COVENTRY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Global Committee
- Independent Governor
- Independent Member of the Board of Governors
- Member of the Board of Governors
- Member of the LGIM Culture Club
Adekemi works at Legal and General Investment Management (LGIM) as a Transactions Director where she has the overall responsibility for the coordination of LGIM's activities associated with on-boarding of New Pension Risk Transfer (PRT) business. She is also responsible for projects associated with improving the current on-boarding process for PRT transactions. Adekemi joined LGIM in January 2015 from Capita Employee Benefits where she was Head of Asset Transfers and was responsible for building and managing a specialist asset transfer team.
Prior to that, she worked at KPMG and Willis Towers Watson as an investment consultant managing transitions on behalf of clients and also researching transition managers and custodians. She also worked as a transition manager at the Royal Bank of Scotland. Adekemi graduated from the University of Lagos, Nigeria and holds a BA (Ed) in English. She also obtained an MBA from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and holds the Investment Administration Qualification (IAQ) and Investment Management Certificate (IMC).
Adekemi is a member of the LGIM Culture Club, which seeks to ensure that that LGIM is a diverse and inclusive workplace. She co-chairs the Attract workstream, which partners with schools and charities to provide students from diverse backgrounds an opportunity to experience what it like to work in Investment Management and also leads the LGIM Prayer Group, collaborating with colleagues to run the Annual Carol Service.
Adekemi is also a member of the Board of Governors and the Governance and Nominations Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Education Committee
- Student Governor
Appointed as Student Governor in July 2023, Akhil is Your SU's Welfare Officer and a trustee of the Coventry University Students' Union. His journey at the University began in May 2022 when he joined as a Master of Business Administration student, specialising in Artificial Intelligence.
Akhil has played a number of diverse roles within the University, previously serving both as an Educational Transformation Representative and as a mentor, providing invaluable support to fellow students. Before venturing into academia, Akhil previously worked as a marketing manager for a sports company and held a position as an Assistant Professor in Engineering.
Outside of University, Akhil is a martial arts enthusiast and is a Karate black belt instructor affiliated with the Karate Federation of India. Most notably, in March 2018, he achieved a Guinness World Record certificate for partaking in the organisation of a 5000 all-female assembly of Karate students, showcasing their commitment to women's empowerment.
Academically, Akhil holds a Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering and a Master's degree in Thermal Engineering, a testament to his passion for diverse fields.
Akhil is also involved in Coventry University's Citizen scientist team project and is a member of the Education Committee.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive of the Henry Smith Charity
- Independent Governor
Anand is Chief Executive of the Henry Smith Charity, one of the UK's largest grant giving foundations. His extensive leadership experience at executive and non-executive level spans the civil society, public and higher education sectors.
He was the Chief Executive of Brightside between 2015 and 2020 - a mentoring charity that works with 10,000 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds every year. Previously, he led Daycare Trust and Family and Childcare Trust which advocate for high-quality universal childcare and support for families across the UK.
Anand was the chair of the governing body of his children's primary school and has also served as a Non-Executive Director at the Social Investment Business. He is currently a Trustee at the Richard Thornton Foundation.
Anand's leadership skills were recognised when he became a Clore Social Leadership Fellow in 2012, and when he was awarded a scholarship by the Harvard Business School Alumni Club of London in 2018 to study strategy at Harvard Business School.
He grew up in Walsall in the West Midlands and studied French and History at Keble College, Oxford. In his early career, he worked in private sector publishing for Reed Elsevier, Butterworths and Lexis- Nexis. He has also worked for the children's charity Barnardo's. Anand is also a Non-Executive Director of CU Social Enterprise CIC.
Andrew Noakes is an award-winning motoring journalist, author and photographer. He was trained as an engineer, gaining a degree in automotive engineering and Diploma in Industrial Studies from Loughborough University.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Accountant
- Member of Audit and Risk Committee
- Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee and Independent Member of the Board of Governors
- Independent Member of the Board of Governors
Appointed as an Independent member of the Board of Governors in September 2020, Anne is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years' experience. Anne is a non-executive director of Western Provident Association and chairs the board of Centre for Sustainable Energy, a charity working to change the way we think and act about energy.
Anne's executive career included 15 years in leadership positions at Nationwide Building Society, including as Director of Financial Reporting and as Chief Internal Auditor, following a career in the audit practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers specialising in retail financial services. Anne has extensive experience of finance, risk management and internal controls. In 2019 Anne was awarded an OBE for services to financial reporting and sustainable energy.
Anne is also Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Research Committee
- Chairman of the Research Committee and Independent Member of the Board of Governors
- Independent Member of the Board of Governors
Attila (Atti) is Senior Director, Custom Solutions at Elsevier where he works particularly, although not exclusively, with governments and research funders in developing analytical solutions to help in research strategy, research delivery and national assessments.
Prior to joining Elsevier, Atti worked at the University of Surrey from 2014 to 2019 in various roles including as Vice-Provost, Research and Innovation and as Director of Research Strategy. He introduced the first formal Research and Impact Strategy at the University.
Job Titles:
- Press Team Leader - 07392 097332
Job Titles:
- Press Officer - 07392 096956
Discover CU Coventry - the cutting-edge institution in Coventry city centre offering practical, career-focused courses. With small classes and personalised learning, we provide a leading alternative to mainstream higher education. Located just a short walk from Coventry University, our campus offers a dynamic city atmosphere with a distinctive approach to teaching and learning.
Our state-of-the-art campus in Scarborough is located just minutes away from the beautiful North Yorkshire coast. We offer vocational courses such as health, cyber security and business, and offer supported learning and small class sizes. Our goal is to provide high-quality, career-focused education for the Yorkshire region.
Job Titles:
- Associate Head of School - Marketing and Recruitment
Daren has worked with creative audio technology for over 25 years, from an apprenticeship as a sound engineer to a career in the music and film industries as a recording artist and sound designer.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Education Committee
- Independent Governor
Davinder has extensive experience in education, serving as a school teacher, senior leader, and one of Her Majesty's Inspectors. She was the Head of Secondary Teacher Training and an Associate Professor at Birmingham City University, where she held strategic responsibility for the Teach First programme in the East and West Midlands. She is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Davinder also served as an Executive Director for a large multi-academy trust, leading its school-centred initial teacher training. Passionate about equality, diversity, and inclusion, she has been an active member of the Diverse Educators, Initial Teacher Training, and Education national group. Davinder has worked internationally in schools in the United Arab Emirates. She has undertaken research projects in the Hague and Germany.
She is an experienced governor and trustee. Currently, she is a trustee for the Sir Barry Jackson Trust, a theatre charity, and the Education Opportunity Foundation, a grant-giving organisation supporting educational projects in the UK and worldwide.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Education Committee
- Professor
Professor Deborah Lycett RD PhD is Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research Skills & Education, and Director of Health & Community Wellbeing Research at Coventry University. She has a PhD in Behavioural Medicine.
She was previously Director of Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Director of the Centre for Intelligent Healthcare, Professor and theme lead for Behaviour and Implementation Science, and Professor in Religious Health Interventions and Dietetic Practice. Prof. Lycett has an international reputation for research using the biopsychosocial-spiritual model of health to improve the lives of those living with dietary and nutrition-related conditions. Her research explores whole-person approaches to chronic disease management.
Her research partnerships span the NHS, public health departments, commercial and private health providers, as well as the third sector. She is an Associate Non-executive Director on the board of Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust that seeks to champion the care of children, adults and the families of those living with poor mental health and eating disorders.
Professor Lycett served for several years on the Education Board of the British Dietetic Association (BDA) and was Chair of the BDA Quality Standards Committee. She sits on the Scientific Committee for the European Institute for Religion, Spirituality and Health. She is a Fellow of the Association of Higher Education and has taught in medical and health science faculties. She has 20 years of clinical experience as a dietitian having worked for many years in the NHS and also privately, running her own Nutrition and Dietetic Consultancy.
Deborah was elected as a Staff Governor in May 2024 and is also a member of the Education Committee.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor in Politics College of the Arts and Society
Job Titles:
- Lecturer in Sociology and Criminology School of Humanities Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Job Titles:
- Assicuate Head of School ( Recruitment and Marketing ) School of Humanities Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor
- Composition
Christopher Hobbs, a pioneer in the field of Systemic Music in Britain, was born in 1950. He studied with Cornelius Cardew at the Royal Academy of Music and was the youngest member of the Scratch Orchestra when it began in 1969.
Job Titles:
- Independent Consultant
- Member of the Research Committee
- Chairman of the Enterprise and Innovation Committee
- Independent Governor
- Independent Member of the Board of Governors
David is also Chair of the Enterprise and Innovation Committee and a member of the Board of Governors and Strategy, Finance and Resources Committee.
Dr David Secher is an independent consultant in the areas of research commercialisation, intellectual property and technology transfer, in the UK and internationally. Assignments include work in Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Japan, South America, Africa, and Europe. He is based in Cambridge University, where he is a Life Fellow of Gonville & Caius College.
In 2002, together with Lita Nelsen of MIT, he founded Praxis (now PraxisAuril), the leading UK knowledge exchange organisation. He served as chairman or as a director until 2014 and is now Patron. For his contributions to "creating environments that favour enterprise, specialising in the practical aspects of commercialising the results of academic research", he was awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion in 2007.
Previous roles include Senior Bursar, Gonville & Caius College; CEO of the N8 Research Partnership; Director of Research Services, Cambridge University; Director of Drug Development, Cancer Research Campaign; Director of Monoclonal Therapeutics, Celltech Ltd.; and Tenured Group Leader, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology. As a consultant, he has advised universities, governments and individuals on commercialisation of intellectual property, as well as acting as a non-executive director of technology and investment companies. He is a director of Crossword Cybersecurity plc.
Secher graduated from the Cambridge University (Churchill College) with first class honours in biochemistry. His PhD work at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology was with César Milstein (Nobel Prize- winner for discovery of monoclonal antibodies). Together with Derek Burke, Secher made and patented the first monoclonal antibody to human interferon.
David is also Chair of the Enterprise and Innovation Committee and a member of the Strategy, Finance and Resources Committee and Research Committee.
Lecturer in French | School of Humanities | Faculty of Arts and Humanities | Email: ac7390@coventry.ac.uk
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor in International Relations School of Humanities College of the Arts and Society
Associate Professor in International Relations | School of Humanities | College of the Arts and Society | Email: felix.roesch@coventry.ac.uk
Job Titles:
- Director of Arts and Culture
- Director of Arts, Culture and Heritage
Dr Geoff Willcocks is Director of Arts and Culture at Coventry University, where he was also formerly the Head of Department for Performing Arts. He is also the Chair of Coventry's Music Education Hub and the Chair of Music Coventry.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Research Committee
- Enterprise Strategist
- Independent Governor
- Services Portfolio Executive
Jay Keyse is an experienced enterprise strategist and IT services portfolio executive who has held leadership positions at EDS, HP, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, DXC Technology and ConvergeOne, and currently works for Gartner UK Ltd. as an Executive Partner. During her career, Jay has led global systems integrator strategy and IT portfolio management functions, including being responsible for portfolio and product strategy, strategic partnerships, IT Advisory, M&A strategy, divisional Product Marketing, Learning and Development, Analyst Relations, and International partnerships.
Jay holds an MBA (Technology Management) from the Open University, an MSc. in Business and Management Research from Henley Business School, University of Reading, and is currently finalising a ‘strategy as practice'-focused Doctorate of Business Administration at Henley Business School.
Jay lives on the picturesque North Wales coast.
Job Titles:
- Associate Head for Research Coventry Law School Faculty of Business and Law
I joined Coventry University in 2008 as an Associate Professor in Journalism. I am currently Associate Head of Research, working to support and develop the research culture in Media and Performing Arts.
Lecturer in Sociology | School of Humanities | College of the Arts and Society | Email: ad3948@coventry.ac.uk
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor in English ( Stylistics ) School of Social Sciences and Humanities College of the Arts and Society
Dr Sarah Turner
Assistant Professor in English (Stylistics) | School of Social Sciences and Humanities | College of the Arts and Society | Email: Sarah.Turner@coventry.ac.uk
Lecturer in Education Management | School of Humanities | Faculty of Arts and Humanities | Email: ac3455@coventry.ac.uk
Gregg Jones joined Coventry University in 2018 as the Director of the Brussels Hub, responsible for delivering core strategic goals of the Coventry University Group on European and International affairs.
He has been in Brussels for the past twenty years his previous roles including: Director of Finance and EU Programmes at the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR); Head of EU Office for the National Assembly for Wales, and Deputy Head of Office at South West UK Brussels Office (a partnership of public authorities and universities in South West England).
Gregg has a BA (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Christ Church, Oxford University and an MBA in Business Administration from the University of South Wales.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Accountant
- Member of Audit and Risk Committee
- Associate Member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers
Gurdip is a Chartered Accountant and an Associate member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers. He has over 25 years' experience in the financial services industry and has held roles in corporate treasury, debt capital markets, finance and risk management. He has a BSc in Physics and a MSc in Operational Research. Gurdip is an external co-opted member of the Audit and Risk Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Research Committee
- Your SU Sabbatical Officer
Hamid holds a BSc (Hons) degree and attained an MBA from Staffordshire University and then an MSc. in Petroleum Data Management from the University of Aberdeen. He is a Commonwealth scholar and President of Zanzibar scholarship alumni. Hamid has nine years work experience in different firms both local and international, managing businesses with high standards through creativity and innovation. Hamid believes in excellence and has dedicated his talents to ensuring the successful accomplishment of Zanzibar's strategic development goals.
Hamid is entering the second year of his PhD at Coventry University, researching sustainability in Oil and Gas. His goal is to give back to the environment and society at large through his research with particular focus on Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Han Zhang has had active teaching roles, her most current role was as Module Leader for Data Mining Methodologies and Applications for Postgraduate students.
Job Titles:
- Digital Press Officer - 07392 096008
Job Titles:
- Deputy Chair
- Member of the Education Committee
- Member of the People Committee
- Member of the Remuneration Committee
- Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors
Currently in their first term as Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors and second term as a Governor, Helen was appointed in September 2017. Prior to this Helen was an external co-opted member. Helen is a Chartered Accountant with expertise in risk management and internal controls, with a career that has included being a risk assurance partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Helen has an MA in Natural Sciences and an MSc in Biochemical Engineering.
Helen is Chair of the Strategy. Finance and Resources Committee, Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors and a member of the Governance and Nominations Committee, Remuneration Committee and the Education Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Global Committee
- Governance & Risk Director
- Independent Governor
Hiten is a Governance & Risk Director with an international technology organisation. He has extensive leadership and global experience from over twenty years of non-executive board appointments, providing strategic, commercial, organisational, financial and technological direction. These roles have occurred across various institutions and charities, including education, professional membership, social housing, regulated, not-for-profit and the third sector. Hiten provides a strong corporate governance, strategic and regulatory lens to issues considered by the Board, directors, and management. Hiten has served as Chair, Trustee, Governing Board Member, Chair of Audit & Risk and Chair of Finance Committees during this time.
His executive experience includes corporations within Financial Services, Technology Vendors, Education Services and The National Trust. He has extensive experience leading, managing and delivering transformational business and digital change. These roles have been with large international companies, covering different countries, cultures, and complexities, including local, regional & government regulations. Skills and competencies provided by Hiten include governance, legal, compliance, people & culture, IT (digital & cybersecurity), QI (quality improvement), outsourcing, services, finance, audit & risk management.
He is an Advisory Board Member at the Housing Ombudsman, and member of its Audit & Risk Assurance Committee. Hiten is also a Board Member at The Pioneer Housing and Community Group, and member of its Audit & Assurance Committee.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Accountant
- Member of Audit and Risk Committee
- Independent Member of the Board of Governors
Ian is a Chartered Accountant with more than 25 years' experience in the industry and most recently was chairman of the GSH Group Plc, an international facilities and energy management group with operations across the UK, Europe, North America and India. They have held board-level positions in several companies in a diverse range of sectors, including engineering, automotive, pharmaceuticals and retailing. Ian has a broad background of working internationally.
Ian has particular expertise in the financing and restructuring of businesses with a distinct emphasis on mergers, acquisitions and disposals.
Ian is also a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.
Lecturer in TEFL and CELTA | School of Humanities | Faculty of Arts and Humanities | Email: ad1433@coventry.ac.uk
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Remuneration Committee
- Member of the People Committee
- Chairman of the People Committee
- Chairman of the People Committee and Independent Member of the Board of Governors
- Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and Independent Member of the Board of Governors
- Independent Member of the Board of Governors
Karen is in her first term of office as an independent member of the Board of Governors and Chair of the People Committee and Remuneration Committee. Karen's background has been in the NHS where she has worked for 38 years. Karen has extensive experience as an Executive Board Director in different NHS organisations, including Deputy Chief Executive Officer, and a wealth of experience in transformation, Human Resources/workforce, organisational development, leadership, communications, corporate affairs and change management. Her career has spanned a range of health organisations including health authority and both acute and mental health services and has always held responsibility for education, learning and development within these different organisations.
Karen has previously been a school governor and a Trustee at Foxford School academy and is a qualified Executive Coach.
Karen is also Chair of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Board of Governors.
Ken is a practice-based media lecturer with a focus on production and an international reputation as a documentary filmmaker as well as 20 years' experience in television broadcast documentaries.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Education Committee
- Member of the Research Committee
- Staff Governor
Kerry was appointed as Staff Governor in September 2022. Having joined Coventry University in 2011 as an Employment Personal Tutor based within the Faculty of Business and Law, in 2018 she moved into a role managing the apprenticeship team, and is now the Head of Apprenticeships within CU Apprenticeships (Better Futures).
In 2013 Kerry, as a mature student, joined the first cohort of part time learners to study through the newly formed Coventry University College (later becoming the CU Group), achieving her BA in Management and Leadership in 2017.
Kerry developed an interest in coaching and mentoring during her early years as an Employment Personal Tutor, writing her dissertation on the topic while establishing a student mentoring scheme with the Government Economics Service. When the Coventry University Coaching and Mentoring Academy was formed in 2018 she joined the first cohort of internal staff to be trained as coach/mentors, and has continued to support colleagues though her involvement with the Academy ever since.
She also developed an interest in supporting the career ambitions of women, and has been part of both the Athena Swan Action Team and the Gender Leadership and Development Group. Kerry later joined the first cohort of staff members to undertake the Aurora programme, and has used these experience to further inform the support she offers colleagues through the Coaching and Mentoring Academy.
Kerry is also a member of the Research Committee and a member of the Board of Governors.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Education Committee
- Member of the Research Committee
- Independent Governor
Mark won an open scholarship to read music at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, going on to secure a First before successfully completing an MMus in Theory and Analysis at King's College, London and further research in the music of Webern at Cardiff University.
Mark has tutored at several universities, but his main focus has been school teaching and senior leadership; at present he is Senior Deputy Head. Prior to Queen Anne's, Mark was Director of Studies and Head of Sixth Form at Saint Martin's School in Solihull (GSA Day School). Mark has been a governor of three schools, is a trustee of the Society for Music Analysis and the Society for Minimalist Music and is a member of the Society for Musicology in Ireland.
Mark also teaches A Level Music at Queen Anne's, is an experienced school inspector and A Level and IB music examiner; he has also written several books and articles associated with A Level Music.
When away from school leadership and music, Mark enjoys North Devon coastal walks with his wife, Claire, and their four golden retrievers, Bertie, Monty, Rufus and Gideon! He is also a member of the Education Committee.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the People Committee
- Member of the Remuneration Committee
- Member of the Research Committee
- Advisor and Non - Executive Director to Both UK
- Chairman of the Board of Governors and Governance
- Chairman of the Governance and Nominations Committee
- Chairman of the Board of Governors
- Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors
Appointed as an Independent member of the Board of Governors in September 2018, Nick became Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors and Pro-Chancellor in September 2020, before being appointed as Chair in September 2021. An experienced business leader and company director who worked as a chief operating officer in the automotive industry until early in 2018, Nick has a successful track record working throughout the world in Professional Services for both IT and Engineering Companies. More recently Nick has worked as an advisor and Non-Executive Director to both UK and International Technology Companies and is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.
Nick is also Chair of the Governance and Nominations Committee and a member of the People Committee, Strategy, Finance and Resources Committee, Remuneration Committee and the Research Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of Audit and Risk Committee
- Head of Legal to Realty Income
- Independent Governor
- Independent Member of the Board of Governors
Appointed to the Board of Governors in September 2020, Nicolas is an International Business Lawyer, Board Adviser and Legal and Compliance Specialist, expert in guiding the development and delivery of critical business and legal strategies for high-growth businesses to drive sustainability and risk awareness.
Nicolas currently serves as Head of Legal to Realty Income, Europe, having previously held the roles of General Counsel for JLL in EMEA, Legal Director for Dell Computer in Europe and Latin America, and practised as a solicitor in the City of London. They have a proven track record leading and integrating a broad range of acquisitions to expand into emerging territories and enable core market transformations. Nicolas has extensive experience of negotiating and delivering international projects and investments and building strong cross-cultural senior stakeholder relationships to board and government level.
Nicolas holds an LL.B. with French Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science and the University of Strasbourg and can speak six languages including English, French and Spanish.
Nicolas is also a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Charities Committee
- CEO of into Film
- Independent Governor
- Non - Executive Director of CU Social Enterprise CIC
Paul is the CEO of Into Film, a charitable organisation whose UK-wide film education programme engages with over a third of state schools.
Paul has worked in cultural education for over 25 years, including posts at the Royal Shakespeare Company, English Touring Opera and the Royal Opera House where, as Director of Learning and Participation, they led a major expansion of educational and audience engagement activities, and the development of a learning and community participation programme linked to the High House Production Park in Thurrock.
They are also an advisory panel member for the Paul Hamlyn Foundation's Arts and Education and Teacher Development Funds, and the Cultural Learning Alliance. They are a trustee of National Youth Ballet and previously served as Chair of East London Dance and Signed Performances in Theatre (national body for promoting BSL interpretation of arts events, now named Signed Culture).
Paul was awarded an MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours list for services to film and the arts. Paul is also a Non-Executive Director of CU Social Enterprise CIC.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Global Committee
- Chairman of the Global Committee and Independent Member of the Board of Governors
- Independent Member of the Board of Governors
- Member of Strategy, Finance and Resources Committee
Peter, first appointed to the Board of Governors as an Independent member of the Board of Governors in September 2020, is a marketing and sales specialist with over 30 years' experience in consumer goods and professional services in national and international leadership roles. He was previously a board governor of Instructus (a charity that supports apprenticeships and other workplace learning) and Chair of The Institute of Paralegals.
Peter's international know-how comes from 15 years living and working overseas. Based in Bangkok for seven years, he worked across the whole of Asia helping companies create and implement growth strategies. On moving to Switzerland, he led the EMEA sales function for a large US consultancy.
Peter is active in his local community, being a committee member of drama and folk music groups.
Peter is also a member of Strategy, Finance and Resources Committee and he is the Chair of the Global Committee.
Promise Owai is a distinguished professional currently making significant strides in both the medical and academic fields. Appointed as a Coventry University Student Governor in June 2024, Owai also holds the position of Student Union Education Officer for the 2024/2025 academic session. His leadership journey at Coventry University includes serving as the School of Health and Care Part-Time Officer during the 2023/2024 academic session, where he played a crucial role in amplifying students' voices and gathering feedback to enhance their educational experience. In addition to his governance roles, Owai has made a substantial impact through cultural advocacy. As the leader of the Nigerian Society at Coventry University, he successfully registered over 90 members and engaged more than 183 interested participants. This role has seen him actively promote culture, social, equality, diversity, and inclusiveness within the university community. Owai's academic pursuits are equally impressive. Enrolled in May 2023 for a master's degree in Global Healthcare Management at Coventry University, he has a special interest in healthcare policy, strategic planning and program management. This follows his extensive experience as a Resident Doctor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. His responsibilities there were wide-ranging, including the investigation and diagnosis of infectious diseases and managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Owai holds an MBBCh degree in Medicine and Surgery from the prestigious University of Calabar, Nigeria, where he also served as the Student Union Speaker of Parliament. During his tenure, he reviewed and amended the Student Union Constitution, which remains in use today. His multifaceted contributions to both his home country and his current academic environment underscore his dedication to healthcare, education, and community service. Promise is also a member of the Education Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Global Committee
- Global Director of Strategy and Business Development
- Independent Governor
Appointed as a Non-Executive member of the International Advisory Committee in 2020, Rajat is currently the Global Director of Strategy and Business Development for the aviation fuels unit of bp, Air BP. Rajat initially joined bp in 2011 in a range of Analyst roles covering commercial / corporate development and strategy for Castrol across Automotive, Industrial and Marine markets. They previously worked at Vestas Wind Systems in Denmark, as their Servicing unit's Strategy Development and Implementation Specialist. Working at Accenture he consulted Sallie Mae on loan management of Federal and Private education loans.
Rajat holds a Master of Business Administration from HEC Paris and a Bachelor of Engineering from Bangalore University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Education Committee
- Member of the Global Committee
- Chairman of the Education Committee and Independent Member of the Board of Governors
- Independent Governor
- Independent Member of the Board of Governors
Richard spent the early years of his career as an engineer and manager in manufacturing industry before moving into higher education. He has worked in a number of UK higher education providers, in roles ranging from lecturer to Assistant Vice Chancellor. Throughout his career he has been heavily involved in teaching and curriculum development in a broad range of STEM related programmes.
In addition, he has been involved in leading numerous applied research and knowledge exchange projects with a wide range of industrial partners. Richard served on the PVC International Advisory Group for Universities Wales and is a former Visiting Professor at Wuhan University of Technology. He has been heavily involved in STEM outreach activities and, during his time in the North of England, worked closely with the National Science and Media Museum on the Yorkshire Games Festival and with a number of cultural organizations, reflecting the diversity of the region.
Alongside his academic career, Richard also worked as a music journalist for many years. He has been a member of the Council of Guild HE and the project board of the Teaching Excellence Framework, and is currently a governor at Wrexham Glyndwr University, a member of the Board of Trustees at the National Museum of Wales, and a non-executive director at Careers Wales. He is passionate about the power of education to transform the lives of individuals and the strong role that universities can play in the social and economic wellbeing of the UK.
Richard is also a member of the Education Committee and Research Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Charities Committee
- Independent Governor
Appointed as an Independent Governor in September 2020, Sally has over 30 years' experience in the private sector, primarily within the West Midlands and Oxfordshire region. This included a 16 year career at the CBI, the UK business lobbying group, representing the interests of businesses of all sizes and sectors, including HE and FE, building senior networks, directing strategic membership portfolios, leading successful commercial growth strategies and passionately championing business as a force for good with external stakeholders. Advisory Group roles included the Oxfordshire LEP Business Support Group.
Sally initiated and led the CBI Business in the Classroom initiative from 2008, which aimed to inspire young people into business and enhance their employability skills, achieving sponsorship from Advantage West Midlands and facilitating over 50 business/school partnerships. They also have experience in the aerospace and automotive industries, after having studied modern languages for business at Birmingham City University.
Sally is a Non-Executive Director/Board Trustee of the National Association of Able Children in Education (NACE), which works with schools and education leaders to improve provision for more able learners, driving whole-school improvement and increasing challenge for all students. She is an Independent Member of the Education Advisory Committee of the Jon Egging Trust, which works with the RAF and aviation industries to support disadvantaged young people overcome adversity and achieve their full potential and is also a member of the Enterprise and Innovation Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the People Committee
- Member of the Remuneration Committee
- Independent Governor
Appointed in September 2021 as an Independent Governor, Stephen's early career included international HR roles with Bank of America, General Electric, Morgan Grenfell and Deutsche Bank.
Later he moved into management consultancy and was a partner at KPMG and PA Consulting. During this time, he worked with a wide range of commercial and Government clients in the UK and abroad.
He brings expertise and practical experiences of People management, leadership, change management and organisation design.
He is currently Chairman of the commercial operations of the Faculty for Medical Leadership and Management - charity that seeks to improve leadership skills in the medical professions. His previous roles include Chairman of the East London Small Business Centre, Director of Higher Education for Capability and Trustee Director of the PA Pension Fund.
Stephen is also a member of the Remuneration Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Charities Committee
- Executive Member, Pro - Vice - Chancellor ( Education )
Steve Galliford has nearly 30 years of experience in Higher Education. With a background in Real Estate Investment and Appraisal, they joined Coventry in 2013 as Associate Dean in the Faculty of Business and Law. Following a period as Deputy Dean in the same Faculty, Steve is now Dean of Postgraduate Studies and has active interests in student experience and teaching and learning pedagogy, especially student centred learning and innovative learning spaces. They are a member of the Group Leadership Team and sits on the Academic Board and the Quality in Learning and Teaching Committee (QUiLT).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Global Committee
- Independent Governor
Steve started in the automotive industry after leaving school at the age of 16 and taking up a Technical Apprenticeship with Triumph Motors, part of the group which is now Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). The majority of Steve's career was with JLR, progressing through numerous roles to eventually playing a key role in many of JLR's new model launches.
Three years of leading Value Leadership for JLR gave great knowledge and understanding of the financial drivers in the business of value management and efficiency improvement. In 2010, Steve left JLR to set up his own consultancy business and developed a portfolio of client activity helping businesses such as Healy Cars, Lotus Engineering, Proton Motor Company and a number of Tier 1 companies in their business development and product development delivery. Over the next seven years, Steve worked for Ricardo plc and Tata Technologies before retiring from full time employment in 2020 and returning to his consultancy business, through which he is currently supporting Norton Motorcycles in the UK.
Job Titles:
- Publisher VIEW Magazine and VIEWdigital.Org Website, Specialising in Social Affairs Journalism
Publisher VIEW magazine and VIEWdigital.org website, specialising in social affairs journalism.
Lecturer in Spanish | School of Humanities | Faculty of Arts and Humanities | Email: ad1508@coventry.ac.uk
Job Titles:
- Investment Consultant Managing Transitions