The UK Higher Education Research Security Association (HERSA) is a sector led, institutionally agnostic association formed in 2021, by research security professionals at some of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities.
Formerly known as the Higher Education Export Control Association (HEECA) until early 2026, we were initially established to develop and promote best practice in Export Control compliance across the UK HE sector.
Today, our work spans the broader research and economic security agenda, reflecting the dynamic, complex and ever-changing landscape of UK national security.
What we do
We serve as a conduit for technical exchange between practitioners, Government, industry and other national and international stakeholders – including through our participation in the Higher Education Security Forum (HESF).
We enable collaboration across the UK HE sector to foster a consistent approach to security compliance at a national level, facilitating both in-person and online events that promote key discussions and best practices.
Additionally, we collaboratively develop guidance and training materials to address sector-specific challenges, supporting our members in making informed decisions on implementation and institutional compliance.
Our aims
- Connect practitioners, government and industry for trusted technical exchange
- Convene UK universities and research organisations in a unified approach to security
- Drive sector dialogue through high-impact events and best-practice sharing
- Deliver guidance & training for compliant and risk-informed decision making
Our Secretariat
What the Secretariat does
- Co-ordinates and supports all of the work of the network.
- Oversees the planning and organisation of HEECA activities and events.
- Facilitates the development and promotion of guidance and best practice materials.
- Engages with the Universities UK Export Control Group (ECG) and builds engagement with other export control associations worldwide
Chris Buckland
Security & Commercial Director, Cranfield University & Current HERSA Co-Chair
Chris is responsible for the security compliance, risk and governance architectures operating across Cranfield University. With 19 years’ experience of managing and implementing effective security frameworks Chris also Chairs a number of national sector initiatives in collaboration with government and industry, including HERSA and the Universities Forum which compromises the top 50 STEM intensive UK HE institutions.
In addition, Chris is responsible for various commercial frameworks, developing strategy and delivering effective routes to market and technology exploitation pathways for various industry and government organisations.
Diran Solanke
Head of Research Security, Imperial College London & Current HERSA Co-Chair
Diran works within Imperial’s central Research Office, leading a team with responsibility for the coordination and development of key research security capabilities, including responsible exporting and related security matters for international opportunities. He has a background in HE R&D operations, managing research contracting and associated collaboration and compliance considerations, developing business processes and institutional policy. Diran is passionate about and committed to supporting research and innovation for societal benefit on a basis that is as open as possible and as secure as necessary.
Dr Irene Barinaga-Rementeria Ramirez
Head of Research Security and Compliance, The University of Manchester & Co-Chair of the Higher Education Security Forum (HESF)
Irene combines a strong scientific research background with extensive compliance expertise. After completing an MSc in Chemistry in Spain and a PhD in Biochemistry in Sweden, she held research positions at Yale University and The University of Manchester, focusing on cell and molecular biology using zebrafish models.
Since 2015, she has led research security and compliance at Manchester, overseeing due diligence and a wide regulatory remit. Irene was the founding Chair of HEECA and now Chairs the Higher Education Security Forum (HESF), working closely with UK government partners to advance research security across the sector.
Rosemary Boyle
General Counsel (IP), Cambridge Enterprise (previously Senior Commercial Lawyer, University of Cambridge 2002-2024)
Rosemary has worked in export control compliance since the early 2010s, engaging regularly with the Export Control Joint Unit and contributing to sector discussions at national conferences. She was the joint lead author of the 2015 AULP Higher Education Guide to Export Control and ATAS, which was endorsed, at the time, by the Export Control Organisation and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCDO).
Rosemary was a founding member of HEECA in November 2021, as well as the Higher Education Security Forum (HESF), formerly Export Control Group (ECG).
Since 2009, Rosemary has provided legal support to academics and export control practitioners across the University of Cambridge. From 2024 onwards, her work has focused primarily on technology transfer activity.
Maisie Cooper-Carlyle
Defence & Security Commercial Programme Manager, Cranfield University
Maisie manages a range of initiatives and commercial activities that advance the university’s defence and security portfolio, strengthening strategic partnerships and delivering meaningful outcomes.
Alongside this, her role centres on driving outreach and engagement for HERSA, with an emphasis on expanding and enhancing the community through targeted communications, events, programmes and partnerships.
Dr Lisa Crawley
Regulatory Compliance Officer, The University of Manchester
In her role at Manchester, Lisa specialises in export controls and wider areas of regulatory compliance legislation. With five years of experience in export controls, Lisa has developed a strong interest in U.S. export legislation and hold certifications in both the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
Before moving into the regulatory compliance field, Lisa’s background was in information compliance, working extensively in areas such as Freedom of Information, data protection, records management and archival science. This background supports her current work by providing a deep understanding of information governance and the complexities of managing regulated data within academic and research environments.
Chaitali Desai
Head of Research Compliance, University of Bristol
Chaitali has worked in the research security arena in higher education for almost five years, prior to that being a local authority and regulatory solicitor in private practice for 12 years.
Chaitali leads a team responsible for advising on national and economic security regulation including export controls, NSIA, subsidy control, FIRS and Nagoya Protocol / ABS legislation. In addition, She is responsible for projects implementing the NPSA Trusted Research Evaluation Framework, partner suitability processes and alignment of due diligence frameworks across all institutional activity.
Peter Jolliffe
Head of Technology-Enabled Business Solutions (TEBS), Cranfield University
Peter is a proven technology leader with over two decades of experience delivering digital transformation and innovative, cost‑effective solutions across the training and compliance landscape. He excels at leveraging advanced technology to open pathways into new markets and align digital capability with organisational goals.
Within HERSA, Peter directs the HERSA Training Platform, ensuring it remains responsive, practitioner‑led, and aligned with the mission to support consistent national approaches to research security.
He also supports and informs the TREAT subgroup in developing the new Trusted Research course, helping shape its digital delivery and sector relevance.
Peter provides the Secretariat with strategic data analysis, supporting informed decision‑making and helping deliver positive outcomes for HERSA as it coordinates and develops best‑practice guidance for the UK Higher Education sector.
Dr Rhys Morgan
Head of Policy, Integrity and Governance, University of Cambridge
Rhys is Head of Research Policy, Governance and Integrity in the University of Cambridge’s Research Strategy Office. His team holds responsibility for research security and trusted research, including export control, the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act, and the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS).
Rhys held the role of HEECA Co‑Chair from 2022 to 2026, playing a key part in shaping the network’s growth and direction.
Jonathan Scott
International Governance Support Manager, University of Strathclyde
Jonathan leads the development and delivery of University of Strathclyde’s research security agenda through a Trusted Research & Innovation (TR&I) approach that enables international collaboration while safeguarding people, academic integrity and institutional reputation. Since establishing the International Governance Support team, he has implemented strategic and operational frameworks for National Security & Investment Act compliance, export control, and international risk management.
Jonathan chairs the HERSA Security Subgroup and actively contributes to CESAER’s Task Force Openness of Science & Technology, supporting secure and responsible research collaboration across Europe.
Monika Walczak
Senior Research Security Advisor, Imperial College London
With a PhD in Physics and a background as a scientist, Monika later transitioned into a career in Research & Development. She has been focused on research security in academia since 2019 and joined the HEECA Secretariat in 2022. Her interest in research risk management includes strategic initiatives to safeguard cutting-edge and emerging technologies.
Monika also currently serves as Co-Chair to the HERSA Trusted Research Engagement and Training (TREAT) Subgroup.