Charles Heymann is a consultant in strategic communications and reputation management – focussing on higher education, skills and schools policy. He started his career as a journalist, followed by almost a decade in Whitehall media relations including six years at Department for Education covering the schools, early years, child protection and family policy beat. He was Head of Corporate Communications at University of Reading from 2013 until 2017 – setting up its first-ever integrated strategic comms and public relations function.