have been in their institution for as long as I have been at BUFDG (and some longer). Hull was my 16th conference; my first in Durham in 2003 now seems a long time ago but it convinced me that BUFDG had the potential to be even more than the very effective small network it was already. Also attending that conference was Andrew Malin, one of HEFCE's assurance consultants who today leaves that organisation to start a well-deserved retirement. Andrew has been a great supporter of the UK higher education sector, not just of English institutions, through his work to support the Financial Reporting Group and other finance forums. As well as expressing our grateful thanks for all he has done, we wish him a long, happy and healthy retirement.
In news of moves, Simon Newitt has now taken up his new post as Director of Finance at Northumbria University and Ben Dale has been appointed as Simon's replacement at Sunderland. The Royal Northern College of Music has announced that Michèle Holden, currently Deputy Finance Director at De Montfort University, will be joining the College as their next Director of Finance to succeed John Gallacher, who is retiring. I was also delighted to meet the newest FD in Scotland, Hugh Anderson of the SRUC at the recent SUFDG meeting. There are a few institutions in the middle of recruitment exercises, so look out for more news in the Spring.
There will be no Digest next week as much of the team heads off for a well-earned Easter break, but we'll be back again with a bulletin on the 11th April.
