Aaron joins UCAS from NHS Blood and Transplant, where he has been Chief Digital Officer since 2014. He has held several senior roles in delivering digital, technology, and operational transformation, both in the UK and overseas, for a variety of customers.
Aaron is currently fourth in CIO’s top 100 list of the UK’s chief information officers, rising from numbers 38 in 2016, and 20 in 2017. He was awarded Chief Digital Officer of the Year at the 2016 V3 Digital Technology Leaders Awards, and was recently named Digital Leader of the Year in the Information Age Tech Leaders Awards 2018.
During his career, Aaron has worked in software development, training, business analysis, and system design, for a variety public and private sector organisations. Aaron holds a first class degree from the University of Manchester, and an MBA in IT Management.
The Chief Technology Officer post at UCAS is a new role, and will give a real boost to the delivery of its Future Focus strategy. Aaron will be leading digital transformation, accelerating programme delivery, and contributing to creating a stronger and more sustainable digital business, delivering real value to customers.
Clare Marchant, UCAS’ Chief Executive said: ‘I’m delighted to welcome Aaron to UCAS, following a highly competitive recruitment process. Aaron will drive forward our ambitious technology plans, to deliver an excellent service and integrated digital experience to students and advisers across the world, and university and college staff here in the UK.’
Aaron Powell said: ‘I’m really excited to be joining UCAS at such an important time, leading the team to provide students, advisers, universities, and colleges, with accessible, responsive, and trusted digital admissions services.
‘In my current role, I’ve been privileged to deliver digital services that save and improve lives. I’m looking forward to working with everyone at UCAS to provide equally innovative and transformative services, helping students through an admissions journey that will impact the rest of their lives.’
Aaron will start at UCAS in the winter.
UCAS Press Office
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About UCAS
UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is a charity, and the UK's shared admissions service for higher education. We manage almost three million applications, from around 700,000 people, each year, for full-time undergraduate courses at over 380 universities and colleges across the UK.