LEADING TOGETHER: Caroline Davis (left) and Pamela Agar (right) joined CASE Europe in November 2022.

Credit: Dave Guttridge, The Photo Unit

As the new Co-Executive Directors for CASE Europe, Caroline Davis and Pamela Agar are leading CASE’s strategy and activities across Europe. The two have previously shared leadership responsibilities at St George’s, University of London, and joined CASE’s London team in November 2022. Here, speaking at the September 2022 CASE Europe Annual Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, they shared more about their job-share and plans for supporting advancement professionals globally. 

What are you most excited for as Co-Executive Directors? 
Caroline Davis: There are so many opportunities to look at how membership at CASE can grow. We’re based in the U.K. ourselves but we’re very mindful that there are real opportunities in mainland Europe. [We want to] look at how we can better understand the challenges they are dealing with at institutions there, how we really respond to those needs, and look at embracing a wider region. 

Pamela Agar: And I’m really excited about bringing the power of the global CASE community to the European region. There are so many pieces of work we can do collectively as an organization that are relevant for Europe members, and so much expertise around the world we can really bring to add value to the members here. 

Tell us more about your job-share arrangement. 
CD: We’re coming to this role as a job-share, which we were in at St George’s, University of London for three years. We know each other very well and have worked alongside each other well, and found ways to carve up our current role. 

PA: We work part-time, so Caroline does three days a week and I do two-and-a-half days a week. We have a half-day crossover period where we have a lot of conversations and handing over of work. We try to approach it as a single role where we share the responsibilities and projects and bring two sets of expertise and opinions and ideas to the mix. That adds, I hope, a lot of value to the organizations we work with. 

What did you enjoy about the CASE Europe Annual Conference? 
CD: There’s something special about the energy, the inspiration, and that opportunity to connect with other professionals who you know have similar challenges and opportunities. It’s great to exchange notes, [with the] ultimate aim of trying to serve our institutions better. 

PA: Being at the conference again and meeting with so many people, we’ve heard so many interesting perspectives and ideas. I’m really keen to hear from individual members and volunteers about their ideas and the things they’d love to see CASE do. I’m excited about those conversations. 

CD: We’re mindful that there are so many opportunities out there, so we’re going to have a prioritization task ahead. We’re very much in listening mode. I’m looking forward to being guided by members about how we can best support them.