About The World 100 Reputation Network
The World 100 Reputation Network is the only professional network for reputation managers in the world’s best universities, exploring reputation, communications, strategy, crisis, marketing and international partnerships. It is exclusive to senior staff in institutions ranked in the top 200 of any of the global rankings published by QS, THE, ARWU and US News and World Report, or in the top 100 of the THE and QS rankings recognising the best young universities across the world and now the THE Impact Rankings.
Now comprising members from all over the world, we believe that our international diversity is one of the reasons members find the Network so valuable.
Although global in outlook the Network offers members the opportunity to become part of a ‘local’ community, existing to share good practice, transfer knowledge and overcome common challenges.
The Network engages in one annual research project that pushes forward the boundaries of knowledge around reputation and helps those in charge of their university’s image to understand it and better amplify it.
Professional development and institutional amplification form part of the value of member gatherings.
The World 100 Network gives its members privileged access and exposure at a variety of educational and cultural places.
Formed in 2007
Industry Research Projects
Universities tracked in the Reputation Tracker
Of members improved their academic reputation scores in the 2021 QS Rankings
“It's the only one [network] that gives me a peer group that I know are equally, if not more, experienced than I am”
Tania Rhodes-Taylor, Formerly University of Sydney
Membership Eligibility
Membership is per institution, and each university nominates a senior member of staff who will represent his/her institution in the Network. This is typically a director with responsibility for communications, international, marketing, corporate affairs, development or public engagement.
Membership is exclusive to universities in the top 200 of the following world rankings:
Or the top 100 of:
The World 100 Committee
Andrea Farquhar (Chair)
Chief Executive, Internal and External Engagement, McMaster University McMaster University, Canada
Andrea leads a team at McMaster that is responsible for strategic reputational management, marketing and media relations, digital media communications, government and community relations, and more.
Alan Ferns
Reputation and Communications Consultant, The University of Manchester, UK
Alan Ferns is a communications and marketing professional with a proven track record of building winning teams and translating strategies and goals into distinctive brands and campaigns which produce results. He is an experienced leader and qualified executive coach who led communications during a successful higher education merger and built the brand that has transformed the global reputation of The University of Manchester.
Jo Kite
Deputy Director of External Relations University of Birmingham
Jo is Deputy Director of External Relations at the University of Birmingham and leads on the University’s reputation and engagement activities. She is responsible for three directorates within the External Relations Division: Birmingham Global; Public and Cultural Engagement; and Communications and Reputation.
Johanna Lowe
Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at The University of Sydney
Jo is Chief Marketing and Communications officer at The University of Sydney. Jo joined the University of Sydney in 2013 to lead the newly centralised marketing function and a refresh of the brand strategy. Jo leads a talented and creative marketing and communications team responsible for building reputation and advocacy with current and future students, parents, alumni, donors, industry, and staff.
Santiago Fernández-Gubieda Lacalle
Director of the Reputation Unit, University of Navarra
Santiago Fernández-Gubieda Lacalle is the Director of the Reputation Unit at the University of Navarra. As well as this, he is the bursar of the Center of University Governance and Reputation at the University of Navarra.
Growing Reputation
Universities with a clear focus on reputation perform strongly in global university rankings. The World 100 Reputation Network aims to provide our members with everything they need to improve their place in the rankings. Even when members see a fall in their overall ranking position, we consistently see evidence of the network’s benefits with a high or improved reputation score (notably in the THE & QS tables).
Of members improved or maintained their THE 2021 rank
Members made the top 50 places of AWRU 2021
Of members improved their academic reputation scores in the 2021 QS Rankings

The World 100 Reputation Network was formed out of our founding company, The Knowledge Partnership. The Knowledge Partnership (TKP) is an independent strategy, marketing and communications consultancy, supporting the higher education sector and universities with high quality, intelligence-based research. TKP was acquired by THE, in December 2020, one of the world’s best known higher education data companies, with offices in the UK, US, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. The World 100 Reputation Network maintains brand and organisational independence, THE leverages their market intelligence, data insights and relationships to strengthen The World 100.
Member Access
Being a member of the World 100 Reputation Network also gives you access to…
- NEWS AND RESOURCES
- EVENTS
- FREE TICKETS
- PRIORITY BOOKING
- MEDIA MONITORING
- MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
- NETWORKING
- RESEARCH
- AND MORE!