Chief Executive of MK:U speaks at our Oxford forum

Professor Lynette Ryals OBE - Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Cranfield University and Chief Executive, MK:U

We are delighted that Professor Lynette Ryals OBE, who is Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Cranfield University and Chief Executive of MK:U, will be speaking at our Oxford forum in April.

The forum will ask important questions on the future economy and health of our leading UK science cities and will also cover the role of higher education institutions in the development of the new knowledge region, the ARC.

As Chief Executive of MK:U, Lynette is leading the development of the proposed new model university in Milton Keynes. Cranfield University is lead higher education partner working with Milton Keynes Council to develop the plan for MK:U, with the aim to open in 2023. MK:U will deliver flexible, business-focused education based on a digital economy curriculum.

Lynette's professional background is in financial services and management consultancy. She is a Fellow of the Society of Investment Professionals, Fellow of the Chartered institute of Logistics and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She has an MA (Oxon), an MBA, and a PhD from Cranfield which researched how understanding customer profitability changed customer management practices in two international financial institutions.

Before taking on her current role at Cranfield she was Professor of Strategic Sales and Account Management in the university's School of Management and then Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education). She was also Chair of The Case Centre (2011-2017) and Dean of Cranfield School of Management (2017-2019).

Lynette was awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours 2019.