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UCL Toronto Alumni Reception
17 May 2022, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm
Join the UCL Toronto Alumni Group on Tuesday 17 May for their first in-person event since 2020! Catch up, make new connections, and hear the latest London news.
This event is free.
Event Information
Open to
- All
Availability
- Yes
Cost
- Free
Organiser
-
UCL Alumni Relations
Registrations for this event are now closed. If you are interested in attending future alumni events, take a look at our schedule here >>
Book now for this wonderful opportunity to reconnect and network over drinks and canapés in the beautiful, speakeasy surrounds of Middle8, open exclusively for this event.
You will also have the chance to meet senior UCL leaders Fiona Ryland and Ian Dancy, following their visit to one of UCL’s strategic partners, the University of Toronto.
Fiona will give a short, informal talk about being at the helm of UCL during the pandemic, coordinating an inclusive working environment as UCL Disability Equality Champion and Vice-President (Operations), and now coordinating the “future of work” at the university – working with Ian, UCL’s Executive Director of Operations.
You will have the chance to put your questions to Fiona and Ian, as well as plenty of time to socialise with your local UCL community.
Current UCL students and prospective students planning to study with us in September are also welcome.
About the Speakers
Fiona Ryland
Vice-President (Operations) at UCL
As Vice-President (Operations) at UCL, Fiona’s responsibility is to ensure that the key Professional Services teams including Biological Services, Estates, Human Resources, Information Services, Procurement, Professional Services Hub, Research & Innovation Services, Student & Registry Services, and UCL East Operations, provide excellent service to support UCL’s academic mission and the UCL 2034 strategy. Fiona is a member of UCL’s senior management team, and she helped guide UCL successfully through the pandemic, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff, and guaranteeing that no students were academically disadvantaged because of the pandemic.
Fiona is passionate about ensuing that Professional Services excellence is recognised and valued for the vital work it delivers to support our student community, and that UCL provides meaningful careers for its staff.
As Disability Equality Champion at UCL, Fiona ensures that we support all our students and staff, no matter what their needs or disability, so that everyone feels fully included and enabled to do the best they can, in a fair and positive environment. Fiona’s role is both critical friend and enabler, questioning and challenging the current support offered at UCL, enabling solutions, and avoiding complacency, so that UCL is as supportive and inclusive as possible, and diversity is celebrated and accepted.
Fiona was appointed Chief Operating Officer at UCL on 1 January 2019 and became Vice-President (Operations) from 1 April 2021. Prior to this, she joined UCL as Executive Director of Human Resources in April 2017. Before joining UCL Fiona looked after the HR, Communications, Corporate Responsibility and Business Excellence Teams at Compass Group UK and Ireland.
Ian Dancy
Executive Director of Operations at UCL
Ian Dancy is UCL’s Executive Director of Operations, responsible for its Estate, Timetabling and Sustainability, and our ambitions to improve our Campus Experience. He also works closely with the Vice-President (Operations), having previously worked with Fiona Ryland as her Chief of Staff. Ian spent 10 years working in Student’s Union before joining UCL as a member of its transformation programme leadership team, TOPS. During his 10 years working directly with students, Ian was Chief Executive Officer at Canterbury Christ Church University, Royal Holloway and finally UCL, the largest and oldest Student’s Union in the country. Ian’s time at UCL has most recently been focused on improving the campus infrastructure, developing a range of services focused on experience (including catering, security and facilities management), and supporting the institution with its operational response to COVID-19.
Ian has three children (Angus 10, Ella 8, and Henry 6), with his wife Louise, and enjoys walks in the country, playing football and will occasionally run the lanes around where he lives.