Zoe Hancock, Principal Bursar

Zoe Hancock has responsibility for the assets of the College, including its buildings and their contents, the investment portfolio that supports the College’s teaching and research activities, and has HR responsibility for non-academic staff.

 Zoe has joined from Oaklands College, a general further education college in Hertfordshire, where, for the past 10 years, she worked as principal and chief executive. A qualified chartered accountant, she studied modern history at Merton College and started her career at PWC (previously Coopers & Lybrand). Zoe went on to work at Walkers Crisps, part of PepsiCo before her love for history took her to the British Museum as a member of the finance team. From here, she moved into non-finance roles, taking-up the post of Director of Strategic Planning and Projects before moving to Oaklands College.

 For the last four years, Zoe has been chair of WENTA, a not-for-profit organisation that provides free start-up advice for new businesses.

 Professor Maggie Snowling, President, St John’s College said: ‘I am delighted to welcome Zoe to St John’s. Her wide range of experience including education, heritage and estate management, and accountancy are perfectly suited to the role of Principal Bursar and I very much look forward to working with her.’

 Zoe Hancock added: ‘Joining St John’s College is a great opportunity for me to combine my passion for the past and my belief in the power of learning and education to change lives. What drives me is working with a wide range of people, with different interests and beliefs, and making sure that I am doing the very best for the staff and students of St John’s.’