Dr Colette Fletcher as Appointed as New Executive Director at The Operational Research Society
The Operational Research Society (The OR Society) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Colette Fletcher as its new Executive Director.
Colette brings a wealth of experience in higher education, governance, and public policy to The OR Society, which is the UK’s leading professional membership body for operational researchers.
She joins from Advance HE, where she served as Head of Governance & Consulting. In that role, she advised senior leaders across UK higher education on governance matters and supported the effectiveness of boards and executive teams.
Colette’s previous roles include Assistant Vice-Chancellor at the University of Winchester and Head of Governance and Board Secretary at Natural Resources Wales. She has held senior leadership and advisory positions for over two decades and is an expert in governance, organisational strategy, stakeholder engagement, and educational policy.
Speaking about her appointment, Colette said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Operational Research Society at such a pivotal time. The Society has a strong foundation and an incredibly committed community of members who are passionate about using data, analytics and evidence-based methods to solve complex problems. That really resonated with me, as my own career has focused on enabling organisations to make better decisions through good governance and strategic insight.
I’m looking forward to working collaboratively with our members to evolve what the Society offers, grow our membership in related and complementary fields, and ensure we continue to make a meaningful impact. This is evolution, not revolution – building on what already works and strengthening the Society’s relevance and sustainability for the future.”
Gavin Blackett, Interim Executive Director of the OR Society, welcomed the appointment: “We are delighted to welcome Dr Colette Fletcher. She brings an exceptional track record of leadership in higher education, public governance, and strategic consultancy. Her ability to build relationships, influence at the highest levels, and lead organisational transformation makes her uniquely positioned to drive the OR Society forward.”
The Operational Research Society supports professionals working in data analysis, decision science and systems thinking, promoting the use of rigorous, evidence-based approaches to solve real-world problems.
Under Colette’s leadership, The OR Society will continue to champion operational research in both academic and applied settings, while seeking new opportunities to broaden its impact and grow its community.
