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Meet Our Team

Find out who the Senior Leadership Team are in the Development & Alumni Relations Office.

Lucian Hudson, Executive Director, Communications and External Relations

Mr Lucian Hudson

 

As Director of Advancement and Communications, Lucian is responsible for leading Durham University’s advancement activities, bringing together marketing, communications and development to support the enhancement of the University’s global reputation and influence. Lucian is responsible for the Development and Alumni Relations Office and the Marketing and Communications Office.Dividing banner

Katie Harland-Edminson, Chief Development Officer, Development and Alumni Relations

KatieKatie HE is responsible for the strategic planning and delivery of development and alumni engagement activity for the University, overseeing a team working across all areas of fundraising, development operations and alumni engagement. Katie has specific responsibility for internal leadership of a campaign linked to Durham’s 200th anniversary in 2032, working closely with the University’s Executive team and the Campaign Board.

Direct telephone: +44 (0)7385 426700  
Email: katie.harland-edminson@durham.ac.ukDividing banner

Chantelle Robson - Executive Assistant

Chantelle is the main point of contact for administrative support to the Chief Development Officer and the Director of Development Operations and Alumni Engagement, including diary management, travel booking, and expense management. Alongside office management support for the wider DARO team.
Chantelle

Vicky Parrish - Senior Campaign Manager

Vicky oversees the delivery of fundraising campaigns and providing support to campaign-related projects. Vicky stewards relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, supporting the Campaign Board, managing campaign assets and working with colleagues to develop donor gift opportunities.
Vicky Parrish

The Development Team

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Tim Guinan - Head of Major Gifts

Tim is responsible for leading the Major Gifts team and he also leads development activity for Durham University Business School.
Tim Guinan

Grace Norman - Senior Development Manager

Grace leads on philanthropy to the faculty of sciences and to student & graduate enterprise including such opportunities as scholarships, research projects and many more.
Grace Norman

Jessica Smith - Senior Development Manager

Jessica supports the development objectives of our Arts and Humanities faculty, connected our alumni with key projects and opportunities.
Jessica Smith

Lara Milnes - Senior Development Manager

Lara leads on major gift fundraising and cultivating philanthropic support at the six-figure level. Her Role focuses on building meaningful relationships with alumni and supporters, including re-engaging our global community to advance the University’s ambitions.
Lara Milnes

Louise McLaren - Senior Development Manager (Institutional Funders)

Louise acts as a key point of contact for development, fundraising and alumni activity in Durham’s Centre for Catholic Studies, and also the Department for Theology and Religion as well as overseeing Trusts and Foundations.
Louise McLaren

Debra Fidler - Trusts and Foundations Manager

I work on university wide projects, fundraising from charitable trusts and foundations.
Debra Fidler

Rosie Morris - Individual Giving and Stewardship Manager

Rosie oversees a team responsible for telephone fundraising campaigns, direct mail appeals and stewardship communications ensuring these initiatives are impactful, audience-focused, and aligned with the University’s priorities.
Rosie Morris

Jess White - Individual Giving and Stewardship Officer

Jess delivers our fundraising appeals and helps connect alumni with ways to give back and support our current students.
Jess White

Megan Harris - Individual Giving and Stewardship Officer

Megan supports the delivery of our stewardship programme, ensuring donors remain engaged and inspired to give.
Megan Harris

Steph Osborne - Supporter Relations Officer

Steph supports alumni and other supporters who wish to make a gift to Durham in their will.
Steph Osborne

Rebecca Wilbraham - Donor Relations Manager

Rebecca ensures that our donors are aware of the impact their gift has made on our University Community and the deep appreciation we feel for those who choose to support us. I produce impact reports, arrange visits and events for major donors.
Rebecca W

Lynne Reynolds - Scholarships Development Officer

Lynne is the DARO point of contact for departments and colleges on matters relating to scholarships.
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The Alumni and Supporter Engagement Team

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Louise Strong - Senior Engagement Manager (Events)

Louise oversees a portfolio of alumni and development events that strengthen engagement with the University community and contribute towards philanthropic income. Alongside this, I lead the Sir Harry Evans Fund project, driving initiatives that support its strategic goals.
Louise Strong

Lucy Williams - Alumni and Supporter Engagement Officer (Events)

Lucy arranges and coordinates the engagement opportunities with our alumni and supporters in our UK and global communities and supports the delivery of marketing communications for this audience.
Lucy Williams

Mellissa Abdu - Volunteer and Networks Manager

Mellissa looks after alumni who want to donate their time to support the University’s goals through meaningful volunteering. I work closely with Alumni Groups all around the world, and colleagues across the University to provide impactful volunteering opportunities to alumni.
Mellissa Abdu

Laura Stephenson - Partnerships and Projects Manager

Laura's manages the team who oversea our mass alumni communications, our partnerships with colleges and departments and lead on projects that support strategic alumni engagement.
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Sophie Algeo - Partnerships and Projects Officer

Sophie supports and delivers alumni engagement projects, working with colleges and departments to create meaningful opportunities for alumni.
Sophie Taylor

The Advancement Operations Team 

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Stuart Thompson, Deputy Director, Advancement Services

Stuart Thompson
Stuart leads the Advancement Services team at Durham University. His portfolio comprises data and information management, data governance and compliance, alumni and stakeholder systems, reporting and analytics, training and user support, prospect research, gift processing, and stewardship.

Stuart has developed many new systems and processes, to improve and expand the Development and Alumni Relations functions at Durham including the development of an Alumni Engagement Pyramid.


Direct telephone: +44 (0)191 334 4551    
Email: stuart.thompson@durham.ac.ukDividing banner

Phil Simpson - Gift Services Manager

Phil administers all philanthropic income in line with donor wishes within the Development and Alumni office at Durham. With a focus on optimising philanthropic funds received and ensuring effective stewardship of funds donated to the University.
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Adrian Churchman - Data and Systems Manager

Adrian is responsible for the architecture and processes conducted in our alumni and supporter database, Raiser’s Edge NXT. Outside of RE, he ensures our systems all work together, enabling smooth data flow between platforms and an efficient, holistic technology ecosystem.
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Karen Hunt - Date and Systems Coordinator

Karen is responsible for a high number of data administration and gift processing tasks in the office. 
Karen Hunt

Kate Lucey - Gift Services Administrator

I am responsible for financial administration, including making sure the gift records on Raiser's Edge are updated. I process gifts and liaise with the financial team about income received. I also send invoices and reminders to donors and process gift receipts.
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Caitlin Smith - Data and Gifts Administrator

Caitlin supports the Data & Gifts team by processing gifts, such as payments made by cheque and update records on the alumni database ‘Raiser’s Edge’.
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Kieran Reith - Reporting and Insight Manager

Kieran oversees development of our reporting framework and service model that supports the development of these reports and insights.
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Luke Tinkler - Prospect Research Officer

Luke is responsible for identifying and presenting information on key individual and institutional prospects as well as ensuring that the information we have on such prospects is as up to date as possible.
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Terry Ottaway - Prospect Research Officer

Terry is responsible for identifying and presenting information on key individual and institutional prospects. Much of his work is prospect identification, research of those, portfolio movement analysis/management and due diligence on prospects and any gifts that arise.
Terry Ottaway