Helen Watson

Helen joined City’s Senior Leadership Team as Chief Operating Officer in February 2022.

Helen came back to City after five years at Goldsmiths University of London, where she was Chief Operating Officer and Registrar and Secretary. Before that she worked for six years at the University of Oxford where she was Director of Planning and Resource Allocation, Head of the Council Secretariat and a Fellow of Exeter College.

Helen worked previously at City, from 2001-2010. She held a variety of roles including Head of Administration for the School of Allied Health Sciences and Deputy Academic Registrar; she also set up and lead City's Strategy and Planning Unit. Helen read music at Exeter College, Oxford and has a Masters in Higher and Professional Education from the Institute of Education.

Helen is an elected member of the Executive of the Association of Heads of University Administration (AHUA). She was previously on the Board of the Higher Education Strategic Planners Association (HESPA).