The membership of Council comprises appointed external members, elected internal members, the President and Principal and the President of the Students’ Union, with the external members forming the majority. The procedures by which Council members are nominated, elected and appointed are set out in the Ordinances. Members who are elected, nominated or appointed by particular constituencies may not act in a representative capacity.
All Council members share a responsibility to ensure:
All Council members must meet the ‘fit and proper person’ test prescribed by the Office for Students and must comply with the University’s Conflict of Interest Policy [PDF 114KB]. The register of interests declared by Council members is published here: Register of Disclosable Interests 2024-25 [PDF 4,932KB].
The Chair of Council
The Chair of Council is an external Council member who leads Council in its stewardship of the University and works with the Vice-Chair of Council, the Treasurer, the Chair of Audit and Risk Committee and the Secretary to Council to ensure that the business of Council and its standing committees is conducted and reported on effectively and in accordance with relevant requirements and accepted standards of behaviour in public life. The Chair leads the process for Council to appoint the President and Principal and provides support and challenge to the President and Principal while respecting the separation between governance and executive management. The Chair of Council also oversees the appointment, development and appraisal of Council members through the Governance Committee, chairs the Honorary Degrees and Fellowships Committee and is an ex officio member of the Remuneration Committee.
The Chair of Council is Lord Clement-Jones CBE
Current term ends: 30 April 2025
The Vice-Chair of Council
The Vice-Chair of Council is an external Council member who works with the Chair of Council to ensure the effective conduct of Council and committee business. The Vice-Chair leads the process for Council to recruit the Chair of Council, appraises the Chair’s performance and acts as the Chair of Council during a vacancy in the office. The Vice-Chair chairs the Remuneration Committee and is an ex officio member of the Governance Committee.
The Vice-Chair of Council is Melissa Tatton CBE
Current term ends: 31 December 2027
The Treasurer
The Treasurer is an external Council member who acts as the primary point of liaison between Council and the executive on financial matters, establishing constructive but challenging working relationships with the President and Principal and the Chief Financial Officer while respecting the separation between governance and executive management. The Treasurer chairs the Finance and Investment Committee and is an ex officio member of the Remuneration Committee.
The Treasurer is Isabelle Jenkins.
Current term ends: 07 January 2026
External members
In addition to the Chair and Vice-Chair of Council and the Treasurer, there are the following external members on Council. The Charter provides for two external members to be nominated by The Drapers’ Company. External members, including those nominated by the Drapers’ Company, are appointed by Council on the recommendation of the Governance Committee.
Gil Baldwin, nominated by the Drapers’ Company
Current term ends: 01 March 2026, with the possibility of one further term of four years
Ken Batty
Current term ends: 10 January 2026, with the possibility of one further term of four years
Patricia Gallan QPM
Current term ends: 01 January 2027, with the possibility of one further term of four years
Indy Hothi
Maryanne Matthews
Dr Alix Pryde
Peter Thompson, also Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee
Current term ends: 29 November 2025
Rob Whiteman CBE
Current term ends: 01 July 2028, with the possibility of one further term of four years
Elected staff members
The Charter provides for five members of staff to be elected onto Council by all the current staff employed across the University. The elected staff members perform the same role and have the same status on Council as the external members. They may not act in a representative capacity.
Professor Kavita Datta
Current term ends: 30 September 2025, with the possibility of one further term of four years
Professor Yang Hao
Professor Mangala Patel
Current term ends: 30 September 2025
Dr Natalie McCloskey
Current term ends: 25 September 2027, with the possibility of one further term of four years
Dr Anthony Phillips
Ex officio members
The Charter provides for two ex officio members with terms of office aligned to their executive roles.
The President and Principal: Professor Colin Bailey CBE
The President of the Students’ Union: Tahmid Khan
Secretary to Council
The Secretary to Council is responsible for all the secretarial, clerical and administrative affairs of the Council and its standing committees and for the safe custody of the Common Seal. The Secretary is not a Council member, but is appointed by Council and reports directly to the Chair of Council in relation to Council business, separately from any other managerial responsibilities they have at the University.
The Secretary to Council is Jonathan Morgan, who is also the Chief Governance Officer and University Secretary. You can contact the Secretary to Council at councilsecretariat@qmul.ac.uk.