Are Universities Ready for the Next Big Crisis? | Grit in the Boardroom

In this episode of Grit in the Boardroom, Erika Eliasson-Norris sits down with Professor Sally Wheeler OBE, Vice-Chancellor of Birkbeck, University of London, a distinguished academic and leading authority on corporate law and governance. Together, they pull back the curtain on the intense pressure cooker of higher education governance, exploring why board effectiveness requires managing deeply human stakes, not just ticking compliance boxes.

What You’ll Learn

· Why governance in higher education demands both challenge and trust.

· How university boards can manage financial risk, uncertainty and long-term sustainability.

· Why strong forecasting, risk appetite and board skills are critical to institutional survival.

· How leadership teams can create safe spaces for challenge without losing momentum.

· Why student wellbeing has become a central governance issue, not a side concern.

· What corporate boards can learn from universities about fixed tenure, rotation and renewal.

· How AI could change board administration, decision tracking and governance effectiveness.

About the Guest

Professor Sally Wheeler OBE is Vice-Chancellor of Birkbeck, University of London, a distinguished academic and leading authority on corporate law and governance. Sally has guided major institutions through periods of transformation and challenge, written extensively on company law and governance, and is known for bridging theory with practice.

Her leadership spans academia, law, and organisational governance, shaping how universities respond to financial pressures, regulatory complexity, cultural expectations, and questions of long-term sustainability. She brings a candid, grounded perspective on what governance really looks like inside universities.

About the host

Erika Eliasson-Norris is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Beyond Governance and Governance Assessor to the United Kingdom’s Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry.

Beyond Governance provides on-demand company secretarial support, governance advisory, and governance training to boards, Company Secretaries, and General Counsel. Beyond Governance help organisations strengthen governance, manage risk, and support critical projects without the need for permanent hires. Learn more here: https://beyondgovernance.com