From First Steps to Sector Confidence: Donny McCormick on the Value of ASRA Conference 2026

By Jordan Meates • 21 January 2026

ASRA has been a consistent part of Donny McCormick’s professional journey in higher education, offering a space for connection, shared learning and practical discussion.

As the sector continues to face evolving challenges, ASRA Conference 2026 provides an opportunity to reconnect in person and focus on skills and ideas that can be taken back to institutions.

Donny McCormick

Founder, Safeguarding HE

Donny McCormick

Founder, Safeguarding HE

https://www.safeguardinghe.co.uk/

What does ASRA mean to you?

ASRA has been a constant throughout my entire career with it being the very first association I joined within higher education. I felt welcomed and supported by the community with it shaping my career journey for years to come. As the student accommodation sector (and universities more broadly) entertain ongoing and developing challenges, I believe the role of ASRA in supporting its community of professionals will become more vital.

What are you most looking forward to about Conference 2026?

Meeting sector colleagues and new members face to face! “Zoom-fatigue” is very real so the opportunity to see colleagues in-person, whilst also exploring new ideas and challenges, is very much worth the wait.

Why should someone make Conference 2026 a priority in their calendar?

With a clear focus on practical development and training, I believe this year’s conference offers tremendous value to professionals across the sector. I anticipate colleagues will return to their institutions with up-to-date knowledge, hands-on skills, and ready-to-apply ideas drawn from the sessions and workshops.

How do you think this conference stands out from other events?

I have always found the ASRA community to be focussed on operators within the sector which I think sets it apart form many other events. The emphasis on building skills and knowledge that can be brought back to other organisations and institutions has always appealed to me.

What’s your top tip for first-time delegates to get the most out of ASRA?

Meet someone new. Apart from the sessions that are available on the programme, there is a wealth of knowledge and support outside of it!

If you’ve attended ASRA before, what were your key takeaways? If not, what are you hoping to experience?

I’ve been attending ASRA conferences since 2015 and find the validation that the challenges that you experience “back at work” are very much shared ones. I’ve always felt comfortable to share what has really been tricky to solve and I’m looking forward to (hopefully) providing that reassurance to other attendees.

Can you give us a brief overview of your talk/topic(s) for ASRA 2026?

My session is designed to support accommodation staff navigate increasingly complex student support situations by clarifying duty of care and the boundaries of their role. Using real-world scenarios, it will build confidence in responding to mental health crises and disclosures of sexual misconduct with a focus on what staff should handle directly versus when to escalate to specialist services.

What inspired the topic(s) of your session at this conference?

Having started my career as a Resident Assistant, and progressed through a variety of roles since, I have frequently came up against this challenge: what should we do? Should it be us? In my current role, I support institutions to establish training and policy on duty of care, and can see that this continues to be a source of professional anxiety for staff on the ground, and the institution itself.

What’s the key message or takeaway you hope to share?

I hope that attendees will leave the session with a renewed confidence to determine what they and their teams should and should not do in complex and high-risk situations. The key message is: if you don’t know how to do it safely, you shouldn’t be expected to do it.

How does the topic of your session reflect current trends or challenges?

The Duty of Care for Universities debate is ongoing adding more pressure on institutions and providers to apply complex legal concepts to live situations. My session is designed to provide practical steps to come to a reasonable decision that is in-line with the complex framework of duties that the sector already is subject to.

What’s a surprising or little-known fact about you that might come up during your session?

I have an embarrassingly extensive Lego collection.

Have you got a favourite Liverpool landmark or something you’re excited to experience (e.g., the Cavern Club night)?

I recently started tracing my family tree and discovered I have recent ancestors who were from Liverpool! I’m keen to see the place that they lived (if it is still there!).

What’s one thing you never travel to a conference without?

Pain killers. I’m not much of a drinker but those CampusLife rascals seem to target me….

What’s your favourite thing to do when you’re not speaking at a conference?

Listen to other sessions and discussions. I love discovering what is really on colleagues minds, particularly what they are passionate about, what they are most proud of, and what is their most-significant challenge at the moment.

Join Donny McCormick and colleagues in Liverpool for ASRA Conference 2026 — book your place and be part of the conversations shaping the future of student residential accommodation.

Want to build your safeguarding knowledge and skills even further? Head over to Safeguarding HE for expert resources, training and sector-specific guidance at https://www.safeguardinghe.co.uk/