Rashmi Patel has been Executive Director of Human Resources at the University of Chester since May 2021. A member of the Strategic Executive Team, she leads the University’s people and culture strategy, with responsibility for HR Resourcing and Business Support, Leadership and Organisational Development, Employee Relations and HR Policy, Payroll and Pensions, and HR Systems and Management Information. She also serves as the University’s strategic lead for equality, diversity and inclusion.

Prior to joining Chester, Rashmi spent four years at Lancaster University as Interim Deputy Director of HR (Projects) and Head of Inclusion, where she led key strategic HR initiatives and institutional priorities. She previously worked at Nottingham Trent University for over 21 years, most recently as Head of HR Operations, where she led a large operational team, supported major institutional growth programmes across multiple campuses, and acted as a senior adviser to the University Executive and Leadership Teams on employment and policy matters.

With more than 30 years’ experience across further and higher education, Rashmi has a strong track record of delivering results in complex environments. She is recognised for driving innovative people practices that support organisational strategy, capability and change. She is passionate about fostering inclusive cultures, promoting wellbeing, and enhancing employee engagement through collaborative working.

Rashmi is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and a qualified coach through Barefoot Coaching. She holds a number of non-executive roles, including Trustee of Oakham School in Rutland (since 2017) and Elected Parent Governor at Jesse Gray Primary School in Nottingham (since 2014), where she chairs the Resources Committee and serves as Appraisal Governor. She is also an active volunteer within her local community, regularly supporting events such as the Robin Hood Marathon and other sporting initiatives, reflecting her commitment to giving back and contributing to community engagement.

At a national level, Rashmi is an active member of professional networks including Universities Human Resources (UHR), Advance HE, and the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA). She was a recipient of the Banco Santander W30 Women’s Leadership Programme at UCLA in 2014 and, in October 2018, was awarded a prestigious joint UHR and College and University Professional Association (CUPA) bursary.