UCEA Board Membership

UCEA was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee (number 02914327) on 30 March 1994. The four members of the company are the CUC, GuildHE, Universities Scotland and Universities UK.

Board membership comprises Vice-Chancellors, Principals and University Council Chairs or members nominated by the four members. The Board includes six CUC representatives, two GuildHE representatives, two Universities Scotland representatives and eight UUK representatives. This ensures that the Board membership is representative of subscribing institutions. UCEA is a membership organisation which all Universities and HE Colleges in the UK can join as subscribing institutions.

UCEA Board membership (at 20 January 2010)

Chair of the Board: Professor Keith Burnett CBE, Vice-Chancellor, The University of Sheffield

Keith became Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield on 1 October 2007. He is an eminent scientist with an outstanding leadership track record. Before moving to Sheffield, Professor Burnett was Head of the Division of Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences at the University of Oxford. Prior to that he was Chairman of Physics at Oxford, where he enjoyed a successful career of almost 20 years. His academic career started in Colorado, United States, as a research associate at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, he went on to become an assistant professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He was a Lecturer in the Physics Department at Imperial College for four years before returning to Oxford in 1987 as a university Lecturer in Physics & Fellow of St John´s College. Keith is also a member of the Employers Pensions Forum.

Secretary to the Board: Helen Fairfoul, UCEA Deputy Chief Executive

Directors:

Professor Patricia Broadfoot CBE, Vice-Chancellor, University of Gloucestershire
Patricia joined the University of Gloucestershire in September 2006. Previously at Bristol from 1981, her roles included Pro Vice-Chancellor with particular responsibility for education and widening participation between 2001 and 2006, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences from 1998 to 2001, Head of the School of Education from 1993 and Professor of Education from 1991. A Sociology graduate, following a PGCE at the University of London, Patricia began her career in education by teaching in Jamaica. She completed an MEd whilst working at the Scottish Council for Research in Education and was subsequently a lecturer in the Sociology of Education at Westhill College, Birmingham, between 1977 and 1981.

Professor John Brooks, Vice-Chancellor, Manchester Metropolitan University
John has been Vice-Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University since 2005, following seven years as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton and various posts at Sheffield Hallam University. John gained his Physics degrees from the University of Sheffield and has an interest in the development of vocational education and the improvement of educational opportunities at all levels.  He was heavily involved in regeneration in the Black Country and established the Wolverhampton-Telford Technology Corridor.  He is a member of the Scrutiny Panel for Degree Awarding Powers and University Title for the QAA. John sits on the Board of UUK and the Equality Challenge Unit, and is a member of the Longterm Strategy Group.

Richard Bullock, Chairman of the Board of Governors, Nottingham Trent University
Richard has been Chairman of NTU in September 2009. He was educated at Henry Mellish Grammar School, Nottingham and Christ Church, Oxford (MA in Modern History) before working for the National Coal Board as a management trainee, an industrial relations officer and Assistant Secretary of Coal Products Ltd before returning to study law at what is now Nottingham Trent University and Liverpool John Moores University.
Richard is Head of Legal Practice at Freeth Cartwright solicitors, working in commercial litigation, especially employment law. The firm has over 430 staff in Nottingham, Leicester, Derby, Birmingham and Manchester, with over 80 partners. He is Vice President of Newstead Colliery Welfare Band, Under Sheriff - Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire and Deputy Lieutenant – Nottinghamshire and was also Secretary and a Council Member of the Shrievalty Association.

Professor Steve Chapman, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Heriot-Watt University
Steve has been Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University since September 2009. Following the receipt of his Ph.D. from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1983, Steve moved to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on a NATO fellowship. In 1986 he took up a lectureship at the University of Edinburgh where he worked as Head of the School of Chemistry between 2000 and 2005. Steve was made Edinburgh’s Vice-Principal for Planning, Resources and Research Policy in 2006.

Steve received the Interdisciplinary Award of the Royal Society of Chemistry for his ground-breaking work at the interface of Chemistry and Biology in 2001 and was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2005.

Professor Les Ebdon CBE, Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive, University of Bedfordshire
Appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Luton in 2003, Les led the successful merger with the Bedford faculty of De Montfort University to form the new University of Bedfordshire in 2006. Previously Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at the University of Plymouth, he championed the establishment the Peninsula Medical School. He obtained both his BSc and PhD at Imperial College, London and his research interests are in environmental analytical chemistry. Les is Chair of Million+, the Association of Universities in the East of England and the Universities UK Student Experience Policy Committee. Les is also a member of the Universities UK Board, the Universities UK Health and Social Policy Committee and the Universities UK Expansion Project Steering Group. He also serves on the Editorial Boards of the British Journal of Higher Education in Further Education and the Times Higher Education. 

Professor Ruth Farwell, Vice-Chancellor, Buckinghamshire New University
Until her appointment at Buckinghamshire in January 2006, Ruth was Pro Vice-Chancellor at London South Bank University with a portfolio which covered academic planning and quality. Previously Ruth held a number of head of department level posts at the University of Brighton, the last being Head of Strategic Planning. A mathematician, with a PhD in Applied Mathematics from the University of Kent, she has also published on higher education policy. Ruth is Chair of the Board of the Open College Network for the South East Region, Chair of GuildHE, a member of the HEFCE Quality Assurance Framework Review Group, and the Ethnicity & Degree Attainment Project Steering Group. Ruth was appointed to the Board of HEFCE in November 2009.

James Foulds, Pro-Chancellor, University of Bristol
A Pro-Chancellor at the University of Bristol, Jim is also Chair of the Personnel and Staff Development Committee and immediate former chair of Council. He is also a fomer member of UCEA’s Health and Safety Committee and chaired the tripartite Higher Education Health and Safety Forum and working group on “Stress in the workplace”.  Jim has had a wide and varied career in business, in line and human resource management roles, both in the UK and internationally. In the past he has chaired a number of National and European committees in the employment and social affairs field.

Professor Peter Gregson, President and Vice-Chancellor, Queen's University Belfast
President at Queen's University Belfast since 2004, Peter also serves on the Northern Ireland Economic Development Forum, the Council of CBI Northern Ireland and the Steering Group of the US - Ireland Research and Development Partnership. He is also a Deputy Lieutenant of Belfast, a Non Executive Director of the Rolls Royce Group plc; a Fellow and Council Member of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Member of the Royal Irish Academy, a Fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineering and a Companion of the Management Institute. Peter was formerly Professor of Aerospace Materials and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton and has served on the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC).

Paul Jagger, Pro Chancellor and Chair of Council, University of Bradford
Pro Chancellor and Chair of Council at the University of Bradford, Paul is also Vice Chair of the CUC.  He has a long career within the trade union movement, including ten years at the National Union of Public Employees, and between 1984 and 2005 was Regional Secretary for Yorkshire and Humberside TUC. Paul is also a Non Executive Director and Vice Chair of Yorkshire and the Humber Learning and Skills Council, Member of the LSC National Capital Committee, Chair of Barnsley Community Solutions, a board member of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Chair of Sheffield PCT Provider Services. He was Vice Chair of Sheffield Hallam University's Board of Governors between 1998 and 2002 and was awarded an MBE for services in the Trade Union movement in 2002.

Dianne M Jeffrey, Chair of Governing Council, University of Derby
Pro-Chancellor at the University of Derby, Dianne is also Chair of Anchor Trust, England’s largest provider of housing, care and support to older people. Dianne served as the elected Chair of the NHS Confederation - the voice of management in the NHS, from 2000 – 2003. She was appointed to serve as High Sheriff of Derbyshire in 2002/3 and is now a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Derbyshire. Dianne, who sits on the Police Authority Selection Panel, has served on the national Criminal Justice Council. Dianne’s appointment as Hon. Colonel, The 5th (Derbyshire Cadet) Battalion, Derbyshire Army Cadet Force was approved by HM The Queen in 2003. 

Professor Noel Lloyd, Vice-Chancellor, Aberystwyth University
Noel took up the post of Vice-Chancellor in 2004, having previously been Registrar and Secretary, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dean of Science and Head of the Department of Mathematics.  His research interests are in Nonlinear Analysis and Dynamical Systems.  Noel is currently chair of Higher Education Wales and a Vice President of UUK.  He is a member of the board of QAA and chairs its Access Recognition Licensing Committee. He serves on the advisory board of the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies.  Noel is Chair of UCEA’s Health and Safety Committee. He has been a member of the HEFCW Quality Assurance Committee, and was a member of the board of the mid-Wales TEC and then of the mid-Wales ELWa Regional Committee.

Dr Arthur Naylor, Principal, St Mary's University College, Twickenham 
Arthur is a graduate of the University of Glasgow and Henley Management College.  His early career was in Scotland where he was Head of Education and Assistant Principal in colleges which now form the Faculty of Education at the University of Glasgow.  At that stage his main research interests were in pastoral care in secondary schools.  Having recently completed terms of office on the General Teaching Council for England and the Board of the Training and Development Agency for Schools, he is currently inter alia a Board member of HERO, Chair of the London Higher Teacher Education Advisory Group, Chair of the Richmond Theatre Trust and a member of the Ambassador Theatre Group’s West End Trust.

Professor Shirley Pearce, Vice-Chancellor, Loughborough University
Vice-Chancellor since 2005, Shirley was previously Pro Vice-Chancellor at University of East Anglia (UEA), responsible for the health and professional schools, where she led the successful bid for a new medical school for the East of England. Prior to joining UEA, Shirley held an academic post in the Department of Psychology at University College London with clinical leadership for Health Psychology in Camden and Islington. 
Shirley is currently a member of the Board of the Equality Challenge Unit, Universities UK Employability, Business and Industry Policy Committee, HEFCE Board Strategic Advisory Committee for Business and Community, the Universities UK Health Committee, the Podium Steering Group (Further and Higher Education Unit for 2012), Member of the Council for Industry and Higher Education and the HEFCE League Tables Research Project Steering Group. Shirley was appointed to the Board of HEFCE in November 2009.

Professor Ian Percy CBE, Chair of Court, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
Ian is presently Deputy Chair of the Weir Group and Ricardo plc, a non executive director of private companies and Chair of three Pension Scheme Trustees. He is an Honorary Professor of Accounting at Aberdeen University, a member of the Market Capitals Group of the Financial Reporting Council and a Trustee of the Foundation for Governance Research and Education. He has written extensively on auditing, having been Deputy Chair of the Auditing Practices Board, UK member of the International Auditing Practices Committee from 1995 to 2000, Chair of the Accounts Commission, Chair of Audit Scotland, Chair of Companies House and a Past President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. He was awarded his CBE for services to Local Government and the accountancy profession in 1996.

Professor Dame Joan K Stringer, Principal & Vice-Chancellor, Edinburgh Napier University
Prior to taking up her post at Napier in January 2003, Joan served as Principal and Vice Patron of the then Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh. She began her career in education in 1980 and was later appointed Head of the School of Public Administration and Law at Robert Gordon University where she was promoted to Assistant Principal in 1991. Joan’s current positions include Chair, Education UK Scotland, Convenor, Universities Scotland International Committee and she also is a Board member of the Higher Education Statistics Agency and Leadership Foundation for Higher Education. She was awarded a CBE for Services to Higher Education in 2001, and made Dame in the Queen's Birthday Honours in June 2009.

Professor Paul Webley, Director and Principal of SOAS
Paul took office as Director and Principal of SOAS in August 2006. Paul’s undergraduate and postgraduate education was at the London School of Economics. Following a short term at the University of Southampton, he moved to the institution that was to become his academic and professional home for 26 years, the University of Exeter. At Exeter he held several senior positions including Head of the Department of Psychology, Head of the School of Psychology and, latterly, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Paul is Chair of the Bloomsbury Group of Colleges, and Chair of London Metropolitan Network, and serves on UUK's International and European Policy Committee. As a scholar, Paul’s general aim has been to explore the contribution that psychology can make to our understanding of problems that have traditionally been seen as the concern solely of economics.

Andrew Wilkinson, Chair of the Board of Governors, University of Wales, Newport
Andrew has been Chair at Newport since early 2007 and is also  the Chair of CHEW, the Welsh regional group of the Committee of University Chairmen that comprises the Chairs of all the higher education institutions in Wales. He spent much of his working life at HSBC Bank where he became a Divisional Credit Controller. He is now a self-employed business consultant. He is also Chair of the Wales Management Council and Newport and Gwent Enterprise Agency, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce.

Observers

Alice Hynes, Chief Executive Officer, GuildHE

Paul Clark, Director, Policy Development, Universities UK