Membership of University Court

Freda was formerly Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at the University of Derby. After retirement in 2006, she became a part-time Senior Associate for the Higher Education Academy being the strategic lead for their national team for Employer Engagement and Workforce Development. Freda is now fully retired. [Updated 2017]

Lydia is a member of the England Women’s Rugby Team. She made her debut in 2012 when she scored three tries against Spain during the 2012 European Cup. At club level, she plays for Worcester Warriors Women. She has represented England in three World Cups, the Commonwealth Games and several Six Nations Championships. She was nominated World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year in 2017.

Lydia graduated from the University having studied Occupational Therapy in 2013. In July 2022, she received the degree of Honorary Master of the University in recognition of her outstanding international rugby career.

Leigh is a double world record breaking cyclist, adventurer and motivational speaker from Derby.

Geoff was appointed as an Independent Member of the Governing Council in December 2024 and sits on the Performance, People & Resources Committee. His career has been spent working on how to best optimise the performance of people in a variety of technically demanding, fast paced, geographically and culturally complex businesses.

Starting in the public sector, he subsequently worked in the rail, automotive, energy, utilities, manufacturing and technology sectors, culminating in transformation roles leading HR functions in UK and US companies, including IMI Plc, Venterra Group and Hess Corporation. Structural, corporate and individual change, improvement and development have always been constant themes. 

Ann is a journalist, author, theatre critic and columnist. She has worked for The Times for the past 20 years, most recently as chief theatre critic and, before that, as parliamentary sketch writer for 12 years. Ann has published four books and regularly appears at literary festivals and other events. She has won and been shortlisted for many awards and is the new President of Bromley House Library in Nottingham. Ann lives in Bakewell, Derbyshire.

In November 2019, Ann received the Degree of Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University in recognition of her outstanding career as a journalist, sketch artist and theatre critic and her contribution to the British media. [Updated 2020]

Adrian was appointed as a co-opted member of the Audit and Risk Committee in April 2024. He brings a wealth of experience in audit, accounting, risk management, governance, and regulation to the Committee.

Adrian is a Chartered Accountant with a background in data and financial services and has an executive role as Chief Internal Auditor with Secure Trust Bank PLC. Before this, he was Head of Internal Audit with Experian PLC, and prior to that, he was a Director with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. In an earlier career, he was a secondary school maths teacher and recently served as Chair of Governors in a Local Authority primary school.

Roger was Director of Derbyshire College of Higher Education (1989-1992) and then first Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby (1993 to 2005). He was educated at King Edward VII Grammar School Sheffield and took the degree BA Philosophy and Psychology at Oxford in 1961. In the 1960s he taught social studies in both the secondary and further education sectors but perhaps the most influential formative experience came from his time teaching at Ma’abarot Kibbutz High School in Israel. In 1972 Roger was appointed Principal Lecturer in Philosophy at Middlesex Polytechnic where he rose to become Dean of Humanities and Combined Studies.

In 1986 he moved to Wolverhampton Polytechnic where he took up the position of Deputy Director with responsibility for Academic Planning. He was widely sought as a consultant on the implementation of modular systems and associated programme design. He also advised on the use of credit accumulation and transfer and student exchange in Belgium, Germany, France, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and the Republic of Ireland. From 1978 until 1987 Roger Waterhouse served on various boards, committees and working parties of the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA). In 1985 he was founder and first Chair of the South East Consortium for Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SEEC) a body that is still flourishing today.

On arrival at Derby, the task ahead was considerable. The college had less than 6,000 students and only 5% of students were undergraduates. There were just four-degree programmes. As Chair of the Academic Board, Roger infused the idea of offering highly flexible, accessible education which provided new opportunities for a wide range of students. He commissioned a credit-based modular scheme as a vehicle for programme design. The College won taught accreditation from the Council for National Academic Awards and satisfied a CNAA inspection of the research training provision.

University status was confirmed in January 1993, the first direct promotion from college of higher education to university in the sector. In 1998 the University merged with High Peak College, Buxton a well-respected provider of further education in the north of the county. The transfer of the further and higher educational provision from outside Buxton to the new Devonshire Campus in the heart of Buxton followed the bold decision to purchase and restore the former Devonshire Royal Hospital site. This project was completed in September 2005 and staff and students now teach and learn in excellent refurbished rooms.

Fang was appointed as an Independent Member of Governing Council in August 2021. She has over 15 years of professional experience largely focused on risk management at sell-side institutions (companies that issue, sell or trade financial securities). In 2014, she built a 20-person London based team for a financial technology start-up providing treasury and risk management platforms for multi-billion-dollar global hedge funds across all investment strategies which was later acquired by markets operator ICAP.

Fang began her career at Goldman Sachs FICC (Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities) division as a strategist on the commodities derivatives desk and worked in the high-tech consulting division at Accenture in Silicon Valley. She currently serves as the Chief Risk Officer for System Two Advisors LLC.

Fang received her BA in Mathematics from Princeton University and MSc in Computer Science from Stanford University. She also sits on the board of trustees of the Royal Holloway Student Union and Princeton Association UK. In addition, she has advised the board of trustees of London Air Ambulance on their digital transformation strategy.

Paul lives between Germany and the UK. He retired in July 2016 from full-time work at the University of Derby after c. 36 years including as Director of the Religious Resource and Research Centre; Senior Lecturer, Principal Lecturer and Reader in Religious Studies; Head of Religious Studies; Head of Division of Humanities and Social Sciences; Head of Research and Commercial Development in the Faculty of Education, Health and Sciences; Head of Research (MPhil‐PhD Students and REF [Impact]); Acting University Head of Research; and Professor of Inter‐Religious Relations. Between 2017-21 he was re-engaged as a fractional Professor at Derby, during which time he was also a fractional Professor at Coventry University and a fractional Research Fellow at Regent's Park College, Oxford.

 His publications include: Time for a Change: Reconfiguring Religion, State and Society (London: T & T Clark, 2005); Religious Diversity in the UK: Contours and Issues (Continuum, 2008); A Mirror for our Times: 'The Rushdie Affair' and the Future of Multiculturalism (Continuum, 2009); Religion and Belief, Discrimination and Equality: Britain in Global Contexts (Bloomsbury, 2013); Hizmet in Transitions: European Developments of a Turkish-Muslim Inspired Movement, and Fethullah Gülen’s Teaching and Practice: Inheritance, Context and Interactive Development (both Springer, 2022). He is the academic editor of the Journal of Dialogue Studies and was a member of the Academic Advisory Group for the Ethnicity, Identity, Language and Religion Census Topic Group for the 2021 decennial Census.

Arlo is a sports broadcaster who was born and brought up in Leicester. He studied at the University and progressed his career from humble beginnings as a volunteer at BBC Radio Derby to establish himself as one of the foremost broadcasters in the industry. He joined NBC Sports in 2012 and has been the voice of the Premier League for the United States for almost a decade. Arlo started his career at BBC Radio 5 Live as a sports reporter. He progressed to presenting their flagship show Sports Report and enjoyed a stint as a commentator on Test Match Special.

In November 2021, Arlo received the degree of Honorary Doctor of the University in recognition of his outstanding international career in sports journalism and his engagement with the students of the University.

Dominic served two terms as a Student Representative Governor, having been elected Vice President (Activities) of the Union of Students for the academic year 2022/23, and then as Union President for the academic year 2023/24. He completed his undergraduate degree in History in 2022. During his time as a student, Dominic was deeply involved with the Union of Students, first serving as a Programme Representative and then as a Part-Time Officer (Humanities & Journalism) before serving within the Union’s executive. He also held numerous committee positions within Sports and Societies, including President of Rounders and Sports & Societies Councillor posts. His key aims were to increase resource and facility provision while widening accessibility and development opportunities across the Union and University.

Dominic is now continuing his career at Derby within the University’s External Relations Department in the Schools & Colleges Liaison Team, where he remains passionate about creating an accessible and vibrant student community that fosters growth and development which drives forward the University’s social mobility agenda. Dominic is also continuing his studies with a master’s degree in History at the University.

Edward opened his first career with the National Coal Board and ended as General Manager of Associated Heat Services Ltd in 1971. He opened his second career with Leigh Interests plc, in the West Midlands and retired in 1994 as the Group Services Director. He was Chair of The Coal Industry Society in 1969. Following National Service in The Sherwood Foresters, Edward served for 35 years in the Territorial Army ending 1985 as TA Adviser to the Commander in Chief with the rank of Brigadier.

He was ADC to the Queen (1981-1985). He was appointed OBE in 1977 and CBE in 1982. Edward was Chair of the East Midlands TAVRA (1985-1994) and Vice-Chair of the Council of TAVRA’s (1990-1994).

He has served as a Deputy Lieutenant for Derbyshire since 1985 and was appointed High Sheriff in 1996. He served as governor of Repton School from 1993-2007 and is now an Honorary Life Patron. He also served as Chair of Repton School Foundation from 2000-2007, President from 2007 to 2016 and is now President Emeritus. He was Chair of Derbyshire Crimebeat from 1997 to 2002. He became Lay Canon of Derby Cathedral (2001-2007) and now is Lay Canon Emeritus. Edward was a Member of Derbyshire County Cricket Club General Committee from 1998 to its abolition in 2010 and is now a Vice President.

He was Chair of the Derbyshire Army Benevolent Fund (1976-2007) and is now the Vice President. He was also a Trustee of Derbyshire Community Foundation (1996-2007) and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Fuellers, becoming Master in 1996. He was a Freeman of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators from 1996 to 2007. He is Freeman of the City of London. [Updated 2018]

David is Chairman of Geldards LLP, a law firm with around 350 staff and offices in Derby, Nottingham, Cardiff, and London. After originally qualifying as a lawyer, David had careers as a property developer and as General Manager of a major building society. After heading the property team at Geldards for many years, David has recently taken up responsibility for the private client team.

In addition to these roles, he is Chair of East Midlands Business Limited, a Board Member of D2N2 LEP, and holds several trustee and non-executive positions. He is Vice-Chair of Governors at Derby College. [Updated 2017]

Former Chief Executive, EM Media, Regional Screen Agency. Independent Creative Industries consultant and Director, The Home Transformation Company. [Updated 2017]

John was appointed as an Independent Member of Governing Council in May 2021. He is Deputy Chief Executive of The Careers and Enterprise Company, the Government’s body for careers education in England.

John’s career in the skills sector, over the last 25 years, has been largely driven by his passion for promoting social mobility and providing excellent standards for careers guidance and opportunities for young people and adults. Throughout his career, he has gained extensive knowledge of skills policy, from a central Government angle with the Learning and Skills Council, local government from being Director of Economic Development at Nottingham City Council, and from a provider position through his CEO role of the Futures Group. He has held chair and vice-chair roles in charities, schools, trade associations and awarding bodies.

John has been the Deputy CEO at The Careers and Enterprise Company since 2019, overseeing all delivery of the organisation's responsibilities .

Former CEO of the Padley Group, Derby. [Updated 2016]