Shaun Horan

Shaun has over 30 years of experience in the legal, voluntary, and higher education sectors, including university management and strategy, governance, fundraising, and external relations. Drawing on his background as a barrister, he advises some of the leading names in higher education and nonprofits, overseeing complex projects and assessments at critical periods. He has a deep knowledge of the U.K. and Irish higher education sectors.

Universities are an incredible ecosystem for changing the world through the individual. Our work is about providing deep analysis and clear direction to help them in that mission.”

About Shaun

Shaun applies his legal expertise to support effective strategy, governance, and performance in higher education institutions. His fundraising experience lies in creating and leading major campaigns and working with clients to identify and deliver on their fundraising and income generation ambitions.

Shaun has directed a wide range of strategic projects at key times for institutions, including strategic reviews of functions such as human relations, external relations, fundraising, and the organization of governance and planning. He has worked with universities to improve their effectiveness, team performance, and strategic direction, as well as advise on restructuring, leading to improvements in team success and achievement of goals.

During his career he has:

• Designed and led a 100 million-pound fundraising campaign for a public research university, ensuring cross-institution buy-in from all parties.
• Set up and led a new external affairs directorate within a higher education institution, leading teams of hundreds, setting clear vision and strategy, and bringing together all external functions for the first time.
• Personally led initiatives to secure transformational gifts of over 1 million pounds in the U.K.
• Stepped into interim leadership roles to support clients during periods of transition and to ensure they achieve their goals.

Prior to joining Huron, Shaun was the co-founder and joint CEO at Halpin Partnership, which was acquired by Huron in 2025. Before establishing Halpin, Shaun led external affairs at the University of Reading, where he was responsible for U.K. and international recruitment, marketing, communications, development and alumni, and events. He established the fundraising function at the University of Reading, running the first-ever comprehensive campaign with a target of 100 million pounds. He was also a key part of the senior leadership team that undertook the successful merger between Reading and Henley Management College.

Shaun gained a degree in law from the University of Southampton and became a barrister-at-law at the Inns of Court School of Law. He also completed an advanced management program (AMP) from Henley Business School.

He has been a leading voice in the U.K. higher education fundraising sector as a member of the Ross Group, chairing conferences for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), joining the CASE board, and contributing to best practices.

Shaun has been a governor at two schools and has also served on the boards of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, and the London-based charity MQ: Transforming Mental Health.