Our Board of Governors welcomes Deirdre Evans

21 Mar 2022

Chief Financial Officer of Football Foundation set to tackle risk management at our University

We are pleased to announce that Deirdre Evans was recently appointed as a lay member of the Board of Governors and to the role of Chair of Audit and Risk Committee, the Board Committee which scrutinises the effectiveness of the University’s arrangements for risk management, control and governance and receives reports from the University’s internal and external auditors.

In her current role, Deirdre is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at the Football Foundation – which delivers grassroots football facilities as the charity of the Premier League, The FA and Government. Community football is a cause which is really motivating to Deirdre because of the direct difference it makes to people’s lives, especially their wellbeing. This has become ever more important during COVID times. The Football Foundation has ambitious growth plans which Deirdre will be instrumental in driving forward.

Until recently, Deirdre was the CFO for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, a charity with a £120m turnover. She is currently also the Chair of Audit and Risk Committee at Together, the UK’s oldest mental health and wellbeing charity. Deirdre has worked in the charity sector since 2011, having previously been CFO for The Challenge, the UK’s leading charity for building a more integrated society and Deputy Finance Director for the National Trust.

Before entering the third sector, Deirdre had a successful career in the corporate energy sector, and had executive roles at BG Group and BHP Billiton, culminating in a three-year spell as Deputy CFO at BHP, Aluminium: in these roles Deidre developed and led across asset management, business development and finance, operating internationally. Throughout her career, Deirdre has had extensive involvement in developing, implementing and monitoring all aspects of governance and risk and assurance.

Commenting on her appointment, Deirdre said: “I am delighted to be joining the Board of The University of Manchester. I really connect with the purpose and vision of the University, which ultimately benefits society and the environment. I look forward to being part of the team that delivers on this.”