Spotlight on... Robert Webb

What is your role and what does it involve? 

I’m the Director of Business Partnering for ISD. It’s a new role, so I’m setting up the function to ensure ISD has good strategic engagement going on across Professional Services and beyond. I’m also the lead for the Staff Domain, so responsible for delivery of range of projects and programmes for Professional Services and VP offices. 

How long have you been at UCL and what was your previous role? 

I joined last December. Prior to joining UCL I led business engagement for one of the IT divisions at the Financial Conduct Authority. But for most of career I’ve worked in the legal sector doing business partnership at several City law firms. 

What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of? 

Being a visible member of the LGBT community. In previous roles I’ve led initiatives to raise visibility of the LGBT community and build links between the community and our allies.   

Tell us about a project you are working on now which is top of your to-do list? 

The Professional Services Conference! This is an annual event celebrating the achievements of our Professional Services teams. It will the first event held in person since before the pandemic and it’s a really exciting opportunity for professional services staff to meet, network and find out more what their colleagues are doing.   

I’m part of the core team pulling the event together. As someone still relatively new to UCL it’s been a great way to network and get to know more about UCL and the role that professional services plays in making it successful. 

The conference is being held on Thursday 26th May at the Mermaid Theatre. 

What is your favourite album, film and novel? 

This Fire by Paula Cole 

Peter’s Friends 

Heart of the Comet by David Brin and Gregory Benford 

What is your favourite joke (pre-watershed)? 

Why do the French only eat one egg for breakfast? Because one egg is en ouef…. 

Who would be your dream dinner guests? 

Victoria Wood, Katherine Hepburn, Stephen Fry, Nadia Hussein, Grayson Perry, Dominique Jackson, Russell T Davies and Sandi Toksvig.

What advice would you give your younger self? 

Stop worrying: everything really does always work out in the end. 

What would it surprise people to know about you? 

I used to live above Tooting Bec Fire station. 

What is your favourite place? 

Yorkshire*. 

*Although my partner tells me the correct answer is: “Wherever he is”…