Chief Operating Officer
Stephen McAuliffe joined Royal Holloway in June 2024 from the University of Nottingham, where he served as Deputy Registrar. As Chief Operating Officer he leads a broad portfolio spanning Estates, Digital and IT Services, Marketing and Communications, Governance and Legal Services, Strategic Planning, Research Services, Library Services, Commercial Services and Health and Safety.
Prior to Royal Holloway, Stephen held Academic Registrar roles at the University of Birmingham and the University of Essex, leading large professional service portfolios across education, student experience, governance, academic administration and institutional transformation.
He began his career in higher education after being elected President of the Students' Union at Canterbury Christ Church University, where he studied History and Geography. He holds BA (Hons) and MSc degrees, and an MBA in Higher Education Management from the UCL Institute of Education. His early years as an SU President helped shape a student-focused mindset and he is proud to hold honorary life memberships for the Student Union at Canterbury Christ Church and the Guild of Students at the University of Birmingham. He has a particular interest in organisational effectiveness, student success and transnational education, having worked extensively with international campuses and partnerships in Malaysia, Singapore, China and Dubai.
Stephen has served on a number of sector bodies, including as Chair of the Academic Registrars' Council. He is currently a Governor of South & City College Birmingham, where he chairs the Higher Education Committee and serves on the Audit Committee. He is also a Trustee of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education, serving on the Audit and Risk Committee.
