Beth Button

Beth has extensive experience in higher education policy and public affairs, having held leadership roles in a number of Welsh, UK and international higher education representative bodies.

Currently Director of External Affairs at the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), Beth leads advocacy efforts to secure recognition and support for higher education with governments, funders, and stakeholders across the Commonwealth, and is responsible for the ACU’s global network of over 400 member universities across more than 40 countries.

Beth is a proud graduate of Cardiff University, where she studied Education and Sociology. She went on to hold the elected position of Education Officer in Cardiff Students’ Union before being elected first as Deputy and then President of the National Union of Students (NUS) in Wales between 2013-2016. During this time, Beth contributed as a panel member to the Welsh Government’s ‘Diamond Review’ of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance.

Before joining the ACU, Beth worked at University Alliance where she was Head of Communications and Public Affairs. Other higher education sector roles have included managing campaigns at Universities UK, policy and public affairs at Universities Wales, and an elected role at the European Students’ Union, where she led advocacy within the United Nations and UNESCO.

Beth also holds a Master’s in Education Policy and International Development from the University of Bristol.