Rachel Barber

Rachel Barber has shoulder-length brown hair. She is wearing a black top and blazer, smiling at the camera.
Head of Administration & Finance
haf@area.ox.ac.uk

Supporting the Head of School and Academic Leadership Team, Rachel has responsibility for providing strategic leadership in relation to policy, planning, development, and sustainability.

She leads OSGA’s administration in implementing strategy, supporting teaching, research, and policy engagement, ensuring good governance and the delivery of high-quality services for staff, students, and visitors.

Leading a team of professional support staff, Rachel has overall responsibility for all aspects of non-academic operations, including:

  • Human Resources, recruitment, and retention
  • Budgets and financial control
  • Research support (pre- and post-award grant management)
  • Fundraising
  • Academic administration
  • IT and communications
  • Building and events management
  • Health, safety, and security

Before joining the University, Rachel worked in both the private and public sectors as a Programme and Funding Manager, providing financial monitoring, audit compliance, and project management support across a broad portfolio of economic development, local regeneration, and learning and skills projects.