UCAS names Alistair Jarvis Chair as university, school and technology leaders join Board

The Advance HE Chief Executive takes up the non-executive role on December 1, with three new Trustees bringing experience in student outcomes, digital transformation and school leadership

UCAS has appointed Alistair Jarvis as its next Chair and welcomed three new Trustees. Illustrative image.

UCAS has appointed Alistair Jarvis CBE as its next Chair of Trustees, alongside three new Board members from higher education, technology and schools. The UK admissions organization says the appointments will broaden the expertise guiding its work to increase participation in higher education and support student success.

Jarvis, Chief Executive of Advance HE, will formally take up the non-executive position on December 1, 2026. Already a UCAS Trustee, he currently chairs the Board of Directors of UCAS Media, its commercial subsidiary.

His appointment brings experience of both national higher education representation and university governance. Before leading Advance HE, Jarvis spent five years as Chief Executive of Universities UK and subsequently served as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Partnerships and Governance at the University of London.

Writing on LinkedIn, Jarvis said: “I feel privileged to have this opportunity to work closely with the talented executive team and Trustee board to support the sector in increasing participation and student success.”

Dr Jo Saxton CBE, UCAS Chief Executive, points to his sector knowledge and commitment to widening participation as reasons for his appointment.

“I am very glad to continue working with him on the delivery of UCAS’ strategy in service of our beneficiaries,” she says.

Digital expertise and student outcomes

The three new Trustees are Professor Osama Khan, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of South Wales; Kash Ghedia, Group Chief Information Officer at Applegreen; and Luke Sparkes, Chief Executive of Dixons Academies Trust.

Ghedia will serve on UCAS’ Finance & Infrastructure Committee. His technology leadership experience includes cybersecurity, data, infrastructure and digital transformation, with UCAS highlighting his work embedding AI-enabled capabilities across organizations.

At Applegreen, he leads technology teams spanning areas including applications, e-commerce and business transformation. His appointment brings experience of managing digital services across a business operating in the UK, Ireland and the United States.

Khan’s work in higher education has focused on widening opportunity, student outcomes and inclusive learning environments. His experience also encompasses educational technology, analytics and curriculum transformation. Alongside his UCAS Trustee role, he joins the UCAS Media Board.

School leadership represented on the Board

Sparkes leads Dixons Academies Trust, which serves nearly 20,000 students, and will additionally join UCAS’ People & Remuneration Committee.

His career includes founding Dixons Trinity Academy in Bradford and leading the establishment of Dixons Trinity Chapeltown in Leeds. He also shares the trust’s approach to school culture through Dixons OpenSource, a free platform supporting organizational change.

The appointments connect UCAS’ Board with leadership experience across schools, universities and the technology systems supporting organizations.

“Each brings exceptional experience and insights that will strengthen the breadth of perspectives represented on the Board,” Saxton says of the new Trustees.

Professor James Miller FRSE, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland, has been leading the UCAS Board on an interim basis. He will continue to serve as Deputy Chair when Jarvis takes up the position.