Melissa Turner

As Head of Planning and Operations, Melissa supports the financial planning and operational activities of USG to facilitate efficient decision-making and delivery of plans. She initiates and leads change projects and programmes, providing oversight and guidance to multiple projects.

Her extensive experience in UK higher education includes senior strategic roles at several other institutions, including Swansea University where she led university-wide transformational change in learning and teaching, enhancing the student experience, as well as gaining recognition as institutional lead for the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), achieving TEF Gold. 

At Newcastle University she was responsible for supporting University Executive on the development and implementation of university strategy and transformational change. Melissa’s experience spans college based higher education, where she successfully led on quality assurance and enhancement, and student partnership and engagement for the higher education provision at NCG, a leading UK college group. 

She continues to support further education in her role as an independent Governor on the Newcastle College Board.