Becky Bradshaw

Becky Bradshaw is a strategic leader with over 20 years of experience in higher education. Since January 2023, she has served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Chief Operating Officer at the University of Northampton, working alongside the Vice-Chancellor and CEO to set and deliver institutional strategy, embedding a culture of operational excellence, sustainable growth, and social impact.

She leads the University’s professional services portfolio, with responsibility for Finance and Planning, IT Services, Human Resources, Marketing & Student Recruitment, Global Engagement, Estates & Campus Services, Governance, Compliance and Risk, Change & Transformation, and Academic Registry. In this capacity, Becky is committed to building high-performing, student-focused teams that deliver measurable impact.

Renowned for her transformational leadership, Becky has spearheaded major initiatives, including operationalising the award-winning £330m Waterside Campus, leading the University’s Covid-19 response, delivering cross-institutional efficiency and growth programmes, and leading large-scale system transformation. More recently, she has driven international growth, expanding the University’s global footprint through strategic partnerships that are financially sustainable, academically excellent, and socially purposeful. These partnerships embed social impact objectives such as widening access to higher education, supporting community development projects, and enhancing employability opportunities for students worldwide.

Becky’s leadership is equally defined by her commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). She mentors senior leaders and provides executive sponsorship for staff networks including Global Ethnic Majority, Women’s, and LGBTQ+, ensuring inclusive practices are embedded into policy, process, and culture. She has also led initiatives that optimise estates and digital infrastructure and embed environmental sustainability into institutional planning.

She is passionate about the influence of universities on their local, regional, and global communities and economies. Her authentic, commercially astute, and values-driven leadership style combines strategic vision with operational rigour, ensuring that every initiative delivers lasting positive impact.

Her commitment to fostering talent and promoting inclusivity has been recognised through multiple awards, including Northamptonshire Inspirational Business Woman of the Year. Externally, she serves as Trustee and Board Member for educational and charitable organisations, contributing to regional and national agendas for economic growth, regeneration, and community wellbeing.

Becky holds advanced leadership qualifications, is dedicated to lifelong learning and community engagement, and is an active contributor to networks across the higher education sector that promote leadership excellence and diversity.