Update on University Registrary

The University Council has agreed interim arrangements to cover the role of Registrary. Dr Mike Glover, Academic Secretary, will act as principal administrative officer of the University and as head of the Unified Administrative Service (UAS). The Council has also delegated any powers currently assigned to the Registrary to Dr Glover. Dr Regina Sachers, Director of Governance and Compliance, performs all governance-related duties, including acting as Secretary to the Council.

The office of Registrary was created in 1506 and Emma is the 27th person – and first woman – to hold it. The Registrary is the University’s principal administrative officer, head of the UAS and Secretary to the University Council.

Emma joined Cambridge in 2015 as Academic Secretary from the University of Oxford. She was appointed Registrary in 2017, succeeding Dr Jonathan Nicholls. She has worked with three Vice-Chancellors – Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Stephen Toope and Deborah Prentice. Emma has been instrumental in steering the University through an exceptionally busy, and often challenging period, not only providing a refreshing, values-based leadership to the University’s professional services community throughout this time, but also overseeing the University’s response to a number of unforeseen significant events.

Current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Prentice, said: “I would like to personally thank Emma for the enormous hard work, dedication and expertise she has brought to the role over the past eight years, and to wish her well in her future plans.

“During her time at Cambridge, Emma’s influence and impact have been truly significant – whether in support of the University, the UAS or numerous colleagues across the University. She has steered Cambridge through significant periods of organisational change, including adapting the University to the challenges of COVID, and overseeing our transformation programmes in finance, research support and HR.

“Her enthusiasm for, and commitment to, the development of people has had a hugely positive impact on many staff and the wider professional services community at Cambridge. We are very grateful for everything that Emma has done for the University.”

Emma has been a much-admired leader of the UAS – ever-able and willing to guide senior and junior colleagues alike, whether in Estates, Finance, HR or other areas of her portfolio. She led on a number of initiatives to bring together the wider community of professional services staff across the University, and was a passionate advocate, not just for improved efficiency and coherence in how professional services should support academic endeavour, but how the University should develop and look after its professional talent. Many careers have progressed under her insightful mentorship. In every aspect of her work, Emma has focused on the human element, building trust among colleagues and demonstrating that kindness and success are not mutually exclusive.