Chair’s Announcement
Unipol Student Homes is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Paul Marshall as its incoming Chair of the Board of Trustees from the 1st of May 2026.
Professor Marshall brings three decades of senior leadership experience across higher education, public policy, and sector organisations, with a strong track record in institutional transformation, governance, and national policy engagement.
He currently serves as Vice-President (Global Campus) and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Careers and Enterprise) at the University of East London, where he has led a sustained programme of institutional transformation. This has included significant improvements in graduate outcomes, employer engagement, and financial performance, alongside the expansion of the University’s global activity and transnational education portfolio.
Professor Marshall has also held national leadership roles as Chief Executive of the Chartered Association of Business Schools and Executive Director of the 1994 Group of Universities. In these positions, he worked closely with government, universities, and industry to shape higher education policy and funding, including leading the establishment of the Small Business Charter, now embedded in national support for small and medium-sized enterprises.
He brings direct experience of the student accommodation sector through his time at one of the UK’s largest providers of campus infrastructure, where he led business development and founded the UPP Foundation, a nationally recognised charity focused on the civic role of universities and student wellbeing.
Professor Marshall has extensive governance experience across charitable and corporate settings, including board-level roles, chairing responsibilities, and public appointments. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Institute of Directors and has served as a judge for the Times Higher Education Awards, the PIEoneer Awards and the Design Intelligence Awards.
His appointment comes at an important stage for Unipol as it develops its strategy and continues its work to improve standards, access, and support in student housing.
Professor Marshall said:
“Unipol has played a leading role in improving standards and support in student accommodation over many years. Its work has a direct impact on student wellbeing and the wider student experience.
I am pleased to take on the role of Chair and to support the Board and executive team as the organisation develops its next phase. The priority will be to ensure clear strategic direction, effective governance, and continued impact across the sector.”
Outgoing Chair, Stephen Willis said:
"Professor Marshall is joining at an exciting time and will help Unipol develop its profile as a pivotal influencer and voice in the Higher Education and student housing sectors, supporting universities, owners and operators of student accommodation, and the student communities we are here to help achieve their goals. I am looking forward to watching and supporting Unipol as they take their next steps."
Unipol's Chief Executive Sam Bailey-Watts said:
"Stephen has provided Board leadership, guidance and support through a transitional and challenging period for Unipol and is stepping down due to his increased workload and commitments across other areas of his portfolio. I am delighted that he has agreed to continue to support me and the organisation on an advisory basis.
Professor Marshall’s understanding of, and commitment to, the HE sector is well documented and I am pleased to welcome him as our new Chair. Unipol leads improvement across the student housing sector through its government approved National Code of Standards and we look forward to Professor Marshall’s input as we look to enhance our activities in the sector to improve the residential, and wider student experience.”