Membership of University Court

Idris was appointed as a co-opted member of the Strategy, Finance and Planning Committee in August 2022. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Forte Upstream Services Ltd (FUSL), a company providing services to help oil exploration companies achieve their oil and gas production quota. He is a Chartered Accountant with over a decade of professional experience in financial reporting, procurement, treasury management and internal control/audit which cuts across Oil and Gas, Financial Services and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods sectors.

Prior to joining FUSL, he was the Group Treasurer of Forte Oil Plc (now Ardova Plc) managing the group’s investment portfolio and liquidity, including coordination of periodic review of foreign exchange policies to hedge exchange difference volatility. He is working on his Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Aston Business School and holds a degree in Accounting from the University of Lagos.

Kamil holds the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor/Dean for the College of Business, Law and Social Sciences at the University of Derby. Kamil joined the University in June 2018 from Coventry University where he was the Head of School of Economics, Finance and Accounting. Kamil holds bachelor and master's degrees in Accounting and Management respectively from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. He also holds a PhD in Accounting from De Montfort University in Leicester.

Prior to joining Coventry University, Kamil was a Principal Lecturer and Director of Postgraduate Programmes in Accounting at De Montfort University. He secured his first academic position as a Lecturer at Lagos State University, Nigeria after a six-year work experience in accounting practice/industry. [Updated 2018]

Steve is Chair of Global Brands, a leading independent drinks business, and owner of Casa Hotel and Peak Edge Hotel in Chesterfield. Steve grew up in Chesterfield and founded the Global Beer Company in 1986, initially selling imported beer to local pubs and clubs from the back of a van. In 1997 he spotted a gap in the market and launched VK, now one of the best-selling vodka-based drinks in the UK.

In 2002 Global Brands was the UK’s fourth fastest-growing company and Steve was voted CBI Entrepreneur of the year. Since then, Steve has expanded into property, farming, and hotels. Outside of work, Steve has been a successful rally driver and is a four-time British rally champion. In November 2018, Steve received the Degree of Honorary Master of Business Administration from the University in recognition of his achievements as a local entrepreneur and his impact on the local economy. [Updated 2019]

Toby has been the Labour MP for Chesterfield since 2010. Toby has previously been Shadow Minister for Small Businesses, Shadow Minister for the Armed Forces and Shadow Minister for Children and families. He has sat on the DCLG Select Committee, the Statutory Instruments Select Committee and the International Trade Committee. He is chair of the APPG for pubs and is an active member of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme.

Prior to standing for Parliament Toby worked in the private sector, for his entire career, and eventually ran his own business supplying rugby kit to schools and clubs. [Updated 2018]

Guthrie is now retired following a 40-year career in the manufacturing industry. During that time, he had been involved in establishing training schemes designed for companies to explore new technologies using current employees. He began his career in Derby as a graduate recruiter and gained experience to build up and run a successful business in the West Midlands before buying his own company. He grew a profitable manufacturing operation in Nottingham over an 18-year period that was handed over to new investors using the management team that he had helped to develop. [Updated 2017]

Geoffrey was employed as a solicitor in local authorities for 33 years, including 23 years in Derbyshire and Staffordshire. He was Chief Executive of Erewash Borough Council from 1995 until 2000.

Louise ran The Old Hall Hotel, Buxton for 25 years. She completed her General Catering Diploma at High Peak College, Buxton and worked with Grand Metropolitan Hotels in London. She was a Governor at High Peak College when it merged with the University of Derby. In 2001 she opened 6 The Square Tearooms Buxton.

Currently, she is on the board of The High Peak Theatre Trust, Board Member of The Buxton International Festival and Chair of The Children’s Kinder Choir’s Trust. The University awarded Louise with an Honorary Master's degree in 2004 (HonMUniv). She is also a Deputy Lieutenant of Derbyshire. [Updated 2017]

Chris was elected to serve as the Leader of Derby City Council at the Annual General Meeting on 23 May 2018. He is also the Cabinet Member for Strategy and Policy. His responsibilities include: overall strategic lead on all council services; strategic partnerships; international development; Derby Plan/Council Plan; community safety, cohesion and integration.

Chris was first elected to represent Spondon Ward in 2006, having previously served 32 years in the Derbyshire Police. This included 12 years as a Detective; seven years dealing with child protection matters; and a five-year secondment to the Derby and Ilkeston youth offending teams. He has lived in Spondon for over thirty years, with his family having grown up in the local community.

He previously served as the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods from 2010 to 2012. In opposition, he took an active role in the scrutiny process, serving as a Vice Chair of the Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Board since 2012. Prior to assuming his current role, he was also a long-standing member of the Licensing Committee. [Updated 2018]

Jonathan was one of the first Professors appointed at Derby and the first Pro Vice‐Chancellor (Academic) of the University. He is also an Honorary Professor of Middlesex University and an Honorary Fellow of Sussex University. Following retirement, he chaired Derby Playhouse, Derby Multi‐Faith Centre, and Derby Chamber Music Society. He also organised the Flamsteed Lectures and the Erasmus Darwin Festival.

He has recently retired again to devote his time to writing and occasional lecturing. He is currently completing a series of original mini- monographs focusing on Enlightenment figures with connections to Derby, including Thomas Hobbes, John Flamsteed, Henry Cavendish, Benjamin Franklin, John Whitehurst, Erasmus Darwin and Herbert Spencer, as well as three studies of specific ‘scientific paintings’ by Joseph Wright. These are published under the imprint Quandary Books with the profits going to support Derby Museum and Art Gallery and Erasmus Darwin House in Lichfield. [Updated 2017]

Carol is Chair of the High Peak Theatre Trust (Buxton Opera House) and has supported the magnificent Matcham Theatre for over 30 years. She was born and educated in the High Peak before gaining a degree in economics from London University. Carol is closely associated with the Children's Kinder Choir of the High Peak one of the UK’s foremost choral organisations. She was, until 2016, Deputy Chair and Senior Independent Director at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and is now on the Board of the Tameside and Glossop Clinical Commissioning Group.

Prior to those appointments, she was a non-executive director on the board of the High Peak and Dales PCT. Carol has a great love of the performing arts, especially opera, classical music, and drama. Another passion is the High Peak with its glorious landscape and rural life. [Updated 2017]

Andrew is managing director of Derbyshire's oldest tourist attraction, the Heights of Abraham. He has been responsible for leading the restoration and development of this estate since 1974. He introduced its landmark cable car system in 1984 ‐ the first of its kind in the British Isles. Andrew is actively involved in international project management assignments, advising, building, and operating cable car systems in China, Jordan, and South Africa.

He co‐ordinated the Anglo/French consortium that built the passenger capsules and the control technology for the London Eye and was involved with the same team building the i360 Tower on the West Pier in Brighton. Andrew was the founding Chair of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire Tourist Board. [Updated 2017]

Daniella served as President of the Union of Students at the University of Derby in the academic year 2019/20 following a successful term as Vice-President (Activities). During her term as President, Daniella held a position on the Governing Council as a student representing the views of students, including leading the student voice regarding various issues including mental health, attainment and the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

During her time at University, Daniella studied a BA (Hons) in Media Production degree and took part in various volunteer roles within the Union of Students, including leading the University of Derby Netball Club. Daniella is currently employed at Derbyshire Constabulary as part of an initiative working with businesses in the East Midlands to build their cyber resilience.

Daniella continues to be an advocate for higher education and employability through her role within the police and cyber, by working closely with universities in the East Midlands providing employment and mentoring opportunities to students interested in cybersecurity. [Updated 2021]

Jaz is the founder and chair of the Sikh Recovery Network, supporting people recovering from alcohol or substance addiction. Jaz started the charity in Derby in 2016 after tackling his own addiction to alcohol. The charity now has groups in Derby, Leicester, Birmingham, Coventry and London. He was given a Points of Light Award for his work by the Prime Minister in 2020 and was awarded an OBE for his services to the Sikh community during Covid-19.

In November 2022, Jaz received the degree of Honorary Master of the University in recognition of his outstanding work in the community around alcohol and substance addiction issues.

As the Chief Executive of Disability Direct, Amo has been instrumental in promoting support services for disabled people in Derby. As a disabled person himself from birth, Amo has faced countless personal battles throughout his own journey. He is now a nationally recognised sector leader. He has directly and personally raised more than £25 million in grants, contracts and self-generated income for the disabled community, and has been a leading light during the pandemic. In July 2022, Amo received the degree of Honorary Doctor of the University in recognition of his contribution to the voluntary sector and the disabled community in Derby.

Born in Derby and educated at the Derby Central, Councillor Ratcliffe has had a varied career ranging from service in the Royal Navy aboard Polaris submarines to being Head of English at St John Houghton RC School, Kirk Hallam. He graduated from Liverpool University in 1975 and gained an MEd from Sheffield University in 1986.

Retiring in 1999 he was elected to Wirksworth Town Council where he became the Town Mayor on several occasions before stepping down in 2015. He is currently an elected representative on Derbyshire Dales District Council and the opposition leader. [Updated 2018]

Dionne is the founder and CEO of award-winning Derbyshire charity, Women’s Work. Established in 2003 to help women from the most deprived and troubled backgrounds, the charity has grown exponentially under Dionne’s leadership. Working in partnership with key organisations across the city, it now helps up to 1,000 women each year. Dionne is passionate about helping women and families gain the confidence and skills to make positive and lasting life changes, and the charity’s support programmes are now being used internationally. In November 2023, Dionne received the degree of Honorary Master of the University in recognition of her outstanding support for vulnerable women in the city.

Brenda is a former Chair of Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Prior to holding this position, she served for several years as a non-executive director of the DRI and Southern Derbyshire Hospitals Trusts. She was the first Chair of the Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust from 2004-2009.

She had a career in teaching and management in secondary and further education and her last post was Principal of South East Derbyshire College. Following retirement, she was actively involved in the community serving as a school governor, a member of Amber Valley Borough Council and a trustee of Amber Valley Community Transport. She was also a non-executive director of the Derbyshire Building Society. [Updated 2017]

Anton was born in Derby in 1944 and grew up here. A former reporter and feature writer with the Derby Telegraph, in 1982 he founded Breedon Books; over the next 20 years he developed the Derby‐based company into one of Britain’s most successful book publishers, specialising in sport and history.

He sold Breedon in 2003 to become a freelance writer and journalist. His work has appeared in The Times, Independent, Guardian and Sunday Telegraph as well several national magazines. He wrote documentary series for BBC Radio Derby, and for the last 18 years has written a popular weekly column in the Derby Telegraph as well as writing regular features and interviews for the newspaper. In the 2017 Midlands Media Awards, he was voted Columnist of the Year.

Anton is an award-winning newspaper columnist, journalist and the author of more than 40 books on wartime and sporting history. He is a member of the Sports Journalists’ Association of Great Britain, the Football Writers’ Association, and the International Society of Olympic Historians. In 1993 the Derby County Former Players Association made him an Honorary member, and in 2015 gave him its annual merit award. He was awarded an Honorary Masters of the University in July 2016. [Updated 2021]

John's career was in general management in the engineering industry primarily as an HR professional. His last role was HR Director for Rolls-Royce plc. He was a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development and was a lay member of the Employment Appeals Tribunal from April 1996 to March 2016. He retired as Chair of the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust in July 2019 after more than 10 years of NHS service.

He has served as Chair of the Arkwright Society at Cromford Mills and ViVA Sinfonia, Derby. In November 2019 John received the Degree of Honorary Doctor of the University in recognition of his impact on the region through the development of the NHS Foundation Trust and his commitment to the Florence Nightingale legacy in Derbyshire. [Updated 2019]

Peter was appointed as an Independent Member of Governing Council in April 2021 and is the Church of England nominee. He is Dean of Derby and moved to the city in 2020. Based at Derby Cathedral which he leads, Peter is a member of the Bishop of Derby’s senior staff team. Previously Peter served in suburban North Tyneside, the inner city of Newcastle upon Tyne and in Northumberland where from 2008 he held the post of Archdeacon of Lindisfarne, leading the Newcastle Diocesan Strategy for the rural church.

Peter is leading Derby Cathedral to engage with the communities of both Derby City and the County of Derbyshire by developing the Cathedral’s arts, culture and heritage offer alongside its existing choral excellence. Peter is committed to partnership working, he is the independent chair of the Derby City Poverty Commission and a member of the City’s Stronger Communities Board.

He is developing strategic relationships with the faith sector across Derby and Derbyshire and working closely with the Multi-Faith Centre which is based in the University. His educational interests include overseeing the Cathedral’s relationship with Derby Cathedral School. Peter holds a doctorate in Divinity from Durham University and is an experienced contributor to theological education and training within the church, both as a theological educator and as a leader of governance.

CEO - Derbyshire LGBT+ [Updated 2021]

Martin is a chartered accountant and was most recently Local Senior Partner of Mazars LLP, the accounting and business advisory firm, from which he retired in 2017. He is also a non-executive director of several businesses. Prior to this, he was group finance director of Ascot plc, a £350m turnover chemicals and pharmaceutical group and the senior partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Derby.

Martin served on the University’s Governing Council for 11 years and was Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee from 2007 until July 2016. [Updated 2017]

Hugh is Emeritus Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Derby and Course Director at the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion in Cambridge. Previously he was Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Derby, and prior to that Professor at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman and at the University of Gloucestershire. His specialist interests are in Geochemistry in particular in its application to unravelling the history of the Earth in its infancy. He has studied some the Earth’s oldest rocks in West Africa, Southern Africa, Greenland, India, Russia, and Scotland. He is well known for his graduate texts Using Geochemical Data and Early Earth Systems. [Updated 2018]

Michael was born and educated in Penzance, Cornwall. He attended St Paul’s College, Cheltenham 1968-72. He started teaching in 1972 and completed a MEd degree at Birmingham University. He taught in Perryfields, Sandwell MBC; Sir Gilbert Claughton, Dudley MBC; Monks Dyke, Lincolnshire LA and he was Headteacher of Friesland School, Derbyshire LA from 1995 until 2009. His interests include history, all sports, current affairs, and his family. [Updated 2017]

Sushma graduated in 1978 and became a teacher, working in Coventry and Derby, where she became Head of one of the largest schools in the country.

Her professional career was spent entirely at the cutting edge of education. From the start she was deeply involved in community activities, serving on several national initiatives, notably the National Advisory Panel of The Basic Skills Agency. Locally she was a Board member of the Open Centre and a panel member of Padley Centre. She was an active member of the Rotary Club for many years and was an early graduate of Common Purpose. Throughout her life, Sushma has been an inveterate networker.

After retiring from education, she volunteered with several charities and worked on the Oxfam Fundraising Team for three years. For four years she was an active member of Patient Participation Group for her local Medical Centre. She found her métier while working for Creative Carers, where she facilitated, managed and led a team delivering services to carers. In 2017 Sushma created a carers group in Sinfin, assembling a team of volunteers and professionals who provide support services for carers and continues to lead this group.

Sushma is tri-lingual and bi-cultural and moves with ease between English and Indian contexts.

In terms of personal interests, she is an excellent photographer, a skilled and creative cook, and a keen gardener with a large and productive allotment. Sushma is married and has three adult children and one grandson. [Updated 2021]

Cathryn studied for her LLB Degree in Law at the University of Manchester between 1989 and 1992 and, in 1993 completed the Law Society Final Examinations at Chester College of Law. She trained with Halliwell Landau in Manchester, qualifying in 1995, and later went on to head Irwin Mitchell’s national professional negligence team and its commercial litigation team in Sheffield before joining Nelsons as a Partner in the dispute resolution team in 2012.

Cathryn advises on a wide range of high-value and complex commercial disputes and is a member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association. Outside of work, Cathryn enjoys travel, reading, and hill walking. [Updated 2016]

Mark joined Repton School in April 2019 as the School’s 36th Headmaster. Educated at Hurstpierpoint College before attending the Universities of Durham (BA and MBA), Warwick (MA) and London (PGCE), Mark went on to enjoy a successful decade in the international sports marketing sector in the Middle East, New York, and London before joining the teaching profession as a teacher of Economics. Previously Assistant Headmaster at Rugby School and Headmaster of Mount Kelly College, his professional background informs his strong global outlook and his bold aspirations for Repton as a truly world-class educational provider. [Updated 2020]

Sarah is Chief People Officer and joined the University in June 2019. Sarah previously held the role of Executive Director of People & Organisational Development at De Montfort University (DMU), where she worked since 2005 in the roles of HR Partner, Deputy Director and then Director. Prior to joining DMU, she worked at Gateshead Council as an Organisational Development Adviser.

Sarah originally studied at Durham University, later completing a PG DIP HRM at Northumbria, and a Masters in Employment Law at Leicester in 2014. She is a member of the CIPD, a practitioner in managing successful programmes, and is currently working towards accreditation to become an executive coach. [Updated 2022]

Nirmal is the former Resident Judge at Derby Crown Court where she conducted the most serious criminal cases in Derbyshire. In September 2022, she took up the role of Recorder of Nottingham, the highest appointed legal officer of the Crown within Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. She was called to the Bar in 1984 and in 2006 was appointed as a Queen’s Counsel, one of the first black and minority ethnic barristers in the East Midlands to hold such a rank. She is an advocate for diversity in the legal profession and a mentor for the University’s legal students. In July 2022, Nirmal received the degree of Honorary Doctor of the University in recognition of her outstanding contribution to promoting justice within Derby and Derbyshire, and her support for Derby Law School.

Liam Sharp is an award-winning British writer, artist and publisher living in California. He drew the best-selling WONDER WOMAN: REBIRTH series's, 'THE LIES' and 'THE TRUTH' written by Greg Rucka, an issue of THE JUSTICE LEAGUE - a DARK KNIGHTS METAL tie-in - written by Rob Venditti, and the acclaimed THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD: BATMAN AND WONDER WOMAN series, which he also wrote. He produced an epic 24-issue run drawing THE GREEN LANTERN, scripted by the legendary Grant Morrison, and painted BATMAN: REPTILIAN for DC's Black Label imprint, written by great Garth Ennis (THE BOYS). He recently completed his first major creator-owned series for Image Comics, STARHENGE: THE DRAGON AND THE BOAR. Liam has also written three novels, GOD KILLERS, PARADISE REX PRESS, INC, and the soon-to-be published CAGED AURORA. He sat on the advisory board for the Academy of Art, San Francisco.

Shirley is Chair of the Derbyshire Help the Aged Committee, the County President of the Derbyshire St John’s Ambulance and a Trustee of the Community Save a Life Scheme. She served for nine years on a community NHS Health Care Trust as a non-executive director and still does work in the mental health area. She was appointed MBE in 2000 for services to consumer affairs which included being a state-appointed member to the Gas Industry. She was also appointed to the NE Rail User’s Consultative Council and helped to save the Settle – Carlisle Railway Line from being axed. [Updated 2017]

David is Associate Head of the Centre for Psychological Research at the University of Derby and a Health Psychologist. He has a particular interest in training students at postgraduate level. His research is focused on three areas: psychosocial aspects of heart disease, pain, and psychophysiological responses to stress.

Judy is Chair of High Peak Theatre Trust, which runs Buxton Opera House, the iconic “theatre in the hills”. She is Emeritus Professor at De Montfort University, where she was Pro Vice Chancellor, and is a Research Fellow at London University. She has chaired several national Higher Education professional bodies plus cross-sector committees for HEFCE and the Arts & Humanities Research Council, where she was instrumental in key policy initiatives, including assessing research impact and building links between university arts research and local business.

Judy has sat on the Boards of Sheffield Hallam University, Standards for England, Leicester Arts, Leicester Children’s Hospital School, and Lady Manners School, Bakewell. She is a trustee of the Girls Day School Trust and Chair of City CV Ltd, a career development company. She is a Fellow of the English Association and of the Royal Society of Arts. [Updated 2019]

Kultaran is a local Chartered Accountant and is the Managing Partner in a public practice. He was previously on the Board of Derby Pride Ltd, the city challenge company set up from 1993-1998 to develop Pride Park. He has served on the Boards of Derbyshire Community Foundation and the Royal School for the Deaf.

Colin joined Rolls-Royce in 1974 as an undergraduate apprentice. He has held a variety of key positions within the Company, including Director – Research and Technology and Director of Engineering and Technology – Civil Aerospace before joining the board as Director of Engineering and Technology. In 2016 he became Group President. Colin is a Fellow of the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and a member of the USA National Academy of Engineering. He is a Member of the Prime Ministers Council for Science and Technology. In June 2012 he was awarded a CBE for services to UK engineering. [Updated 2017]

Peter was a founding partner of Smith Partnership solicitors and played a key role in in its development from a small high street practice to a major Legal 500 regional firm. He headed the firm's business law division for many years and helped build its portfolio of household name clients.

Since retiring from full-time legal practice Peter has held a number of governance and regulatory posts in the private and public sector.

He was appointed as founding Chair of Derby Museums Trust and led the organisation out of direct local authority control to become a flourishing independent trust which has transformed the city's museums and art gallery. The Trust attracted significant inward Investment to the city to create the ground-breaking Museum of Making, which opened in 2021 and has become a major visitor draw to Derby, winning awards and attracting attention nationally and internationally.

Peter acts as an adjudicator on conduct for a number of professional bodies and as a local authority Independent Person helping to monitor the conduct of elected councillors. He has also acted as an adjudicator in property related disputes and is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

In 2022 he was awarded the honorary degree of Master of the University of Derby and appointed a member of the University Court.

Stephen was Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the Governing Council at the University between August 2018 and July 2023. He became an Independent Member of Governing Council in 2014 and was a Chair of the Strategy, Finance, and Planning Committee. Stephen was the founder and Chief Executive of EMB Group, a leading business service, risk management, cybersecurity, and ISO certification company, leading the sale of its main subsidiaries to private equity and the subsequent remaining business to other corporate entities in 2021. He now acts as a strategic advisor and non-executive for leaders and organisations looking to shape their future thinking.

His earlier career was in brand marketing with multinational corporations followed by general management roles in the greeting cards and logistics sectors, the latter as Managing Director of a high growth £134m pharmaceutical distribution business.

Stephen also has significant experience as a non-executive director in both the public and private sectors. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors (IOD) and an IOD Director of the Year category winner on two occasions, whilst EMB Group were an Amazon Growing Business Awards finalist, a Business Desk Business Masters Winner and recognised by the London Stock Exchange as one of the 1000 Companies to Inspire. He was also a  recent member of the CBI Regional Council, advising government on business policy issues. [Updated 2023]

Chair - Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust [Updated 2021]

Hilary was appointed as an independent member of Governing Council in February 2020. She was co-opted to the Governing Council to join the University’s Strategy, Finance and Planning Committee in April 2019. She has held a number of senior leadership roles in a variety of industries including retail, communications, and healthcare services, and was most recently Chief People Officer for NHS Property Services Ltd.

Prior to joining NHS Property Services as HR Director, Hilary held the role of HR, Talent and Communications Director at McKesson UK, part of the McKesson Company which owns brands including Lloyds Pharmacy and AAH Pharmaceuticals. She joined McKesson in 2015 from BT Facilities Services, where she was HR Director. Earlier in her career, Hilary spent 15 years in a variety of increasingly senior HR positions at Asda Wal-Mart UK.

Paul was appointed Director, Research & Technology of Rolls-Royce in February 2016. In this role, Paul is accountable for the company’s global investment in research and technology, as well as promoting innovation and helping the group set its business direction in view of market and technology trends. Paul is also actively engaged in talent development for the company, ensuring that specialist engineering talent is promoted and sustained through the specialist pipeline and Fellowship scheme. Prior to this appointment, Paul was Chief Scientific Officer of Rolls-Royce, the role he assumed when he joined the company in 2010.

In his previous career, Paul was Director-General, Science and Technology at the Ministry of Defence in 2006, responsible for the technical direction, prioritisation, and out-sourcing of the UK's £500m annual investment in defence science and technology. In 1996 he was appointed Managing Director at Roke Manor Research. Its most famous commercially successful innovation is 'Hawk-Eye', the ball sports tracking system used for line call verification in tennis. In 2003 Paul was appointed to the Siemens UK Executive Management Board leading technology and contributing to business strategy.

Paul is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology. The University awarded Paul an Honorary Doctorate in July 2017 in recognition of his work at the very highest levels of engineering and technology and his contribution to the University, the City and the region. [Updated 2017]

Born in Derby and raised in Belper, Kathryn has enjoyed a 40-year career in public service. In January 2018 she became Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, an independent officer of the House of Commons overseeing the code of conduct and rules for MPs. During her career, she spent 11 years as Chief Executive of the charity Voice UK, representing the rights of people with learning disabilities who were victims of abuse and crime.

She was awarded an OBE in 2007 for her services to people with learning disabilities. She has also held the challenging role of Commissioner for the Victims and Survivors in Northern Ireland, was a Commissioner for the Independent Police Complaints Commission and has held the role of Chief Legal Ombudsman of England and Wales. In July 2018 Kathryn received the Degree of Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University in recognition of her outstanding contribution to public service. [Updated 2018]

Mandie is currently the Chief Executive of the Derby College Group. Mandie’s passion for education and a desire to enable others to achieve their aspirations brought her into education in 1995 as a lecturer in a large East Midlands college.

Since her appointment as Chief Executive in September 2012, Mandie has refocused the Derby College Group to enable it to effectively respond to the needs of the many different types of learners. In March 2016, a full further education and skills inspection was carried out by Ofsted, which found the College to be Good with Outstanding features. Key findings included the identification of strong leadership which had rapidly improved provision and outcomes, outstanding partnership work with employers, outstanding provision for learners with high needs, and Ofsted acknowledged the College was a valued resource for the City and County, which provides an inclusive and welcoming environment and high-quality facilities for teaching and learning.

QAA’s review of Derby College’s HE programmes (May 2015) commended the College for the quality and enhancement of student learning opportunities and confirmed the quality of information about learning opportunities met expectations, as did the maintenance of academic standards of awards.

Mandie has overseen the formation of the Derby College Education Trust, a multi‐academy trust, which currently sponsors an 11‐18 academy in Derby city. Mandie also represents the group as one of three partners sponsoring the Derby Manufacturing University Technical College. Mandie actively engages in and contributes to the region’s economic growth strategies. Mandie’s drive to respond to the skills needs of businesses now, and in the future, is at the forefront of the group’s outstanding employer engagement provision, which has been nationally recognised and accredited. Mandie is a member of the Derby Renaissance Board, Derbyshire Economic Partnership and CBI East Midlands Council. [Updated 2017]

Mo is a qualified chartered certified accountant and is currently the Finance Director at Bloc Digital Ltd, a strategic partner of the University of Derby. Previous to this, he was the Director of Resources at Derby Museums, a charitable trust that manages the three museums in Derby. He is also a non-executive director of Marketing Derby and is passionate about helping to make Derby a better place to work, live and play.

In 2017 he was the winner of the East Midlands (Derbyshire) Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year. Prior to joining Derby Museums in 2013, Mo held the position of Chief Financial Officer at First Inn Group, a franchised Holiday Inn Express hotel group.

Dan is the joint Chief Executive Officer of North East Derbyshire District Council and Bolsover District Council. He started work with the authorities in October 2015, but his local government experience spans over 25 years. Dan previously worked as Deputy Chief Executive at Rushcliffe Borough Council, where he was instrumental in levering significant funding to support economic development for the A46 corridor and the Cotgrave former colliery site changes. He also oversaw a council strategy that helped save over £4m and was part of the top team that won the 2015 MJ Senior Management Team of the Year award. [Updated 2016]

Peter has been Managing Director of Bolsterstone Plc since September 1987. For almost 30 years, Peter has been involved in the development of commercial property projects from inception to completion. This has involved working on a variety of projects including offices, nursing homes, industrial properties and retail premises with values ranging from £1M to £20M. More recently the Company has been leading major Public sector/Private sector partnership mixed-use regeneration schemes with Chesterfield, Bradford and Sheffield Councils. He is married with four children; Peter is Chair of the Destination Chesterfield Business Group and a private sector board member for the Derbyshire Economic Partnership. [Updated 2017]

Geoff is currently Director of the Multi Faith Centre. The Centre encourages and facilitates dialogue, co-operation, mutual respect and understanding between people of different faith communities and civil society, who by coming together aim to improve the wellbeing of people living in Derbyshire.

Prior to this role, Geoff enjoyed a career in arts fundraising including roles as Director of Development for Birmingham Royal Ballet and the National Holocaust Centre and Museum. He is currently a Board Member of Community Action Derby, a registered charity providing support and guidance for voluntary and community groups. He is formerly the Chair of Trustees of Deda Derby Dance and an Executive Committee member of the National Remember a Charity Campaign - a registered charity that encourages more people to leave a gift to a charity in their Will. Geoff is a Member of the Institute of Fundraising and a graduate of Derby Common Purpose. [Updated 2022]