Aurora 2022-23

University participants to complete the programme content

University participants to complete the programme

Congratulations to Heather, Susan, Hollie, Danielle, Gillian and Mairi on their successful applications into the Aurora 22/23 cohort.   It’s such an exciting programme which will help you develop and realise your leadership aspirations.  You will meet so many incredible women, with incredible stories, whilst it can feel daunting at the start, everyone involved in the programme is so nice and welcoming that you will soon settle into the programme.  It’s great to have your own UHI cohort and mentor that you can bond with and bounce ideas off as well, there is a lot of support for you on your journey.   Good luck with the programme and I can’t wait to hear how you all get on with it! 

Denise MacLean-Ferguson, Aurora 2022, Service Delivery Manager

It is fantastic to see new UHI colleagues starting their Aurora journey. I would like to send a warm welcome to Danielle, Gillian, Heather, Hollie, Mairi and Susan. The programme will most likely surprise you in many ways, in unexpected ways but you won’t regret it. This will be the perfect time to explore your own self to tailor your own leadership vision.” 

Dr Audrey Decou, Aurora 2022, Student Recruitment & Success Officer

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Danielle Woods | Gillian Ford | Dr Heather Fotheringham | Hollie Drever | Mairi Cowan | Susan Szymborksi-Welsh

University engagement with the Advance HE’s Aurora Leadership Development Programme for women continues with six colleagues selected to join this year’s programme. The successful participants are:  

  • Danielle Woods, UHI Department of Nursing & Midwifery 
  • Gillian Ford, UHI Inverness 
  • Dr Heather Fotheringham, UHI Learning & Teaching Academy 
  • Hollie Drever, UHI Student Support 
  • Mairi Cowan, SAMS 
  • Susan Szymborksi-Welsh, Corporate Communications 

In October this year, they began their Aurora journey by joining over 200 women in professional services and academic roles across the Scottish higher education sector at the introductory webinar. The programme, which runs between October 2022 and April 2023, includes four development days exploring key aspects of leadership and two action learning sets. Within the university Aurora Programme participants will be supported by the LTA through a range of professional development opportunities and by existing UHI Aurorans.    

I am delighted to welcome our new UHI Aurorans, Danielle, Gillian, Heather, Hollie, Mairi and Susan, to the growing community of Aurorans both at UHI and across the UK and Ireland. We are looking forward to getting to know them better, to supporting them to engage with the programme and to follow their aspirational leadership journeys.  

There will be many opportunities for them to engage in learning, to reflect, to network, to take part in mentoring, to build their capabilities and confidence in leadership and to contribute to building leadership capacity within and beyond the university. We are absolutely delighted to have them on board. 

Debbie Wartnaby, Organisational Learning & Development Co-ordinator, UHI LTA