The Association of University Directors of Estates (AUDE) announced the appointment of Mike Clark as chair.
Mike Clark has been the director of estate & facilities management at the University of Brighton since April 2010. He is responsible for overseeing the delivery of the university’s capital development programme as well as estates and facilities management in support of the university’s strategic objectives.
Mike took up the chair of AUDE at the 2017 April AGM at the AUDE annual conference and will be in office for one year. The role of AUDE, to promote excellence in strategic planning, management, operation and development of higher education estates and facilities, is vitally important in times of change and challenges.
The university is based in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings and the community comprises of some 22,000 students and 2,600 staff (full-time equivalent). Mike is a chartered architect by profession and has previously worked in the public and private sectors, undertaking the design and project management of a variety of building types. These involved the arts, commercial, museums (British Museum) & galleries (The National Gallery) and university sectors.
Mike comments, “This year AUDE celebrates its 25th anniversary. 2017 is set to evoke many challenges in the higher education sector. It is our role to ensure the facilities we are responsible for continue to be world class. Our mandate, to attract and retain the finest students and staff from across the UK and internationally, is more important than ever in increasingly changeable political times.”
“I am keen to continue to build upon the organisation’s many strengths, cultivated over 25 years. We have been planning some changes to the AUDE constitution with the specific aim of increasing membership and the relevance of AUDE to its members. I am also looking forward to strengthening our engagement with members and solidifying our role as the ‘voice’ of estate and facilities management professionals in higher education within the UK and elsewhere.”
“We are indebted to Trevor Humphreys, for all he’s achieved as chair, and on behalf of all members thank him for his tremendous effort.”
Trevor Humphreys, outgoing chair of AUDE and director of estates and facilities management at the University of Surrey said: “I am extremely pleased to be handing over to Mike. He has been an active member of AUDE for many years and brings with him an enormous amount of sector experience. A well-established estates professional, I am confident that Mike will continue to guide and support AUDE in best practice across the sector. I wish him the very best of luck.”