Rody Vonk is an International Facilitator, Trainer, and Speaker specialising in innovation, design thinking, and business creativity.
Mary Curnock Cook is an independent education expert serving in a non-executive capacity on a number of Boards.
Celia Gaze is the founder and CEO of The Wellbeing Farm, a multi-award-winning, B Corp-certified events venue in Lancashire.
With over 20 years of experience, Rody helps organisations break down barriers to creativity, drive strategic ideation, and turn ideas into action.
Through interactive workshops, he equips teams with practical tools to develop innovative products, services, and processes using design thinking, the lean startup methodology, and the FORTH innovation method.
Rody works across the Netherlands, Europe, and the Middle East, delivering sessions for organisations such as Google Academy, Deloitte, the Red Cross, and McDonald’s.
He is also a published author and TEDx speaker on innovation and creativity.
From 2010-2017, Mary was Chief Executive of UCAS. Earlier in her career she held executive and non-executive positions in the education, hospitality, food and biotech sectors.
As a NED with Pearson Education, Mary chairs its Qualifications Committee and also chairs the governing body of the Dyson Institute. She is a lay Council member at the University of Leicester, non-exec Director at the London Interdisciplinary School, the Student Room and Education Cubed, and a Trustee at the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) and the River Learning Trust. She recently served as a non-exec on the Student Loans Company Board.
She has the role of Network Chair for Emerge Education, the leading edtech investor in Europe and holds a number of advisory roles with education technology companies. She is a regular speaker and commentator on education issues and edtech and is a recognised champion of the student interest.
Mary has an MSc from London Business School and was awarded an OBE in 2000, and a CBE in 2020 for services to further and higher education. She is an honorary Fellow of Birkbeck and Goldsmiths and has an honorary doctorate from the University of Gloucestershire.
A former NHS leader turned purpose-driven entrepreneur, she transformed her business into a thriving, sustainable enterprise through what she calls “Conscious Adaptation.” In her keynote Conscious Adaptation: A Real-World Journey of Resilience, Revenue and Sustainability, Celia shares how intentional decision-making, creative thinking, and sustainable practices can turn challenges into opportunities - lessons that resonate strongly with universities navigating post-COVID, post-Brexit pressures.
Dr. Andy Bass is a strategic leadership advisor and expert in organisational learning, innovation, and systems thinking. With a PhD in Software Engineering, Andy has guided leaders across 30 industries, including tech, finance, and healthcare, helping them achieve growth and agility by aligning commercial and technical teams.
Robert has over 25 years’ experience in the property industry and for the last 15 has specialised in providing strategic estates advice to the Higher Education sector. He is a Chartered Management Consultancy Surveyor with particular experience in on-campus student housing partnerships, business cases, estate strategies, option appraisals, feasibility studies, capital funding bids, learning environments and space planning.
His books, including Start With What Works and The Suits & Geeks Trap, reveal how to unlock hidden assets and bridge silos to drive sustainable growth. A Visiting Professor at Birmingham City University, Andy has also taught at Oxford, Warwick, and Aston Business Schools.
An engaging speaker, Andy tailors his talks to resonate with corporate and association audiences alike. Outside of his speaking and consulting, Andy has dabbled in stand-up comedy and played lead guitar in a tribute band dedicated to the music of Canadian progressive rock band Rush.
Robert has advised 50+ universities in the UK and internationally, and 30+ Further Education Colleges, as well as local authorities, NHS trusts, museums, developers and investors.
Melissa has worked within the student accommodation sector since 2009 and has gained invaluable experience within the Private and HEI sector. Melissa is the Deputy Director of Commercial Services and Estates at the University of Kent, she has been in post since 2022.
Nysa joined CUBO in October 2024 as the incoming Executive Director. Nysa brings extensive experience in leadership, innovation, strategic, financial and operational management and a passion for making a difference in the non-profit sector, evidenced by her experiences at Gem-A, BCI, IIS and her own volunteering with the Aga Khan Council as well as her recent roles.
She has extensive experience gained in managing both in-house and 3rd party contract staff, with direct strategic and operational management responsibilities, including managing Soft Services Contracts, New Builds, Mobilisation and Refurbishment Projects, Capital Investment works, Third Party Lettings/Commercial Summer Lettings and Outsourced and Inhouse Catering.
Melissa has been a member of various Senior Leadership Teams throughout her career. As a trained life coach Melissa has focused her career on the importance of investing and developing people to create effective, diverse and happy working environments which will allow teams to ‘thrive’ and achieve organisation goals and objectives. She specialises in Leadership development, building training programmes, managing teams through organisational change, promoting Culture and EDI initiatives within organisations whilst meeting commercial objective and targets.
Melissa's vision for her role at CUBO is to create a CUBO L&D framework that supports the goals and ambitions of the CUBO members. Working actively with current and new members to create impactful training and mentoring opportunities for leaders and their teams which will add value to organisations and the people within them.
Most recently, Nysa held the position of Chief Operating Officer at The Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A).
Nysa works alongside the CUBO Executive Committee and colleagues in the mission to lead and promote excellence in the development of campus life, services and the student experience and in continuing to deliver the core benefits of membership – networking, best practice, data and resources for all campus and commercial services.
