Council
Governing Body - Council
Council is our governing body and is responsible for the educational character and mission of our University. It also oversees financial probity, the employment policy for staff, and the corporate policies, rules and procedures that underpin how we are governed. Council is set up in accordance with our Instrument and Articles of Government approved by the Privy Council and its membership consists of a majority of lay members whose interests and experience align to the business of the University.
Independent Members
- Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council
- Pro-Chancellor and Deputy Chair of Council
- Pro-Chancellor and Independent Council Member
- Independent Council Member
- Independent Council Member
- Independent Council Member
- Independent Council Member
- Independent Council Member
- Independent Council Member
- Independent Council Member
- Independent Council Member
- Independent Council Member
Student Members
Council meetings and sub-committees
Council is supported by the Governance and Compliance team. For queries please contact Dr Emma Tomsett, Clerk to Council and Head of Governance and Compliance (Extension 3186).
Meeting dates for 2025-26 are 7 October 2025, 25 November 2025, 3-4 February 2026, 24 March 2026, 19 May 2026, 7 July 2026.
The work of Council is delegated to several sub-committees which are chaired by Council members. Please see the Council Committees document for full details of constitutions and terms of reference
The main duty of the Audit Committee is to advise Council on how to establish and review the procedures for auditing the University’s activities.
Meeting dates for 2025-26 are 16 September 2025, 11 November 2025, 24 February 2026 and 16 June 2026.
Current Audit Committee members:
- Brian Lewis (Chair) - Independent Member
- Jackie Westaway - Independent Member
- Marek Pruszewicz - Independent Member
- Shaun Crawford - Independent Member
- Adam Honor - Independent Member
- Amir Khan - Specialist External Co-opted Member
Note: the Vice-Chancellor attends Audit Committee, but is not a member
Governance Committee is responsible for looking after issues relating to the governance of the University. These include the appointment of Council members and the scheduling of Council committee meetings.
Meeting dates for 2025-26 are 14 October 2025, 10 March 2026 and 9 June 2026.
Current Governance Committee members:
- Karen Satterford (Chair)
- Maggie Galliers – Pro Chancellor and Independent Member (Chair of Council)
- Professor Damien Page (Vice-Chancellor)
- Sadie Groom - Independent Member
- Francine Godrich – Independent Member
- Amy Pile - Students' Union President
- Ze’ev Portner - Academic Representative
The Honorary Awards Committee reports to both Council and Senate. The main purpose of this Committee is to consider nominations for honorary awards of the University (both degrees and fellowships) on a confidential basis.
See the list of our past Honorary Awards.
Meeting dates for 2025-26 are 20 October 2025 and 23 February 2026.
Current Honorary Awards Committee members:
- Maggie Galliers (Chair)
- Andy Cole - Independent Member
- Sadie Groom – Independent Member
- Marek Pruszewicz – Independent Member
- Professor Damien Page (Vice-Chancellor)
- Dr. Russel Stone – Senate Representative on Council
- Professor Paul Morgan - Senate Representative on Honorary Awards Committee
The People Reward and Vice-Chancellor’s Remuneration Committees act under delegated authority to consider the performance and remuneration of senior employees of the University including the Vice-Chancellor and other members of the University Executive Team. The Staff Reward Committee also considers policies and procedures in relation to the remuneration of these employees and provides assurance that the University is adhering to guidance on senior pay.
The University Annual Remuneration Statements as approved by the Staff Reward Committee can be found on our Reports and Public Information page.
Meeting dates for 2025-26 are:
- People Committee: 18 November 2025 and 1 June 2026
- Vice-Chancellor’s Remuneration Committee: 18 November 2025 and 1 June 2026.
Current Staff Reward:
- Karen Satterford (Chair – Deputy Chair of Council)
- Maggie Galliers - Pro Chancellor and Independent Member (Chair of Council)
- Brian Lewis (Chair of Audit Committee)
- Dr Annet Gamell (Acting Chair of Resources Committee and Chair of Student Experience Committee)
- Professor Damien Page (Vice-Chancellor)
Vice-Chancellor's Remuneration Committee members:
- Karen Satterford (Chair – Deputy Chair of Council)
- Maggie Galliers - Pro Chancellor and Independent Member (Chair of Council)
- Brian Lewis (Chair of Audit Committee)
- Dr Annet Gamell (Acting Chair of Resources Committee and Chair of Student Experience Committee)
The Resources Committee is responsible for recommending to Council the annual operating and capital budget. It also considers financial performance, estates and physical resources, and people matters and strategies in relation to these areas.
The University’s Annual Report and Financial Statements can be found on our Reports and Public Information page.
Meeting dates for 2025-26 are 4 November 2025, 20 January 2026, 17 March 2026 and 23 June 2026.
Current Resources Committee members:
- Dr Annet Gamell [Acting Chair] - Independent Member
- Maggie Galliers - Pro Chancellor and Independent Member (Chair of Council)
- Andy Cole – Independent Member
- Francine Godrich- Independent Member
- Dr. Russel Stone- Senate Representative
- Professor Damien Page (Vice-Chancellor)
The Student Experience Committee meets three times a year. The main duty of the committee is to monitor key performance measures in relation to the student experience. The Committee also maintains oversight of the relationship between the University and Bucks Students’ Union.
Meeting dates for 2025-26 are 21 October 2025, 3 March 2026 and 2 June 2026.
Current Student Experience Committee members:
- Dr Annet Gamell (Chair) - Independent Member
- Jackie Westaway - Independent Member
- Shaun Crawford - Independent Member
- Adam Honor - Independent Member
- Professor Damien Page (Vice-Chancellor)
- Peter Robinson (PSE Representative)
- Amy Pile (SU President)
Recruitment of New Independent Council Members
We are actively seeking enthusiastic and energetic individuals who have a keen interest in higher education and bring key skills of collaboration, communication and commercial acumen to join the University’s Council. We are particularly interested to hear from individuals with skills and expertise related to:
- Accounting; Finance, including banking and investment;
- Commercial, including mergers and acquisitions;
- Legal, including compliance and regulation
- Higher education sector, including government policy
Additionally, we would particularly welcome individuals with regional connections to Buckinghamshire.
Further details relating to the role of Independent members together with information on the University’s strategic vision and achievements can be found in our Independent Council Members Recruitment Pack
If being part of the University’s mission to transform lives through inspiring, employment- and profession-focused education, and enabling our students positively to impact society we would be pleased to receive expressions of interest or an application (CV and covering letter) by 30 April 2026. We are also happy to arrange informal discussions regarding the role should this be helpful.
Please direct any queries or correspondence in relation to joining our University’s Council to Emma.Tomsett@bnu.ac.uk.
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If you require minutes prior to this date please contact the University Secretary’s Office.