About
About Me
Hi, I’m Christina, Founder and CEO of Women-Space.
I’ve always been incredibly passionate about gender equality and have a strong belief in the principles of fairness, integrity, and care so that together we can create a more compassionate and equal world.
I’ve spent a large part of my career working in universities, which has increased my keenness to help other women who work in higher education to progress and thrive.
I began my first degree in Sociology at the University of Warwick as a full-time step-mum to two children. I had my daughter in the middle of my PhD in Sociology at Warwick. I then progressed (as you can imagine not quite seamlessly) into senior leadership.
I was Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Warwick, Provost at Sheffield Hallam University, and Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Kent.
I am also delighted to be an Honorary Professor at the University of Kent and a Visiting Professor at the Institute for Global Education at Coventry University. I gained my Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy/Advance HE in 2016, am an ILM Level 7 Executive Coach and Mentor and an accredited StrengthsProfile practitioner..
Named as a “Women of Influence 2023” in Baroness Sandy Verma’s annual list, I’m proud to say I have published over 15 books and have achieved external grant capture of £1.6M.
I have served as a Board Member of Leeds Beckett University, and have been a Trustee of Villiers Park Educational Trust as well as a Trustee of the Royal Society of Arts Academies.
Whilst this was never the path I imagined, I feel privileged to have had such a rewarding career to date. Particularly as I got my initial place at the University of Warwick through clearing.
It’s from this insight, experience, and learning, that I want to help other women achieve the fulfillment from their professional and academic careers that they truly deserve.
About Women-Space
Women-Space provides tailored professional career development and leadership support to women working in universities. It was founded by Professor Christina Hughes, who has a wealth of experience in education, along with a relentless passion for enhancing women’s representation at all levels of university management and leadership.
The aim of Women-Space is to help you find solutions in your professional life that support your values and engage your passions. Enabling you to bring what really matters into your work, in meaningful ways.
Working with Women-Space on issues and concerns, hopes and ambitions that are important to you, you will be re-energised and will regain the clarity and focus to help you realise your true potential.
Women-Space aims to dismantle the barriers to progression in higher education whilst helping you be the leader you aspire to be.
Christina’s personal values are embedded within the company ethos - to create more caring, compassionate, and inclusive environments in which to work, teach, and learn - and always with dignity and respect.
Women-Space Ethos
Underpinning all services is a recognition that, when it comes to your career trajectory, gender matters. We still have a lot of work to do to create a more equal society. We will work with you to help you navigate the challenges that women can face when trying to progress in higher education, equipping you to overcome these challenges and break down barriers.
Alongside this, we strongly believe that having a voice is the route to empowerment. More specifically, your voice. One of the most important gifts we can be given is that of being attentively listened to. Being heard.
It’s only when you talk, and we mean really talk, that you discover what’s lying deep inside. It could be dormant, or simply quashed by the demands of everyday life, so we help to bring it to the surface and address it.
In a safe and confidential environment, Women-Space enables you to voice your concerns and worries, your hopes and dreams, your successes and challenges, your fears and ambitions, and even your irritations.
Being listened to and being heard is sometimes all you really need to get back that clarity, passion, and commitment for the important work that you do.
Women Space endeavors to create a more caring, compassionate, and inclusive environment in which to work, teach, and learn with dignity and respect, always.
