Membership of University Court

Bob joined the University in 1990 as Head of the School of Humanities and helped to implement the new undergraduate Credit Accumulation Modular Scheme. He became Assistant Vice-Chancellor and then Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic) with wide-ranging responsibilities including research. As a historian who maintained a commitment to personal engagement with teaching, he has sustained a strong interest in the Arkwright Society over many years.

Since 2004, Adrian has worked to protect and promote the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site and educate people about its outstanding universal value. The site is the birthplace of the factory system and home to historic gems such as Sir Richard Arkwright’s Masson Mill, Cromford Mill and Strutt’s North Mill, Belper.

Adrian began his working life as a journalist and at the age of 23 became editor of the Belper News. For a centenary edition of the paper in 1996, he read the 100-year run of back issues and appreciated, for the first time, the historic significance of Belper and the Derwent Valley. Adrian has since devoted hundreds of hours of his own time to teaching, writing, leading tours, managing events and campaigns, and engaging with authorities at a senior level to make change happen. In 2012, he was Highly Commended by Visit Britain in their first Tourism Superstar Awards for services to Belper (specifically promotional work in the tourism sector). In 2018, he was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to Belper and volunteering.

In November 2019, Adrian received the Degree of Honorary Master of the University in recognition of his contribution to significantly raising the profile of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site and bringing communities together in the region. [Updated 2020]

Kay has had a long and distinguished career in nursing in the Midlands. Qualifying through the Warwickshire School of Nursing in 1980, she rose from front-line nursing into education and management during her 37-year career, latterly as Chief Nurse in Derby and Birmingham. On retirement from the NHS, Kay took up a portfolio career and has contributed to significant transformation of the support worker workforce.

She led the development of the national Care Certificate in 2014 for Health Education England, an agreed set of standards for specific roles in the health and social care sectors. She has also made a significant contribution to the development of apprenticeship standards for healthcare support workers and the development of the nursing degree apprenticeship, working closely with the University in this area. In 2014 Kay was awarded an OBE for services to nursing. In November 2018 Kay received the Degree of Honorary Doctor of the University in recognition of her achievements in the provision of health and social care education and her impact on the healthcare workforce. [Updated 2019]

Member of Parliament for Bolsover. [Updated 2020]

Dawn is Co-Founder and Managing Director of Katapult. Having come to the city to study Photography at the University of Derby, upon graduating in 2001 she established Katapult, a marketing agency in the City which last year was recognised as a Top 50 creative business by The Telegraph and Creative England.

Dawn is committed to the growth of the digital sector in the region and sits on the advisory panel to Mainframe which has a remit to develop Derby’s digital and creative community. In addition, Dawn is committed to the cultural offering of the city and is a Board member of Derby Theatre, and advises on QUAD’s Commercial Board to help identify and drive new commercial opportunities/product development for the venue.

With 15 years of experience, Dawn works closely with SMEs and global businesses to deliver results-driven creativity. Her role at Katapult involves identifying new opportunities, building long-term strategic partnerships, R&D and developing the ‘big ideas’ within the business. In addition, Dawn works directly with clients on driving innovation through new product development and identifying new market opportunities.

Dawn is married to Simon and they are parents to daughter Libby. They have a large chocolate Labrador called Yogi and Dawn enjoys exploring the great outdoors, travelling, film, photography and would like one day to do more scuba diving in tropical waters. [Updated 2017]

John is Managing Director of Marketing Derby which attracts inward investment into the city. In 2018 the company created 1,160 new jobs and was awarded International Trade ‘Team of the Year’. In 2012, Business Insider magazine identified John as being in the top 25 most influential people in the midlands. Previously, John was managing director of a regeneration company that worked across the UK, executive director of a Chamber of Commerce and non-executive director of City Challenge.

John served as Chair of the United Nations Association Youth Council for the UK and was an executive member of the International Student movement for the UN, based in Geneva. John has a BA (Hons) in Politics and Government from the City of London Polytechnic (1981) and is a graduate of the UK Leadership Forum at Oxford University (1995) and the Columbia University Business School Executive FMDA programme in New York City (2001/2).

John's passion is the development of cities and he has led Urban City Tours of Baltimore, USA; been Project Leader on a World Bank entrepreneur initiative in Bosnia and has given keynote presentations on city development across Europe. John enjoys city travel and holds a season ticket for Derby County, which he has done since the age of nine.

In July 2019 John received the Degree of Honorary Doctor of the University in recognition of his tireless work as an ambassador of the city of Derby and strong support for the University. [Updated 2019]

Dawn Forman is a Professor at the University of Derby (UK), Adjunct Professor at Auckland University of Technology (New Zealand) and Curtin University, Perth Australia.

For the last 13 years, Dawn has been a co-owner and Director of Interactive Leadership and Management Development, a consultancy specialising in executive coaching, leadership and team development and academic writing. In this role, Dawn has been privileged to work with universities and health services internationally.

Dawn was employed at the time the then Derby College of Higher Education became a University and has seen the University grow from strength to strength. Dawn worked at the University of Derby for 13 years, becoming Dean of the then largest Faculty of Education, Health and Sciences, Director of the Global University Alliance and a member of the governing council. In the latter role, she was involved in the selection of a Vice Chancellor for the University.

Dawn has strong working links with Australia where she worked full time for 15 months and it is through these links that she has encouraged colleagues at the University to become involved in research projects which have an international reach. Dawn is an active researcher and enjoys supervising doctoral students for Derby and three Universities in Australia.

Dawn is widely published, her work includes eight books and over 120 peer-reviewed articles. She has been a keynote speaker at numerous international conferences. She is very pleased to be an active ambassador via her role as a member of Court. [Updated 2021]

Liz was born and educated in Derby and after attending Loughborough University worked as a children’s librarian before joining the family business in 1977 then evolving from motor engineering into the manufacture of hospital products. She later gained an MBA from Leicester Polytechnic.

Liz is currently Chair of Pennine Healthcare based in Derby. From 1999 to 2013 she was a governor of the University of Derby, latterly as Vice-Chair. The University awarded her an Honorary Doctorate in 2014.

In 2008 Liz became Chair of Derwent Stepping Stones, a neighbourhood nursery. In 2011 she joined the board of YMCA Derbyshire supporting their work with homeless young people. In June 2012 Liz was appointed as HRH The Prince of Wales Ambassador for the East Midlands through his patronage of Business in the Community. She was President of the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce in 2015 and a business representative on the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership until 2016. Liz is a governor at Landau Forte Academy Moorhead and was on the Board of Derby Manufacturing UTC. She sat on the Department of Justice Derbyshire Advisory Board from 2006 to 2015 and was the Chair of Derbyshire Dales Careline from 2011 to 2013.

Liz is currently Chair of Derby Book Festival and a Board member of Derby Museums and QUAD Derby. She was High Sheriff of Derbyshire in 2016/17. Liz was awarded a CBE for Services to the Healthcare Products Industry in 2014 and was made a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Derbyshire. In July 2020, Liz was appointed Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire. [Updated 2020]

Janet is a specialist in child protection and therapeutic work and was instrumental in setting up Derby City Council’s Child Sexual Abuse Unit, which she managed for many years. She has devoted almost 50 years to the practice of social work in the region. She is a former UK chair of the British Association of Social Workers and has presented expert evidence to national reviews, select committees and many high profile court cases. She is a Visiting Professional Fellow at the University. In November 2023, Janet received the degree of Honorary Master of the University in recognition of her significant career in social work and her support for the University.

Miltos, born in Athens, is a British-educated art historian. He is currently Deputy Director of Studies at the Athens-based Vakalo Art & Design College and Visiting Research Fellow in Art History at the University. He has been a key figure in one of the longest-running international collaborations of the University. Author of the first book ever published on Graphic Design history in Greek, Miltos is also a highly acclaimed translator of literature and humanities.

In July 2023, Miltos received the degree of Honorary Doctor of Education from the University in recognition of his contribution to education and his leadership at an internationally recognised art school and valued partner.

Jennifer was a member of the Executive of the University of Derby from 1993 to 2007 becoming Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Services). In her early career, after graduating as a Geographer from the University of Birmingham in 1969, she worked for BP and then as a member of the administration of the University of Nottingham. She joined the Derbyshire College of Higher Education in September 1984 and moved quickly from a faculty role to become Academic Registrar in 1987.

She was instrumental in setting up the administrative structures of the University and became Clerk to the Governors from 1992 to 1995. During her membership of the Executive, she had responsibility for a wide range of departments including HR, Marketing, Computing Services, Estates, Quality Assurance, Student Services as well as Academic Administration. She led many major projects at the University including Estates projects such as the Learning Centre, T-Block and the Clinical Skills Suite, Britannia Mill and the latter stages of the Devonshire Royal Hospital conversion.

She also led IT, timetabling, and space norms projects, set up the One Stop Shop, the Research Office and the International Office, and created the University Planning Model. She played key roles in the development of E-Learning, the Awards Ceremonies, and the establishment of and liaison with the Students’ Union. [Updated 2017]

Between 1975 and 2001 Nigel worked as a Chartered town planner, mainly working in macro, analytical and economic aspects, in Newcastle and Lancaster, in private consultancy, and with Berkshire County Council and Hammersmith & Fulham Borough Council. He also worked for a South East and London regional planning agency on economic/employment-related issues. 

From 2001 to 2010 he worked as a Senior Research Officer, and later Policy Officer in the Department of Children, Schools & Families in London working on child protection and children with disabilities & SEN. He was a member of an OECD working party on children with disabilities and worked with the Department of Health on aspects of patient pathway models. Nigel was also a Justice of the Peace for 18 years, sitting at Chesterfield and was a sometime Deputy of the Family Panel and Chair of the Bench Training and Development Committee in Thames Valley. In his spare time Nigel enjoys travelling, hiking and family history. [Updated 2018]

Richard, author of the best-selling and critically acclaimed books Simple Thinking and Change: Learn to Love It, Learn to Lead It, offers a ground-breaking look into how the world is dealing with the challenge of unleashing human potential and embracing and leading change. Richard has taken innovation by storm. He has transitioned his global reputation for leadership in education and is now regarded as one of the most original and authentic thinkers around human leadership and organisational transformation. He has been named UK Business Speaker of the Year twice, most recently in 2015. A former TED speaker, he has shared a stage with some of the world’s most influential people, including the Dalai Lama.

He now works with organisations at the forefront of global innovation and excellence, including Microsoft, Deloitte, Google, TUI, Morgan Stanley, Visa, Puig, Telefonica and Technicolor. He has also worked with some of the world's most iconic retail organisations, including Harrods in London. His unique experience and insight into realising human potential also sees him working in elite sport, with Olympic and Paralympic coaches, EPL Soccer coaches, England Golf and professional cricket teams. He is currently working in the music industry helping them build capacity for dramatic yet sustainable change in a fast-moving market.

He still works in education globally and is recognised as one of the most significant voices in the field. His first book, Creating Tomorrow’s Schools Today (now in its second edition), has become a seminal text around the world for those engaged in the transformation of education. His reach goes from universities through to policy makers and school leadership. He recently provided consultation to the Hilary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign team. He is the proud recipient of an Honorary Doctorate in Education from the University of Derby.

With his trademark humour and insight, Gerver shares his experience of cultural and organisational transformation, human development, and management with groups around the world. Thanks to his story and his authentic first-hand experiences, Gerver has been described as one of the most inspirational leaders of his generation. He, however, argues that his work is focused on three words: communication, empowerment and impact.

In 2019, Richard became Founding Chair of the University’s Alumni and Members Advisory Board. [Updated 2019]

Tricia became the first female leader of Chesterfield Borough Council in April 2017. A graduate and former associate lecturer of the Open University, she is a strong advocate for post-16 education empowering people to maximise their own potential and develop their community. She has held senior leadership positions not only in local government in the NHS serving as the Chair of Chesterfield Primary Care Trust 2001-6. She has also worked as a Chief Executive in the voluntary sector. Keen hikers, she and her husband, Terry, have climbed the highest points in every English county. [Updated 2018]

Mark is a twice graduate of the University of Derby, having completed a BA Business Studies in 2009, and his MBA in 2011. He completed his studies whilst building his career for the past twenty years within the Wellglade Group where he holds the position of Group Projects Director. Wellglade is the parent company of local bus operator trent barton and other subsidiaries within the East Midlands.

Mark has been responsible for many technological innovations introduced to trent barton for the benefit of its customers. He has also led the groups’ involvement in the bid to construct and operate the extended NET Tram network in Nottingham in recent years, where he continues to sit on the Board of the operating company, Nottingham Trams. His varied interests outside of work include travelling, walking and voluntary work for charity. [Updated 2017]

Craig has been Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire since February 2017. His policing career began when he joined Cheshire Constabulary as a Police Constable in 1994 after completing a Geography degree at the University of Derby. Craig is passionate about the development of policing education and worked in partnership with the University to deliver the first policing apprenticeship in the UK. In June 2021 Craig was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

In November 2021, Craig received the degree of Honorary Doctor of the University in recognition of his exceptional policing career, and his commitment to education and the University of Derby. [Updated 2022]

Michael is former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of University of Derby with responsibility for provision of support services. He is currently Deputy Chair and Senior Independent Director of Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chair of Derbyshire Community Foundation, Director and Chair of Regional Audit Committee of the Learning and Skills Council, Director of both the British Chamber of Commerce Limited and the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce Limited.

Tony has an honours degree in Geography (London) and a master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning (Nottingham). He practised as a town planner for several local authorities before working for 20 years, nationally and internationally, on sustainable development policy and advocacy for UK government and local government. He was Chair of the Green Alliance from 1985 to 2006. He ‘came home’ to Derbyshire in 1998 and was appointed by government to the Peak District National Park Authority and was Chair of the Authority for 10 years until 2008.

He was Chair of the Association of National Park Authorities from 2005 until 2008, a Countryside Agency board member from 2000 to 2006 and Chair of the East Midlands Committee for the Heritage Lottery Fund from 2005 until 2008. Tony was a board member of Natural England from 2005‐2011. He was also a member of East Midland’s regional sports board. He was Chair of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust for 6 years until 2016 and remains a Trustee. He was a Director of the National Forest Company for 10 years until 2014.

He is currently a member of the National Joint Committee on Conservation, JNCC and a member of national regional committees of the National Trust. He received an OBE for services to sustainable development in 1999, and an Honorary Doctorate from the University in 2009. He is passionate about his family, the landscapes of the Peak District, most things Italian and Liverpool FC. [Updated 2017]

Tracy has devoted her working and personal life to the safety and wellbeing of others. She is CEO of Derbyshire charity Safe and Sound Group, supporting children, young people and families affected by child exploitation. Following a prestigious 32-year career in the police force, Tracy retired in 2019 with a desire to impact the lives of vulnerable young people in a different way. She has since transformed the charity, ensuring its long-term future.

In June 2023, Tracy received the degree of Honorary Master of the University in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the safety and wellbeing of the local community, particularly of children and young people.

Dennis is an Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Derby and the Director of the influential campaign group Academics For Academic Freedom (AFAF). AFAF is the leading body in the UK defending academic freedom. He is also on the Advisory Board of the Free Speech Union, launched on 26 February 2020. 

In 2009 he edited and contributed to a special edition of the British Journal of Educational Studies on Academic Freedom, and he writes regularly in the national and international press on free speech and academic freedom. His latest book ‘The Death of Academic Freedom? Free speech and censorship on campus’ will be published by Routledge in 2022. 

In the educational world he is well-known for his controversial, co-authored book, 'The Dangerous Rise of Therapeutic Education (2009) which has been described as ‘one of the most important books to have been written in at least the last twenty years in that crucial area where philosophy, policy and practice coincide’. Routledge re-issued the book with a new introduction ‘The Continuing Dangerous Rise of Therapeutic Education’ in their Education Classic Series in February 2019. 

Dennis is the co-convenor of the Buxton Battle of Ideas festival in partnership with the University.

Tina served on the University’s Governing Council for three years until 2015 and held the position of Chair of the Further Education Governance Committee. Formerly a business development consultant specialising in management development and in stimulating business growth both in the UK and overseas. A career starting in the Civil Service led to the appointment as Chief Executive of the agri-tourism marketing organisation, Farm Stay UK, and on to a range of innovative and interesting projects and appointments.

Projects included ‘Developing Entrepreneurial Skills in Masurian Women’, defining a marketing strategy for Stanstead airport, developing farm diversification workshops for Defra and project delivery for the national tourist boards including tourism business improvement, ensuring quality through developing bespoke training programmes.

Appointments currently include Director of Buxton Town Team and formerly a Secretary of State Appointee to Peak District National Park Authority, Director of Heart of England Tourist Board, Trustee of the Plunkett Foundation, membership of the Government Task Force to Examine the Impact of Tourism on the Environment (Countryside Committee), Chair ‘People in Tourism’ Project for East Midlands Development Agency, an initiator of Euro Gite, the European Federation of Farm & Village Tourism and UK Representative of Rural Tourism International. Tina served as a Governor of the Leek College consortium, for twenty-five years, latterly taking the position of Chair. [Updated 2015]

Wendy is a number one bestselling writer and the author of ten consecutive Sunday Times top ten bestselling novels. She was born in Yorkshire and went to Cambridge, graduating with a BA (Hons) in English Literature. She worked as a journalist on the Sunday Times, The Mail on Sunday, Tatler, Harper’s Bazaar and the Sunday Telegraph before becoming a full-time writer. She is a literary critic, reviewing books for the Daily Mail and has been a Costa Novel prize judge. She also has a regular Country Life column and writes features, travel pieces and short stories for many other national publications, regularly promoting her adopted county of Derbyshire in her work. [Updated 2015]

Roger retired in 1999 after 30 years with Derbyshire Building Society; 22 years as Chief Executive. He has held non-executive roles in several national bodies dealing with trade, policy, housing, training and regulatory affairs. He joined the Governing Council of Derbyshire College of Higher Education in 1988 and when the College became a University, he continued to serve as a University Governor until 2001. He was a Trustee Director of Derbyshire Student Residences Ltd, a non-executive director of Derby Hospitals from 1999 to 2007 and he is a former Deputy Chair of Derbyshire Community Foundation. [Updated 2017]

After a career in journalism and then communications with the CBI, Richard founded Derby‐based QED Public Relations Limited in 1991. Richard is a Past President of East Midlands (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Leicestershire) Chamber of Commerce and stood down as a main board Director in 2016. He is Chairman of Derbyshire Economic Partnership and was an inaugural Board member of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (retiring by rotation in 2015). Whilst on the LEP Board, he chaired the D2N2 Skills Commission. [Updated 2017]

Robert is a University Professor in European History and Cultural Politics at the University of Derby, and Director of the Identity, Conflict and Representation Research Centre. A graduate of the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University of London, he held a Yugoslav government scholarship as a Post-Graduate Fellow at the University of Sarajevo. In the 1980s he lectured at Exeter College of Art and Design and the University of Rennes (France). Robert is a faculty member of the EU-funded European Doctoral Enhancement Network (EDEN) in Peace and Conflict Research.

He has re-visited Yugoslavia and its successor states frequently since 1995, and during the 1990s participated on six missions with the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) as an election supervisor. He co-edited Politics of Identity: Migrants and Minorities in Multicultural States (Palgrave/Macmillan, 2000), Different Approaches to Peace and Conflict Research (University of Deusto, 2008) and Peace, Conflict and Identity: Multidisciplinary Approaches to Research (University of Deusto, 2009).

Chris has been associated with the University since 2001, initially as a Trustee and then Chair of Finance Committee, before becoming Vice-Chair and eventually taking the Chair’s role in 2011. He stepped down as Chair in 2018.

After graduating in Chemistry from Sheffield University in 1971 he went to the BBC as a studio manager in the overseas service. From there he worked in local and network radio as a presenter and producer with a particular interest in politics, finance, and agriculture. Chris moved to Nottingham in 1980 as Programme Controller at Radio Trent and subsequently became Managing Director. He oversaw the growth of the company into Leicester and Derby and as the industry consolidated moved into National Operations specialising in mergers and acquisitions and business analysis.

He retired in 2008 as a Business Development Director with GCap Media, at the time the country’s largest commercial radio company owners of Classic FM and over 50 local radio companies nationwide. He was a founding Trustee of Age UK, the charity formed by combining the strengths of Age Concern and Help the Aged and is Chair of their Nominations and Remuneration Committees. Locally he is a driver with the Soar Valley Community Bus. His personal passion is birding, travelling extensively in Europe, the Middle East and Asia and is treasurer of Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers and the Ornithological Society of the Middle East.

In July 2019 Chris received the Degree of Honorary Doctor of the University in recognition of his contribution and impact on the University, its students, and its staff during his tenure as a Governor and Chair of the Governing Council. [Updated 2019]

June is University Secretary and Registrar at the University of Derby and is also Clerk to the Governing Council. Her role spans all aspects of academic administration leadership, including student service support, across all sites. June has worked at the University (and its predecessor Derbyshire College of Higher Education) since 1987. June is qualified through the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.

She is a fellow and Council member of the Association of University Administrators, and a member of both the Association of Heads of University Administration and Academic Registrar’s Council. Her leisure interests include horse riding, skiing, and heritage and history. She is also a keen football supporter of both Liverpool and Burton Albion.

Robert was born in Ayrshire, Scotland first obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Biology from the University of St Andrews, followed by a medical degree from the University of Wales and a law degree from Manchester Metropolitan University. He is a founding member of the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians and in 2014 received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Derby.

He was appointed her Majesty’s Coroner for Derby and Derbyshire in 2007 and prior to that had served as a Medical Officer in the British Army and as a Forensic Medical Examiner to Merseyside Police. His main medical career was in the field of Accident and Emergency Medicine.

Dr Hunter sits on several committees nationally in relation to areas of forensic and legal medicine and is committed to teaching and education and lectures extensively in the fields of coronial law, medical law, forensic medicine and mass fatality contingency planning. [Updated 2015]

Jane is the CEO of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations. She previously headed up Creative and Cultural Skills, working to create fair and inclusive opportunities within the creative and cultural sectors, and was CEO of the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action. She was the founding co-chair of the VCS Emergencies Partnership, created in the wake of the Grenfell disaster, and was at the heart of the national voluntary sector response to Covid-19.

In November 2022, Jane received the Degree of Honorary Doctor of the University in recognition of her services to volunteering and the charity sector.