We’d like to introduce you to UVAC board member Michelle Smyth, Head of Government & External Affairs at The Open University.

Michelle is a senior public and corporate affairs professional with over 16 years-experience of successfully developing and executing public and private sector stakeholder engagement and influencing policy and programmes across Westminster, Whitehall and Brussels. Her influence and work sphere stretches from researching and drafting parliamentary committee reports and amendments specialising on consumer and food legislation for the European Parliament, to launching Which?’s first nutrition campaign, representing and advocating the interests, views and research of UK consumer related groups to the European Commission’s Consumer Consultative Group and finally to The Open University as Head of Government and External Affairs.

Michelle brings enormous experience of lobbying and advocacy to the work of UVAC and has helped inform our marketing and PR strategy ahead of the General Election in 2024 which details our asks and commitments from a future government on skills and apprenticeship policy delivered by higher education providers.