University of Sunderland

Board of Governors

Institutions of higher education are legally independent corporate institutions which have a common purpose of providing teaching and undertaking research. Universities also contribute to economic growth through research and developing links with industry and the community.

The Board of Governors is the governing body of the institution and carries responsibility for ensuring the effective management of the institution and for planning its future development. It has ultimate responsibility for all the affairs of the institution.

Board of Governors of the University of Sunderland

Neil Bellamy

Staff Governor, elected by all staff of the University in July 2010. Neil is currently a Project Officer, based in the Planning and Finance Directorate and joined the University in 2007.

Prior to joining the University, Neil was a Team Manager for HMRC and his previous background is in Finance, Accounting and Audit. Other Trusteeships: None.

Sue Cain

Staff Governor elected by non-teaching Staff of the University in July 2009.

Sue joined the University in 1992, having previously worked as a manager in Further Education and in training, with particular emphasis on equality of opportunity for disabled people.

Sue is Head of Disability Services at the University and was one of the first people in the UK to hold a post in higher education specialising in the development and provision of support for disabled students. Sue is especially focused on service innovation and quality. Other Trusteeships: None.

Paul Michael Callaghan

Appointed to the Board of Governors in July 2005. Chair of Board of Governors from July 2009, Chair of Nominations Committee and member of Remuneration Committee.

Paul is the Chair of the Leighton Group, of RTC North and of Red House Academy.

He is Chairman of ONE North East, the Regional Development Agency and Chair of the Chairs of the English Regional Development Agencies. He is also a Trustee of Red House Academy, Leighton Limited Endowment Trust and the Live Theatre Trust.

Paul Campbell

Paul Campbell is a media sector entrepreneur, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Amazing Media, and Operator of the national radio station Amazing Radio and new music website amazingtunes.com.

Paul started his career at the BBC producing radio & TV programmes, then founded his first company, which made radio, TV, commercials, corporate films and new media from offices in London and New York. He later co-founded Liberty Bell, Producer of Grumpy Old Men. He has creative awards in all electronic media, and was a northern finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards.

Other Trusteeships: Paul is a Governor of the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Derek Curtis

Presently Managing Director of Bond Solutions, a company initially specialising in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, but which quickly expanded to offering HR and accounts software.

Derek is also involved in a personal capacity with Echo Twenty Three Limited, a company which specialises in business-to-business and business-to-customer PR and digital campaigns, working with clients in industries such as law, finance, manufacturing, sports, fashion and leisure. Other Trusteeships: None.

Cllr Cecilia Gofton

Co-opted Board Member from the City of Sunderland Council. Member of Employment Committee.

Celia is a senior member of Sunderland City Council where she is the Cabinet Member holding the Portfolio for Responsive Services and Customer Care. She has represented the constituents of Pallion Ward since May 2006.

Celia represents the City Council on the Association of North East Councils, the Northern Council of Education Authorities and the City of Sunderland College Board of Corporation.

She is a member of the Early Years and Childcare Strategic Partnership, the Standing Advisory Council of Religious Education and is a member of the Pennywell Academy Trust. She is also a Governor of Hill View Infants' School, Sunderland, a Trustee of the Empire Theatre Trust and the Parker Memorial Home.

Chris Green

Appointed to the Board of Governors in June 2005. Deputy Chair of Board of Governors, Chair of Finance & Development Committee, Chair of Remuneration Committee and a member of Nominations Committees.

Chris qualified as a chartered accountant and joined Northumbrian Water Group plc in 1990. He was appointed Finance Director in 1997, and in May 2003, the company was re-admitted to the London Stock Exchange, firstly on AIM and then as a FTSE 250 company in September 2003. The Group was acquired by a consortium led by Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Limited on 14 October 2011.

Chris is Chair of Trustees for Northumbria Calvert Trust and a non-legal Director of the FM Global European Advisory Board.

‌John Holmes

John is Head of Property at Durham Cathedral, as well as being Non-Executive Chairman of Coast and Country Developments Limited and Director of Urban Matters Limited. He has a wealth of experience in the public and private sector in physical, economic and social regeneration, housing, tourism, and economic development across the north of England.

John is also a Board Member of the Hull Business Improvement District, a board member of Music North Limited, and a member of the Finance and Organisation Committee of North Music Trust, both subsidiary companies of the Sage Gateshead. He is also a regional board advisor of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors for Yorkshire and Humber.

John is a fundraiser and supporter of the Romanian Children’s Charity and is Group Coordinator for Sustrans in the Tyne Valley.

Michael Egan

President of Students' Union 2012/13. Other Trusteeships: Michael is a Trustee of the University of Sunderland Students' Union.

Margaret Fay CBE DL

Appointed to the Board of Governors in March 2011. Member of Audit, Nominations and Remuneration Committees.

Margaret was Chairman of Regional Development Agency, ONE North East from 2003 – 2010. The previous twenty four years were spent at Tyne Tees Television where she held many roles; the last seven years as Managing Director.

She is currently Deputy Chairman of The Sage Gateshead, a Non-Executive Director of Northumbrian Water place, Fabrick Housing Group and Patron of Tees Valley Community Foundation. Other Trusteeships: None.

Professor Peter Fidler

Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive (Ex-Officio).

Member of Board and all sub committees with the exception of Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee. Peter is also a Trustee of the Friends of Sunderland Minster, the Customs House, Red House Academy, the Leighton Limited Endowment Trust and the University of Sunderland Development Trust.

Peter is also a Board Member of the North East Strategic Health Authority, Codeworks, Sunderland Partnership Board, and University for the North East. He also chairs the Sunderland City International Strategy Group.

Dr Jeff Fowler

Staff Governor, elected by Teaching Staff of the University in July 2010. Dr Jeff Fowler is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computing and Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences. He is also the Disability Support Tutor for the Faculty.

Jeff is the Branch Secretary of Sunderland University Branch of the University and College Union, and is active in the union regionally and nationally. He is also a staff representative on a number of panels and committees in the University. Other Trusteeships: None.

Chris Jobe

Appointed to the Board of Governors in July 2004. Member of Finance & Development Committee, Audit Committee, Employment Committee, Remuneration Committee and Nominations Committee.

Chris, a Solicitor by profession, was, until 2008, North East Director for Northern Rock plc. He is a trustee of Northern Rock Foundation and of the Evening Chronicle Sunshine Fund and he is Chairman of the Prince's Trust North East Regional Council. He is involved with many charities in the region and is Honorary Vice-President of the North East Chamber of Commerce.

John Mowbray OBE

John became President of the North East Chamber of Commerce in June 2011 and is a member of the board. He was awarded an OBE for services to the water industry and charity in June 2012. He retired from Northumbrian Water in August 2012 where he was Director of Corporate Affairs.

He has been a Director of TEDCO and Castle View Enterprise Academy Trust Board for some time, but recently joined the University of Sunderland as a Governor and became a Non Executive Director at Husband and Brown, as well as at Press Ahead.

John has chaired the Northumbrian WaterAid Fundraising Committee for 16 years helping to raise £5million to change lives in Africa and Asia. More locally, he chairs the Foundation of Light Development Board, as well as the Percy Hedley Foundation Appeal Committee.

Paul McGowan

Appointed to Board of Governors in July 2011. Member of Employment Committee.

Paul is a Solicitor and is founder and Principal of Collingwood Legal. Prior to establishing Collingwood Legal, Paul was a partner in the Employment and Education Department at Watson Burton LLP. Other Trusteeships: None.

Saul Nassé

Appointed to the Board of Governors in July 2011. He is currently Controller of BBC Learning and is a former Editor of Tomorrow’s World.

Saul was the Creative Head of Development for Specialist Factual in 2006, after which he moved to Mumbai where he was General Manager and Creative Head of BBC Worldwide Productions India, producing series such as the Indian version of Strictly Come Dancing and the critically acclaimed ‘India and Pakistan season in 2007. Other Trusteeships: None.

Umesh Patel MBE

Umesh is a well-known local community pharmacist who has worked in Sunderland for over 30 years.

A graduate of the University and mentor to pharmacy students, he has been a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain since 1979 and he has held a number of positions in pharmacy organisations since qualifying as a pharmacist, playing an active locally and in many campaigns within his profession.

He has served the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain at a local and regional level, as well as the National Pharmacy Association. In 2001 he joined the board of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee and is Chairman of the Audit Committee.

Umesh has also been involved in many charitable and fundraising activities, including trusteeships of the Manav Kalyan Trust and the NPA Health Education Foundation.

Gary Smith

Students' Union nominee 2012/13. Other Trusteeships: None.

Catherine Young

Catherine Young is Commercial Director of North East MRO Technology company Propeller. Prior to joining Propeller, Catherine was an audit director with a national firm of accountants.

Catherine is a chartered accountant and has worked with businesses, not-for-profit organisations and service providers in the North East region for over 20 years. She is also Chair of the Audit Committee of the national charity Breast Cancer Care. Other Trusteeships: None.

For more information on University governance contact Legal, Governance & Business Assurance or go to the Governance Section of the University's Publication Scheme.