Leadership Stories: Lessons from two career journeys
01 Apr 2026
Honest reflections on growth, challenge and building a career with purpose
We’re delighted to host the next event in our Leadership Stories series as part of AHEP@UoM.
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Richard Quayle, Head of Student Admissions & Administration, and Ben Litchfield, Student Finance Manager, as they share the real human journeys behind their leadership careers—and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Richard Quayle
With over 13 years’ experience in HE across Leeds, York, Huddersfield and now Manchester, Richard will reflect on how seeking out and taking opportunities has shaped his growth. From volunteering as a Governor and Magistrate to being an active contributor with AHEP to taking the leap into new roles, he’ll explore how stepping outside his comfort zone accelerated both his personal and professional development. As a young leader, Richard has also navigated perceptions and challenges around age - and will speak honestly about how he’s built confidence, credibility, and impact.
Ben Litchfield
Ben joined the University in 2021 on a fixed term contract and progressed into his current role by actively networking, working across silos, identifying better ways of working and taking action. His story includes difficult turning points—choosing to leave education and job roles that no longer aligned—and how facing others’ disappointment ultimately opened the door to growth and greater resilience. Ben continues to invest in his own development, recently completing a Master’s degree while working full-time and now undertaking an apprenticeship in Leadership and Management.
Event Details:
- Date: Tuesday 21st April 2026
- Time: 1pm – 2pm on Teams
- Who: Open to all
- Registration: Please register for the event.
If you have any questions, please contact us here
Free places on Association of Higher Education Professionals courses
One of the benefits of our institutional partnership with AHEP is that we have access to a number of free places on the events they run. The next series are listed below.
Places are offered on a first come first served basis to all PS colleagues at the University so please sign up if you are interested and also share the details with your colleagues and teams.
- Data, Bias, and Decision-Making
- Ethics, Policy, and the Future of AI in HE
- From Question to Use Case: Applying AI in Higher Education
- Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE): What Professional Services Teams Need to Know and Do Now
- Early Career Conversations: What I Wish I’d Known in My First Five Years in HE.
Event Registration
To register attendance at the above events, colleagues will need to sign up here.