Court
We are a statutory body representing the interests of the University's internal and external constituencies.
Court is a forum which brings together members of the University community and its stakeholders and enables them to exchange ideas on matters of shared interest or concern. It meets at least once a year. Court does not take part in the day-to-day oversight of the affairs of the University or in the decision-making process, except for its role in the approval of amendments to the University Charter.
Please refer to our meeting dates and the minutes of our meetings.
Court is chaired by the University Chancellor or, in his absence, one of the Pro-Chancellors. Following recent reforms, it has been reduced in size to a total of 93 members in 13 categories, each representing a different constituency of stakeholders. About 20 of its members are automatically appointed to Court because of the office that they hold. The remainder are either elected or appointed into their post and serve a maximum of three, three-year terms.
Court is established under clause 11 of the University Charter. Its membership is determined by the provisions of section 13 of the University Statutes, Ordinance 6 and the Framework for Elections and Appointments to Court. Its terms of reference are set out in section 15 of the University Statutes. The procedures at Court are set out in its Standing Orders.
Membership
Court’s membership was revised in 2021. Following final agreement by Court on 28 January 2021 and Council on 22 July 2021, the Privy Council, who must approve all changes to University Statutes, agreed on 18 August 2021 to reduce membership to a maximum of 93 members.
The Court now consists of the Chancellor and Pro-Chancellors ex officio and a total of 93 members, as follows:
(a) Fourteen current members of staff of the University, including ex officio, the Chair of Academic Assembly
- Dr Sabina Gheduzzi, Chair of Academic Assembly
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
(b) Fourteen current students and student sabbatical officers of the University
- Jimena Alamo, Students' Union President, ex officio
- Amber Snary, Students' Union Education Officer, ex officio
- Olivia Warner, Students' Union Sport Officer, ex officio
- Benji Orford Thompson, Students' Union Community Officer, ex officio
- Zuber Lakhani, Students' Union Postgraduate Officer, ex officio
- David Lam, Students' Union Activities Officer, ex officio
- Vacancy
- Vacancy
- Vacancy
- Vacancy
- Vacancy
- Vacancy
- Vacancy
- Vacancy
(c) Six office holders
- Professor Phil Taylor, Vice-Chancellor and President, ex officio
- Professor Jonathan Knight, Vice-President (Enterprise)
- Professor Julian Chaudhuri, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education)
- Professor Sarah Hainsworth, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research)
- Professor Cassie Wilson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience)
- Dr Ghazwa Alwani-Starr, Chief Operating Officer
(d) Six members of the Council of the University
- Pam Chesters CBE, Chair of Council, ex officio
- Callum Mercer, University Treasurer, ex officio
- Tim Ford, Senior Independent Director, ex officio
- Teslim Bukoye, member of Council
- Kate Ehrig-Page, member of Council
- Anthony Smith, member of Council
(e) Ten Emeritus Professors of the University
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
- Vacancy (election pending)
(f) Six alumni of the University
- Derek Brewer
- Dr Vivian Ching
- Dr Trevor Elworthy
- Gehan Wanduragala
- Snow Wu
- Vacancy
(g) Six representatives of local and regional elected bodies
- Wera Hobhouse, Member of Parliament for Bath, ex officio
- Councillor Michelle O'Doherty, Mayor of Bath, ex officio
- Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council, ex officio
- Councillor Karen Walker, Chair of Bath and North East Somerset Council, ex officio
- Dan Norris, Mayor of the West of England Combined Authority, ex officio
- Richard Bonner, Chair of West of England Local Enterprise Partnership, ex officio
(h) Eight representatives of communities of strategic importance to the University
- Jamie Agombar, Executive Director, Students Organising for Sustainability
- Pete Capener, Managing Director, Bath & West Community Energy
- Drew Richie, Investment Director, Big Society Capital
- Vacancy
- Vacancy
- Vacancy
- Vacancy
- Vacancy
(i) Six representatives of local or regional educational institutions or trusts
- Professor Georgina Andrews, nominee of Vice-Chancellor, Bath Spa University, ex officio
- Jayne Davis, Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Bath College, ex officio
- Alun Williams, Executive Headteacher, Midsomer Norton School Partnership
- Emma Reynolds, Principal, Frome College
- Dr Dayo Olukoshi, Principal, Brampton Manor Academy
- Sara Russell, Principal, Peter Symonds College
(j) Five representatives of research funders and business partners
- Chris Watt, Director of Qualasept Holdings Ltd
- Ben Rhodes, SW Regional Director CBI
- David Kelly, CEO Storm Consultancy
- Max Brown, VP Technology, Civil Airframe, GKN Aerospace
- Jocelyn Foster, Chief Strategic Officer & Commercial Director, Royal United Hospitals
(k) Five representatives of employers, placement providers and professional bodies
- Gary Davies, Defence Sector Capability Manager, Rolls Royce
- Chris Eldridge, Director of Operations, Mayden
- Lynne Fernquest, CEO, Bath Rugby Foundation
- Kimberley Bingham, Deputy Prisons & Probation Ombudsman
- Vacancy
(l) Four members of the University’s international stakeholder community
- Professor Penny Jane Burke, Director of CEEHHE Current Global Chair, University of Newcastle, Australia
- Professor Felix Goni, Prof of Biochemistry and visiting David Parkin Professor, University of the Basque Country, Spain
- Professor Carolyn Emery, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Canada
- Professor Antonio Ferrer-Montiel, Director of IDiBE, University of Miguel Herandez, Spain
(m) Three representatives of the campus trade unions who are not members of the University
- Robert Brain, UNITE
- Saskia Heijltjes, UCU
- Dr Chris Roche, Unison