Associate Professor Alison Baverstock (née Scott), MA 1980 (Fine Art & Medieval History)

Proposer: Mrs Mary Katharine Henderson (née Struthers), MA 1978
Seconder: Miss Kirsty Haslam, MA 2013

Summary of career history

Publishing, marketing consultancy, higher education (research, teaching and civic engagement), author

Expertise that is especially relevant to the position of General Council Assessor on the University Court:

  • Very broad experience within public, private and charitable sectors: strategy, policy, planning; wide-ranging consultancy on publishing, marketing and creativity; recruitment/workforce engagement/development; fund-raising, grant-sourcing, budget management; leadership of a range of large-scale, publicly-financed projects to encourage literacy and extend civic/creative awareness/involvement.
  • Detailed and practical cross-sectoral understanding of the complexity of higher education: as an academic; external examiner (validations/course review/individual assessment); civic and community engagement; broadening participation/diversity; management of cross-organisational operations to improve connectivity, motivation and student/staff/wider community engagement. Founder/director of the UK's first pre-arrival share-reading research project (the award-winning Kingston University Big Read). Elected member of Kingston University's Senate.
  • Extensive experience of charity management and securing/managing associated funding; founder of Reading Force (shared-reading initiative for Forces communities).
  • Extensive, long-term and committed board/panel experience: The Church of England's New Liturgy Committee (1993-2000); The Artists' Information Company (board membership/personnel subcommittee, 2000-2012); The Society of Authors (board of management, 2012-2015); The Literary Consultancy (management committee, 2017-).
  • Strong experience in ambassadorial/representational roles within UK/internationally (e.g. Know How Fund, UNESCO, WHO).
  • Visibility: regular media spokesperson/commentator on the value of literacy/creativity/inclusivity as societal/organisational glue.

Connections with the University/alumni since graduating

Many links maintained through marriage/friendships/mentoring and The Renaissance Group's Corncrakes. Elected member, St Andrews' Business Committee (2017).

Reason(s) for wishing to become a General Council Assessor

The first person in my family to attend university, I benefitted hugely from my St Andrews education, and would like to contribute to its governance, development and continued flourishing. Based on my diverse experience and interests, as an assessor I can offer energy, commitment, attention to detail, lateral thinking, creativity - and common sense.