Changes to membership of our Board of Governors
21 Jul 2023
A message from the Chair of the Board, Philippa Hird
As the end of the academic year approaches, some current members of the Board of Governors are standing down, with new members joining. The Board of Governors has ultimate responsibility for the University’s overall strategic direction, and comprises a majority of independent, lay members, along with student, Professional Services and Senate members.
The current Union Affairs Officer, Sam Bronheim, steps down from her role on the Board at the end of the academic year. In addition, current Senate member Dr Jim Warwicker and Professional Services member Roz Webster are also coming to the end of their terms of office. Sam, Jim and Roz have all made significant contributions to the work of the Board and its committees over the past few years and will be much missed. They leave with my sincere thanks for their work.
Replacing Sam as Union Affairs Officer (and therefore ex-officio member of the Board) is Hannah Mortimer. Hannah has just graduated from a degree in English Language and Japanese. She been a student since 2019 and has lived in Manchester her whole life.
Replacing Jim as a Senate member of the Board is Dr Hema Radhakrishnan, a Reader in Optometry in the School of Health Sciences. Hema is a qualified optometrist, and her research is in Physiological Optics and Myopia. She also holds a PGCE in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education and is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy. In the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Hema has held leadership roles relating to Environmental Sustainability and Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Access where she has had significant impact, recognised internally and externally.
Replacing Roz as a Professional Services member is Tom Jirat. Tom is Head of Development Services in the Division of Development and Alumni Relations (DDAR). He leads the Operations, Research and Gift and Finance Teams that underpin and enable the University’s fundraising, volunteering and alumni and supporter communications activity.
In addition, there have been two appointments of new lay, independent members to existing vacancies, Guy Grainger and Tony Raven.
Guy is Global Head of Sustainability Services and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) at New York Stock Exchange listed real estate services company JLL. Outside of JLL, Guy is the immediate Past President of the British Property Federation. An alumnus of the London Business School Senior Executive Programme, he is also an established media commentator on sustainability, the built and natural environment, and amateur triathlete in his spare time. His daughter is a recent Manchester alumna.
On his appointment to the Board, Guy said: “The University of Manchester has put social responsibility at the heart of their mission and as a member of the Board, I look forward to helping this wonderful establishment meet their ambitious goals”.
Tony is a former Chief Executive at Cambridge Enterprise, University of Cambridge. He is a Manchester alumnus and lives in the North West. He joined Cambridge Enterprise with over 20 years’ experience of start-up company management and financing as well as extensive international commercial and regulatory experience, particularly in North America and Japan. As well as being a successful serial entrepreneur, Tony is globally recognised expert in translating university research and innovation ecosystems, for example as the architect of SETsquared Incubation and creator of Cambridge Innovation Capital.
On his appointment to the Board, Tony said: “As an alumnus of the University it is a great honour to be asked to serve on the Board of Governors at such an exciting time. The new Innovation District and Northern Gritstone Investment Fund will transform the positive impact Manchester research and scholarship can have on people’s lives locally, nationally and globally, as well as enhancing the University’s reputation for innovation and providing opportunities for entrepreneurial graduates and researchers.”
Guy and Tony joined the final Board meeting of the year on Wednesday, 19 July and Hannah, Hema and Tom will join the Board for the first meeting of the next academic year in October. I am sure all new members will make important contributions to the work of the Board and look forward to working with them.
Philippa Hird
Chair of the Board of Governors
Image left to right: Dr Hema Radhakrishnan, Tom Jirat, Guy Grainger, Hannah Mortimer, Tony Raven