Mark Swindlehurst

Biography

Mark joined the University of Cumbria in September 2022, bringing with him a wealth of experience in higher education, including real estate and asset management, having worked on a wide range of projects for many universities in his role as director of both management consultancy and asset management companies.

Mark is a chartered engineer and began his career at BAE, before moving into estates and asset management. He worked as principal development and portfolio manager at the BBC before taking up the role of director of estates at Lancaster University during a time of significant estates expansion. Mark later became director of facilities, overseeing a new estates strategy and campus masterplans.

With a digital-first approach and a strong emphasis on partnership working, his expertise and experience is highly relevant to achieving our Towards 2030 Strategy goals –including our two new campuses in Carlisle and Barrow. Alongside leading on our major capital projects and estates strategy, Mark’s VCE portfolio includes strategic planning, student recruitment, campus operations, commercial activities and workforce (and career) development. Mark is also responsible for the roll out of innovative, effective and efficient practices across our university and the further development of our operating model.