Louise Casella

Louise Casella is a higher education leader with over 35 years’ experience in Welsh and wider UK universities.

Louise’s expertise and skills were developed at Cardiff University where she worked for 25 years. She starting as a Graduate Assistant in 1988, becoming Head of Planning in 1996, Senior Executive and Head of the Vice Chancellor’s Office in 1999.  Following merger with University of Wales College of Medicine, she led the Strategic Development directorate from 2004 – 2012. Louise chaired the Professional Services Directors’ group at Cardiff prior to the appointment of a COO, and was a member of the Executive Board of the UK-wide Association of Heads of University Administration (AHUA), Chair of the Russell Group Registrars and UK Chair of the UK-Swedish Registrars group.

From 2012 to 2018 Louise was an independent consultant in the university and third sector and undertook a number of senior interim roles. During this period she was at Wrexham Glyndwr University for 18 months, as the interim deputy to the Vice Chancellor, and led on formulating the strategic and delivery plan that placed the university back on a firm financial and academic foundation after a period of turmoil.

In 2018, Louise took up the permanent role of Director of The Open University in Wales, a role she held, and loved, for 5.5 years.  During this period the OU in Wales more than doubled student numbers and extended its reach into underserved communities throughout Wales, embedding an open ethos into multiple partnerships and relationships with key organisations throughout the country and driving for broader social and economic impact.

Louise retired from full-time roles in 2023 and lives in Cardiff with her husband Mike (a Cardiff alumnus).  She is a regular visitor to Canada where she has close family, and enjoys music, theatre, travel and time spent with family and friends.