Members of Council

Ms Cathy Armor

Independent member who joined Council in 2019. Former Director of People at Cambridge University Press. Deputy Chair of Council, Chair of Personnel and a member of the Remuneration committee.

Ms Catherine Bray

Independent member who joined Council in 2020. Commissioner, producer and writer-director of films and print and broadcast journalist. Member of Audit Committee

Ms Ri Chakraborty

Independent member since 2019. Film producer for Spring Films and film evaluator for the Malta Film Commission. Member of the Nominations and Remuneration committees.

Professor Lady Rachel Cooper OBE

Co-opted member with a background in education, Joined the Council in 2018. Professor of Design Management and Policy, Lancaster University and manager of Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts. Member of Nominations and Remuneration committees.

Ms Alex Ferguson

Independent member, who joined the Council in 2019. Professional accountant. Finance Director for a property services company, previously holding a variety of roles with Aviva plc. Member of the Finance and Resources Committee.

Mr Andy Grimbly

Independent member since 2015. Professional accountant and assurance partner with PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) based in East Anglia. Chairs the Finance and Resources and Remuneration committees.

Mr Mark Jeffries

Chair of Council. Independent member who joined Council in 2016. Non-practising solicitor and former national managing and senior partner at Mills and Reeve, solicitors.  In addition to Council, Chairs the Nominations Committee and is a member of the Finance and Resources and Remuneration committees.

Ms Natalie Lanzalaco

On taking-up the role of president of the Students’ Union, Natalie joined the Council on 1 August 2020. Ex-officio member of the Council and graduate of the University.

Mr Colin Lawrence

Independent member who joined the Council in October 2021. Consultant and adviser to different organisations. Previously held senior positions with the National Theatre and the BBC.

Prof. Simon Ofield-Kerr

Vice-Chancellor since May 2021, and ex-officio member of Council. Member of the Finance and Resources, Nominations and Personnel Committees.

Kemet Pink

Co-opted member who joined the Council in October 2021. Works in the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), following periods with UK Research and Innovation and the Cabinet Office.

Mr James Smith

Co-opted member of the University’s academic staff nominated to be a member of the Council by Senate in 2018, and again 2020. Course leader for BA (Hons) Photography. Member of Nominations Committee.

Mr Ian Watson

Independent member who joined Council in 2017. Chief Executive of Hotter Shoes. Previous roles included Chief Executive of Start-rite Shoes Ltd and European Managing Director for Britax Childcare based in Germany. Member of Finance and Resources Committee.

Mr Toby Wilson

Independent member who joined the Council in 2020. Audit Partner with Lovewell Blake LLP. Chair of Audit Committee.

Mr Tom Wood

Independent member since 2017. Entrepreneur. Partner & Director at Akcela Ventures Ltd. Member of Audit Committee.

Ms Gemma Young

Independent member who joined the Council in October 2021. Founder of the digital platform, Settled.

Register of Interest