Membership of University Court

Neil is a former Senior Research Fellow and Programme Leader of American Studies with special interests in the contemporary American West. He wrote a trilogy of books on the subject, The Cultures of the American New West (2000), The Rhizomatic West and more recently Post-Westerns. His other interests include the cinema, travel, gardening and painting. [Updated 2017]

Ann was appointed as an Independent member of the Governing Council in December 2023. Until her early retirement in October 2024, Ann had worked for The Cabinet Office for over 13 years, latterly as the Head of Places, encompassing: Head of Estates, leading the strategic management of the Estate to meet the accommodation needs of the department and the delivery of the Environmental Sustainability Strategy; and Programme Director, the Locations Programme, successfully moving significant numbers of Cabinet Office roles out of London and into the regions.

Ann previously worked in the Government Property Agency (GPA) where she worked as Programme Director, leading the Government Hubs and Whitehall Campus Programmes. Ann has also worked in the Government Property Unit of The Cabinet Office, playing a major role in the development of the early Government Estates Strategies, conceiving the idea of Hubs and the Whitehall Campus. Ann began her civil service career in 2000, with roles within the Department for Trade and Industry, working on business support, grants, strategies & campaigns to support small businesses and enterprise education.

Ann spent 17 years in the private sector, starting her career with Great Universal Stores Plc. Ann qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 1990 whilst working for the Boots Group Plc, working in a variety of property and strategic asset management roles. 

The Duke was educated at Eton and Exeter College Oxford, where he received an Honours degree in Modern History. After Oxford, he spent one-year studying agriculture and then went to work in the book publishing industry where he remained until his early thirties. Since then he has largely been assisting in the management of the family estates Chatsworth in Derbyshire, Eastbourne in Sussex, Lismore in Ireland, and Bolton Abbey in North Yorkshire. He is Deputy Chair of Sotheby’s, the Patron of the Derby Museums Trust and President of the Arkwright Society. In April 2016 the Duke was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy.

He was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for services to racing in 1997 and was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) for his services to the Crown in the New Year’s honours 2009.

The Duke served as the third Chancellor of the University of Derby from 2008 to 2018 and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of the University for his outstanding service to the institution in 2017. In recognition of his lifelong interest in the creative arts and his commitment to promoting new and established artists the Duke was made an Honorary Master of the Arts in March 2018. [Updated 2018]

William Burlington is Chairman of the Devonshire Group, which controls the family's business interests.  He also chairs the Council of Management of the Chatsworth House Trust, the charity responsible for the long-term preservation of the house, garden, woodlands and park.

He has been Chancellor of the University of Derby since 2018, and Chair of the Derby Business School Council with the University. He is President of Chesterfield Football Club and has served on the boards of various charities and trusts; recently including the World Monuments Fund Britain, the Derbyshire Economic Recovery Board, and the Towers and Tales children’s literary festival.  

He has been married to Laura for sixteen years; they have three children and live between London and Derbyshire.

Sarah was appointed as an academic board member representative on the Governing Council in September 2021. She is the Head of the Institute of Education (ITE) and leads a team of academic staff and managers in the field of education. The Institute offers a range of courses and has collaborative working arrangements with schools and colleges locally, nationally and internationally. 

Sarah teaches a range of modules, supervises doctoral students and is an active researcher. Her work focuses on motivating the next generation of educators to strive for excellence in their chosen profession. Her current research explores ITE student preparedness to address homophobic bullying in primary and secondary schools. She also has a keen interest in gender issues. 

Dr Charlton has dedicated over 40 years of his life to the conservation and restoration of the industrial heritage of the Derwent Valley in Derbyshire. In 1993 he become a full-time director of the Cromford Mills Project; a role he kept until he retired in 2008. In 1996, he became a member of the working party on Industrial Heritage established by the Prince of Wales. It was through the influence of this working party that the law on the disposal of government-owned Listed Buildings was changed. Hitherto, the Treasury rules required such buildings to be sold to the highest bidder. Subsequently, the decision regarding the buyer could take account of the proposed future use and the conservation of the architecture.

When Prince Charles established the Prince’s Regeneration Trust, Christopher was appointed a Trustee, a role he continued until December 2016. In 2001, following a very intensive campaign by the Arkwright Society and its Local Authority Partners for UK Government support led UNESCO to inscribe the Derwent Valley as a World Heritage Site. He was appointed Officer of the British Empire in 1997 for his services to the conservation of the built environment. In April 2009, Christopher was surprised and delighted to be listed in the Independent on Sunday’s list of 100 people who make Britain a better and happier place to live. [Updated 2017]

Andrew is Under Sheriff of Derbyshire. He was born in Chesterfield and lived in Matlock until 2007 when he moved to Derby. He graduated from the University of Aberdeen with an MA in Politics and International Relations in 1988. He went to Law College in Chester before joining Flint Bishop in 1990. He is a Senior Partner at Flint Bishop specialising in the licensing of pubs, clubs, restaurants and hotels. He serves as Local Authority Governor of Reigate Primary School at Mackworth, Derby. He was appointed Under Sheriff of Derbyshire in 2011. [Updated 2016]

Corina was appointed as an Independent Member of Governing Council in November 2025. She currently leads Onshore Commercial & Regulation at National Grid, delivering commercial strategy and regulatory compliance for major infrastructure programmes including the Great Grid Upgrade, working with leading construction and design partners across the UK.

With over 20 years’ experience in the energy, utilities and hospitality sectors, Corina brings expertise in strategic governance, commercial transformation and risk management. Alongside her executive career she has served in a number of voluntary governance roles, demonstrating her commitment to community engagement, inclusion and ethical leadership. A resident of Chesterfield, she is dedicated to supporting social mobility, regional growth and industry collaboration through her work on the University's Governing Council and the Enterprise, Skills and Industry Committee.

David served the Derbyshire and Leicestershire constabularies during his 32-year career and was Derbyshire’s Chief Constable for seven years before retiring in 2007. A former member of the Police Authority said of him that he was a very well thought of Chief Constable, who ‘dealt with matters with a no-nonsense approach and with broad shoulders. He is a man who is considered to be of the highest integrity. As Chief Constable, David served as a member of the Association of Chief Police Officers Terrorism and Allied Matters Committee and became the national lead spokesman on forensic sciences.

Following his retirement from the Derbyshire Constabulary, he became the Chairman of Derbyshire Association for the Blind, having been a member of their Board of Directors before that. In 2007 he raised money for five local and national charities that he was involved with via a 150-mile walk around Derbyshire. David is also a Trustee and the Chair of the Foundation Derbyshire Grants Committee and since his retirement from the police service he has also been President of the Peak District Mountain Rescue Organisation.

David received the Queen’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2004, was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Derbyshire in 2007 and was sworn in as Derbyshire’s High Sheriff for the year 2014-15.

The University awarded David an Honorary Doctorate of the University in 2016 in recognition of his considerable public service as Chief Constable of Derbyshire and latterly as High-Sheriff of the county. [Updated 2017]

Kenneth was the Headteacher of a large comprehensive school based in Sheffield for 21 years. The School (Meadowhead) was created after the amalgamation of two schools (Jordanthorpe and Rowlinson). He was the Headteacher of Jordanthorpeprior to this and he continued as the Headteacher of  Meadowhead, which was subsequently judged as 'outstanding' by Ofsted. After this success, Kenneth was asked to become the Headteacher of one of the 'named and shamed' failing schools based in Sheffield. He took the school through the Fresh Start process.

As a result of the success of the school, he was appointed as the Director of the Leadership Centre based at Sheffield Hallam University. The Leadership Centre provided support and training to school and college leaders in South Yorkshire. On retirement, he became the Commander and later the Chair of the Council of St. John, Derbyshire. During this time St. John developed a foundation degree in Leadership and Management in the voluntary sector with the University of Derby. More recently Kenneth was the Chair of the board of Ripplez, a social enterprise working with teenage parents in Derby and Derbyshire.

Other activities include Chair of the Sheffield Education and Business Partnership for nine years, member of the Strategic Education Forum working with the Cutlers Company, serving on the South Yorkshire Learning and Skills Council, Chair of Governors of a school in Sheffield. [Updated 2021]

Ken is Managing Director of Venture Solutions at the British Business Bank. He is responsible for the design and delivery of a range of programmes that support the flow of venture investment into smaller UK businesses. Ken has led the Enterprise Capital Fund programme (around £1.5 billion of investment), developed the VC Catalyst Fund (now British Patient Capital) and led the creation of the Midlands Engine Investment Fund and Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund. He also led the delivery of the Future Fund, a Covid-19 response programme investing around £1.1 billion into 1,100 small businesses.

In November 2021, Ken received the degree of Honorary Doctor of the University in recognition of his extensive work, regionally and nationally, to support the growth of small to medium-sized enterprises. [Updated 2022]

Having always had an interest in old buildings, along with fellow Court member Derek Latham, Michael has developed and regenerated a number of old dilapidated churches into student apartments, a restaurant, and an antiques market, amongst others. Their most recent project is to establish a classic car centre in Derby within regenerated buildings. In 2018, Michael joined forces with Turning Point, an East Midlands business angels group to form their third fund consisting of a significant number of Derbyshire business people.

To date, they have invested in four companies in the East Midlands and backed a number of small residential developers. Two of the investments are University of Nottingham spinouts and they look forward to doing more with the University of Derby. [Updated 2021]

Katharine was appointed as an Academic Board member representative to Governing Council in 2025. She is Head of the School of Humanities, Law and Creative Arts, where she leads a dynamic and interdisciplinary community spanning the disciplines of Humanities, Journalism and Media, Law, Criminology, Policing, Social Sciences, and the Creative Arts. The work of the School demonstrates a shared commitment to critical inquiry, innovation, and social impact; through a distinctive academic environment,  industry and disciplinary expertise intersect with creative and cultural practice.

Katharine is a Professor of English and Contemporary Culture. Her research includes co-creation with cultural organisations, both locally and globally, that focusses on voice, representation, and power. Katharine is committed to strengthening collegial governance and ensuring that staff perspectives and lived experiences are meaningfully represented in institutional decision-making. She brings to Governing Council a strong commitment to academic integrity and institutional resilience, working to create a supportive and inclusive environment where students, staff, and communities can thrive.

Professor Coyne was Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Derby from 2004 to 2015. Professor Coyne is an economist by original discipline with over 40 years of experience in higher education. His research, publications and external engagement have been principally in the fields of small business, business policy and human resource management. He led the University of Derby from August 2004 and was actively engaged in the city and county throughout that time, including as a founding Director of the new Local Enterprise Partnership.

His early career was at the University of Nottingham, where he was variously a member of the School of Management and Finance and the Department of Industrial Economics and Warden of Cripps Hall. He was a founder and Co-Director of the Centre for Management Buy-out Research and has consulted for a diverse range of companies, banks, venture capitalists and institutions. Prior to joining the University of Derby, John was Pro-Vice-Chancellor of De Montfort University.

For the past 20 years he has also been a non-executive director of a small business that he co-founded as a Social Enterprise, Cfe Research and Consultancy Ltd. In 2011 he was appointed as Commissioner of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills and also chaired the Investment Subcommittee of the Commission. He has an active interest in sport, theatre and the arts more generally.

He was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours in 2016. [Updated 2016]

Maxwell is an author, historian, conservation lobbyist and graduate of the University’s predecessor, Bishop Lonsdale College. He was with Derby Museum 1974‐1998 as Education Officer, Assistant Keeper of Archaeology and for eighteen years, Keeper of Antiquities. He is in his second term as Chair of Derby Conservation Area Advisory Committee, and former Chair of the Civic Society and the Friends of Derby Museum, a member of the Cathedral Fabric Committee, the Council of Management of the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust, the Board of Derby Cityscape, the Georgian Group, the Ancient Monuments Society and a Trustee of the Derby Bridge Chapel.

He is the author of numerous books mainly on architecture, biography and local history, including a monograph on John Whitehurst FRS. He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and appointed MBE in 1999, three years after having been awarded an Honorary Master's degree by the University (HonMUniv). He received a second Honorary degree from the University in 2013 (HonDLitt). He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) in December 2016. He was a member of the University Court Advisory Group until 2019. [Updated 2020]

Paul is a ceramic artist who graduated from the University of Derby in 2009 from the BA (Hons) Craft degree and went on to set up his own business in Derby. Since graduating his work has been commissioned by Chatsworth, Blenheim Palace and the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. His Blood Swept Lands And Seas Of Red installation was the country’s leading project to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War and saw the 'installation' of 888,246 ceramic poppies at the Tower of London. [Updated 2015]

Professor Davies was former Dean of the College of Arts and the Faculty of Arts, Design and Technology at the University of Derby, posts he held from 2007 to 2016. Prior to that, he held senior academic positions at several universities in the UK and USA, including 13 years at Edinburgh Napier University, where he was Professor of Lens Media and Head of the School of Arts and Creative Industries.

As a filmmaker and photographer, his work has been extensively exhibited, published and broadcasted over the last 30 years and has included commissions for the Arts Council of England, BBC, Creative Scotland, The Discovery Channel (USA), Canal+ (Poland), TF1 (France) and RTE (Ireland). His work has been screened in competition at over 100 international film festivals, including winning awards at Bilbao, Houston and Calcutta. In 2004 he founded the Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival in England’s most northerly town. He was its Creative Director for the first five years and subsequently Chair of its Board until 2021. He is a former trustee of several arts and cultural organisations including QUAD, UK New Artists, and Derby Theatre. Currently, he is a steering group and jury member for the Format International Photography Festival and a board member of Artcore UK. [Updated 2024]

Olivia was an Independent Member of Governing Council and Chair of the Further Education Governance Committee. She was Strategic Director at the Joseph Wright Centre and Clerk to the Corporation at Derby College from 2004 until her retirement in 2006. During 2006-7 she served as Acting Assistant Dean and Head of Further Education at the University of Derby Buxton campus.

Olivia gained a Teacher's Certificate at Homerton College of Education, Cambridge before taking a BA degree with the Open University and a Diploma in Education Management at Derbyshire College of Higher Education. She taught at local schools and held senior management positions in two secondary comprehensives between 1968 and 1989 before taking a series of Assistant Principal posts at Derby Tertiary College, Wilmorton.

In 1997 she became Clerk to the Corporation of Derby College and was also employed by Derby PRIDE Limited and Derby City Council. Olivia was a member of the Derbyshire Learning and Skills Council from 2001 to 2005 and has served as a representative on two national examination boards. She is currently a Governor of an inner-city primary school in Derby. Olivia has also worked for the voluntary sector as a Board member, previously for Community Education and Training Association and the Padley Group, and currently for the Royal Crown Derby Museum Trust. [Updated 2021]

Gurpreet joined the Governing Council in July 2021 as Vice-Chair, taking on the Chair role in August 2023.

He has been involved in Higher Education since 2010, including a term as a Board Member with the Office for Students, and over 8 years as a Council Member with Royal Holloway. His other non-executive experience includes multi-academy trusts, Infrastructure, Financial Services and Health.

His executive experience was in the Financial Services sector, with senior leadership roles at Credit Suisse and Merrill Lynch covering global operations and risk management for trading and lending businesses.

Peter has worked in higher education since 1987 taking on senior management roles first at the University of Wolverhampton and then in 2007 at the University of Derby’s Buxton campus, first as Assistant Dean, then in 2008 as Dean and in 2012 as Strategic Director with responsibility for both the HE curriculum and commercial offer at the University’s Buxton campus. During this period Peter’s “Real World Learning” vision for applied vocational learning contributed to the Buxton-based Tourism and Hospitality degree programmes being ranked first in the UK in the Guardian Subject League table of May 2014.

In August 2014 Peter took on the role of founding Director of the University Strategic Partnerships Unit. The Unit’s vision was “to enhance the University’s reputation and build its income streams through delivering inspirational and innovative partnerships that positively impact on the communities and other stakeholders with which the partners engage”. The Unit’s remit included overseas partnerships, UK academic partnerships and corporate partnerships that relate to the University’s core teaching and learning proposition.

In addition, the Unit was tasked with driving the University’s Higher and Degree Apprenticeship strategy, managing the commercial “Real World Learning” operation at the University’s Buxton campus, and ensuring the successful launch, in autumn 2016, of the University’s newest campus in Chesterfield. The Unit was successful in establishing enhanced partnership-related operating systems that helped deliver an extremely positive outcome in the University’s most recent institutional audit, whilst also delivering growth in the volume of partnership business. Other successes included a marked growth in commercial income from the Buxton campus and the opening of the Chesterfield campus on time and within budget.

In October 2016, Peter was given the role of Director of Strategic Projects, with responsibility for driving key institution-wide initiatives including the re-visioning of the University’s Buxton campus. [Updated 2017]

Robyn is the Director of Public Health for Derby City Council. She has worked as part of the Public Health team for the past 14 years. Before that she worked as a GP in North Yorkshire. Robyn is responsible for determining the overall visions and objectives for public health within Derby. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic Robyn’s support enabled the University to continue to deliver a positive student experience through blended delivery and to establish its own Asymptomatic Testing Centre. She also provided the University with the opportunity to support the region’s recovery. In November 2021, Robyn received the degree of Honorary Doctor of the University in recognition of her achievements and significant support during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sarah Dines has been the Conservative Member of Parliament for Derbyshire Dales since the 2019 general election. She was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Home Office in October 2022. She was briefly Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice and Home Office between July and September 2022. Between September 2021 and July 2022, she served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Boris Johnson. She was a junior government whip briefly under Liz Truss. She has over 25 years of experience at the Bar.

Bolsover South - Leader, Labour Group [Updated 2021]

Nigel is Managing Director of Choices Housing Association one of the leading specialist housing, care and support organisations in the country and part of the Wrekin Housing Group. He has extensive experience of the statutory and voluntary sectors having held a number of senior management positions and board appointments. His voluntary sector experience spans over 20-years and includes 10-years as Chair of AgeUK (North Staffordshire) where he remains as a non-executive Director and Trustee. Previously he was a Trustee of Age Concern Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and Vice-Chair of Newark and Sherwood Council for Voluntary Services. For a number of years, he served as Landlord representative with the Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) and was a member of the National Consultative Forum.

He is an Independent co-opted Member of the Further Education Governance Committee of Buxton and Leek College and was previously a governor at Leek College. He is married with two children and lives in Sandbach, Cheshire. [Updated 2017]

George is the Managing Director of George Dutton Ltd. He started his business life in civil engineering works through the 1970s which ultimately led into building industrial premises for the company’s main depot. He then expanded the business property venture and developed a business park on the airfield at Ashbourne which has some very technical and innovative companies trading throughout every continent of the world.

His first involvement with the University was in 2001, providing and helping to set up an information Learning Centre on the Airfield Industrial Estate at Ashbourne, liaising with both the University and local companies to highlight the opportunities available through the learning centre for employees to attain the European Driving Licence qualification in IT. Seeing the information technology involved in every aspect of business life today highlights the crucial importance of having an approachable local university, interfaced in the development of systems and products with as many as possible local companies, for the development of students and future employees.

George has previously been involved in an environmental and engineering studies project at the University. [Updated 2017]

Tony was appointed as an Independent Member of Governing Council in April 2019. Until April 2022 he was Vice President & General Manager of the European gas cylinder business unit of Luxfer Holdings plc, headquartered in the East Midlands. Before joining Luxfer, Tony spent two years as Corporate Development Director for Renold plc and 11 years as a Managing Director in international B2B manufacturing groups headquartered in the East Midlands.

Tony is a chartered accountant, having qualified whilst at Price Waterhouse, then spending 14 years in a variety of increasingly senior group, divisional and operational financial roles with Rio Tinto plc, Norcros plc and the Filtrona division of Bunzl plc. Tony has a degree in Accounting & Finance from Nottingham Trent University and served as a Governor there for 11 years up to July 2016. [Updated 2022]

James is Professor of Health Psychology and Head of the University’s Centre for Psychological Research. He is a National Teaching Fellow and an HCPC-registered health psychologist, with special interests in pain coping and pain management in chronic illnesses including haemophilia and sickle cell disease. This includes the development and evaluation of interventions to improve people’s readiness to self-manage chronic pain and research on hospital pain management and on ways that people use pain medication. He also has a strong interest in student writing and developing ways to help students improve their writing and avoid plagiarism. [Updated 2017]