Applications invited for membership of Panel of Advisors to the OIA
The OIA’s Disability Experts Panel provides informal advice on disability-related matters that relate to the complaints we review. This helps us to understand common practice in the support of disabled students and associated higher education provider policies and procedures.
We are now looking to appoint new panel members to serve from July 2025 for an initial period of two years.
New members will have experience of working with disabled students in higher or further education. We are interested in hearing from candidates who understand how policies relating to disabled students work in practice. Applications from candidates with expertise in neurodiversity, mental health or fluctuating long term physical conditions are particularly welcome.
We also welcome applications from candidates who have experience of representing disabled students’ voices and views within a higher or further education setting.
Panel members are asked to attend two meetings either online or in Reading each year and respond to referrals by email and (occasionally) telephone. They receive a small honorarium and travel expenses are reimbursed. The Terms of Reference for membership of the panel are available to view.
Please note that current OIA Points of Contact cannot serve as members of the Panel.
To apply, please send a short statement expressing your interest and describing your relevant skills, experience or expertise to leadershipoffice@oiahe.org.uk by 9.00am on Monday 9 June 2025. Selection will be by Teams interview, expected to be in the week commencing 16 June.
Please contact us by email (leadershipoffice@oiahe.org.uk) or by phone (0118 959 9813) if you would like us to make an adjustment to this process to support you in making your application.
Successful applicants will be invited to attend the next Panel meeting on 3 July 2025, in Reading.
We have two advisory panels, our Higher Education Advisory Panel and our Disability Experts Panel. Both panels enable us to access advice on issues related to our casework.
Advisory panels
Higher Education Advisory Panel
We can consult our Higher Education Advisory Panel on general questions of practice in the higher education sector. This helps us to keep in touch with the sector and understand common practice in providers.
The panel is made up of experienced provider and students' union staff who we select through an interview process.
We may ask advice from the whole group or we may approach individual members who have particular expertise in a certain area. We do not have to follow any advice the panel may give.
The panel does not see or make decisions on individual complaints.
The current panel members are:
- Zoë Allman, Associate Dean (Academic), De Montfort University
- Dr Mark Hollingsworth, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, City St Georges, University of London
- Charlotte Levy, Assistant Registrar in Examinations, Conferments & Awards, University of West London
- Dr Nathan Morris, Head of Student Complaints and Academic Casework, University of Warwick
- Melissa Reilly, Head of Student Support, University Academy 92 (UA92)
- Adrian Spence, Head of Advice, Wellbeing and Accommodation Support, Aston Students’ Union, Birmingham
- Cat Turhan, Director of Membership Services, Imperial College Union
- Nicholas Whitehouse, Coordinator, Mixed Economy Group of Colleges
Disability Experts Panel
We can consult our Disability Experts Panel on a broad range of disability issues.
The panel is made up of disability practitioners, experts in disability matters and members with significant experience of working with disabled students in higher education. The panel meets every six months to discuss current issues as well as case studies referred for discussion by our case-handlers.
The panel does not see or make decisions on individual complaints.
The current panel members are:
- Nicola Frampton, Insight Manager, Student Minds
- Lucy Merritt, Education Policy Manager, Thomas Pocklington Trust
- Laura Nettell, Interim Head of Disability Services, University of Gloucestershire
- Phil Scarffe, Head of Student Welfare, De Montfort University
- Alice Speller, Executive Director, National Association of Disability Practitioners (NADP)