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From funding pressure to financial resilience

28th May 2026

12:00-13:15 BST

Online

Higher education systems across the Commonwealth are under growing financial pressure. Universities are being asked to do more to support national skills, innovation, productivity and social cohesion, often while facing declining public funding, rising costs and widening expectations.

Join the ACU for the launch of our new report, Alternative higher education financing: global trends and Commonwealth policy insights, which explores how universities across the Commonwealth are responding to funding pressures and what policy conditions are needed to support more sustainable, equitable and resilient approaches to financing.

Drawing on a wide-ranging review of global and Commonwealth evidence, the report examines how institutions are diversifying their income, the models emerging across different contexts, and the role governments continue to play not only as funders, but as enablers through fiscal, regulatory and policy levers.

The webinar will also showcase case studies from ACU member institutions that are leading in this space. Representing a range of geographies and funding models, these examples will explore how universities are pursuing different approaches to income diversification, the practical challenges they face, and the lessons learned from implementation.

The session will consider:

the major financing models emerging across Commonwealth contexts;
the policy and regulatory conditions that enable or constrain diversification;
the risks and trade-offs associated with different approaches;
how universities are balancing financial resilience with equity, affordability and public trust;
what real-world examples can tell us about success, challenge and transferability across contexts.

This webinar will be of interest to university leaders, policymakers, higher education practitioners, funders and partners interested in higher education financing and system sustainability across the Commonwealth.

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Speakers

Cheryl Hamelin, CFRE

Senior Advisor, Advancement and Fundraising Consulting Division, Huron Consulting, Canada

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Cheryl Hamelin has been a fundraising and communications leader for nearly four decades. She has served many organisations locally and nationally.

Cheryl recently completed a four-year term as Vice-President, University Relations with the University of Saskatchewan (USask) after leading the most successful fundraising campaign in the province’s history raising $572 million. She was the senior leader responsible for managing the reputation and key stakeholder relationships of USask and providing vision and leadership to the University Relations team, comprised of development, alumni relations, external engagement, events, strategic communications, advancement services, etc.

Cheryl has a wealth of leadership experience in philanthropy, alumni and community relations. Prior to leading University Relations at USask, Cheryl served as Executive Director, Faculty Development, at the University of Calgary (UCalgary) where she provided direction for advancement staff and activities in twelve of the University's faculties and schools. Prior to that, she had successive positions as UCalgary’s Director of Development.

From 2016-18, Cheryl served as Executive Director of the RESOLVE campaign, leading a team of senior fundraisers in a $120 million capital campaign to create affordable housing for vulnerable populations. Prior to RESOLVE, Cheryl spent five years with Junior Achievement of Southern Alberta, serving as Vice-President, Development before moving on to the role of Chief Development Officer for Junior Achievement Canada.

Cheryl is a proud USask graduate and holds a professional fundraising accreditation, CFRE. Cheryl is a consummate volunteer, serving both her profession and her community. She has been actively involved with the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) both in Calgary and nationally, including serving as AFP Calgary and Area’s President in 2001 and 2002, and as Philanthropy Day Co-chair in 1998. In 2015, AFP Calgary honored Cheryl with the organisation’s Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award.

In May 2026, Cheryl joined Huron Consulting, a global professional services firm, as a Senior Advisor in their Advancement and Fundraising Consulting Division. Her focus will be on working with U15 universities in the Canadian market.

Dr Jie Ma

Research and Evaluation Officer, Association of Commonwealth Universities

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Dr John Machayi

Chief Executive Officer, Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board (HELSB), Zambia, and President, African Association of Higher Education Financing Agencies (AAHEFA)

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Dr John Machayi is the Chief Executive Officer of the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board (HELSB) in Zambia and President of the African Association of Higher Education Financing Agencies (AAHEFA). He has over 34 years of professional experience in banking, financial services, governance, and higher education financing.

He holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Binary University, an MBA from the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI)/Maastricht School of Management, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education (Geography) from the University of Zambia. He also holds a Diploma in Bank Innovations and Strategies from the Galilee International Institute of Management and a Certificate in Digital Money from Tufts University.

Dr Machayi is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, a Fellow of the Zambia Institute of Banking and Financial Services (ZIBFS), and a Professional Member of the Zambia Monitoring and Evaluation Association.

Prior to his current role, he held several senior leadership positions in the banking sector at Finance Bank and Atlas Mara, including Head of Central Processing, Head of Branch Operations, Head of Distribution and Partnerships, Assistant Director of Retail Banking, Acting Director of Audit, Risk and Compliance, and Branch Manager.

Dr Machayi also serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR) and Chair of its Finance and Investments Committee. He has contributed to national and sector policy through the Bankers Association of Zambia and the Financial Sector Development Plan under the Bank of Zambia.
He remains committed to advancing sustainable student financing systems and expanding access to higher education across Africa.

Professor Chaminda Rathnayake

Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Director of Operations, NSBM Green University, Sri Lanka

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Professor Colin Riordan CBE

ACU Secretary General and Chief Executive

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Published date: 28/05/2026

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From funding pressure to financial resilience

Speakers

Cheryl Hamelin, CFRE

Senior Advisor, Advancement and Fundraising Consulting Division, Huron Consulting, Canada

Dr Jie Ma

Research and Evaluation Officer, Association of Commonwealth Universities

Dr John Machayi

Chief Executive Officer, Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board (HELSB), Zambia, and President, African Association of Higher Education Financing Agencies (AAHEFA)

Professor Chaminda Rathnayake

Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Director of Operations, NSBM Green University, Sri Lanka

Professor Colin Riordan CBE

ACU Secretary General and Chief Executive