Introducing the IT Pro Leader Board

Phil has a first class honours degree in physics, and a doctorate in nuclear physics, both from St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford.

Phil has worked solely in the Higher Education (HE) sector. His early career was in what is now termed eLearning, first as a courseware developer in physics at Cardiff University, next as an eLearning advisor working with academics at the University of Hull, and finally in a strategic head of eLearning-equivalent role at King's College London.

He then moved into IT senior management, first as assistant director of Information Services at Aberystwyth University, next as head of ICT at the University of Plymouth, and currently as director of IT at Loughborough University.

Phil's own background in academic research, learning and student experience has allowed him to lead in key areas in the rapidly emerging competitive HE marketplace. His novel approach to infrastructure, including hybrid cloud, has allowed the millions of pounds saved to be invested elsewhere, further helping to maintain Loughborough's top ranking.

Phil Richards, director of IT, Loughborough University

Phil Richards, director of IT, Loughborough University
Maggie Holland

Maggie has been a journalist since 1999, starting her career as an editorial assistant on then-weekly magazine Computing, before working her way up to senior reporter level. In 2006, just weeks before ITPro was launched, Maggie joined Dennis Publishing as a reporter. Having worked her way up to editor of ITPro, she was appointed group editor of CloudPro and ITPro in April 2012. She became the editorial director and took responsibility for ChannelPro, in 2016.

Her areas of particular interest, aside from cloud, include management and C-level issues, the business value of technology, green and environmental issues and careers to name but a few.