Lesley Ross Email and Phone Number

I lead the University of Edinburgh's Pre-Arrival and Induction (PAI) team.As part of a dynamic and innovative team, our primary focus is to coordinate and elevate pre-arrival and induction information and resources across the University of Edinburgh. Our aim is to ensure that every new student is supported and confident to navigate and flourish throughout their entire university journey.We foster consistency in knowledge and delivery by effectively sharing PAI information internally, informed by the University’s Induction Guiding Principles. This ensures that all colleagues involved in welcoming students to our vibrant and diverse community are well-informed. Our team strategically designs and delivers crucial information through diverse communication channels, including engaging online sessions, community building on social media, managing content on websites, and the University of Edinburgh events app. Annually, we warmly welcome around 18,000 new students each September and an additional 1,000 every January. Notably, our team successfully coordinates over 2000 induction activities during Welcome Week(s).

Collaborated across various teams in the University's Student Recruitment and Admissions department, overseeing the execution of recruitment events, including University Open Days (Undergraduate and Postgraduate), conferences, workshops, and school visits.In my primary role within the Widening Participation team, I took on the role of project manager for significant event series, such as the summer schools programmes, Sutton Trust Summer School, and Kickstart Summer School. Additionally, I led on some career exploration events and played a pivotal role in coordinating primary school and Educated Pass programmes while providing support for all other Widening Participation initiatives throughout the year

Oversaw and managed all aspects of the internal events held by the academic colleagues of the Edinburgh Law School, including annual lectures, international conferences, regular workshops and seminars.

This role was a promotion to focus on the commercial side of the business and I organised events from theatre and regular music events to corporate conferences and weddings. I held responsibility for the operational management of events, as well as recruitment, staff management, book-keeping and promotional sales. I managed all aspects of the Box Office operations and staff all year round, exclusively during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and I also worked as the Duty Manager on certain large events.

This role was based at Summerhall and I was the PA for the Director of Factotum Commercial who was contracted to develop the building from an old Veterinary school to an arts venue. The varied role included facilities management, book-keeping, general administration, festival programme co-ordination and client and customer interaction.

This was an internship as part of the MA Arts Management and Cultural Policy (UCD Dublin) and I relocated to Edinburgh during this course to complete it. This was a highly administrative role with elements of workshop design and delivery as well as events management.