Purpose of Court
Court is a statutory body representing the interests of the University's internal and external constituencies. Court is established under clause 10 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. The procedures at Court are set out in its Standing Orders.
Key responsibilities
The terms of reference for Court are set out in section 15 of the University Statutes, as follows:
15.1 Court shall meet at least once in every academic year and within fifteen months of the preceding meeting at such day and hour as may be determined by the Council and with such notice as is specified in the Standing Orders of Court.
15.2 Court shall have the following functions:
a) To make representation pursuant to Article 4 of the Charter for the appointment of a Visitor.
b) To receive from the Vice-Chancellor an Annual Report on the working of the University and to receive the annual audited Statement of Accounts of the University.
c) On the joint recommendation of the Council and the Senate to amend, add to or repeal any Article of the Charter in accordance with Article 29 of the Charter.
d) To make representations to the Council on any matter affecting the University.
Reporting relationships
Court reports to Council with items for approval, as required. The Privy Council must approve all changes to University Statutes.
Procedural rules
Meeting frequency: Court meets once a year.
Quorum: The quorum for meetings shall be one third of the membership.
Membership
Ex Officio Members
- His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Chancellor (Chair)
- Ruth Foreman, Pro-Chancellor (Deputy Chair)
- Annie Maw, Pro-Chancellor (Deputy Chair)
- Dr Sabina Gheduzzi, Chair of Academic Assembly
- Jimena Alamo, Students' Union President
- Olivia Warner, Students' Union Sport Officer
- Amber Snary, Students' Union Education Officer
- Benji Orford Thompson, Students' Union Community Officer
- Zuber Lakhani, Students' Union Postgraduate Officer
- David Lam, Students' Union Activities Officer
- Professor Phil Taylor, Vice-Chancellor and President
- Pam Chesters CBE, Chair of Council
- Calum Mercer, Treasurer
- Tim Ford, Senior Independent Director
- Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath
- Councillor Michelle O'Doherty, Mayor of Bath
- Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of B&NES Council
- Councillor Karen Walker, Chair of B&NES Council
- Dan Norris, Mayor of West of England Combined Authority
- Richard Bonner, Chair of West of England LEP
- Professor Georgina Andrews, Vice-Chancellor of Bath Spa University
- Jayne Davis, Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Bath College
Appointed Members
The terms of office expire on 31 July in the year stated.
University Staff members, elected through secret ballot:
- Professor James Davenport, Professorial member of the Senate, term of office 2027
- Professor Adrian Evans, Professorial member of the Senate, term of office 2027
- Vacancy, Professorial member of the Senate, term of office 2027
- Dr Jennifer Thomson, Non-professorial member of the Senate, term of office 2027
- Dr Zoe Burke, Non-professorial member of the Senate, term of office 2027
- Vacancy, Non-professorial member of the Senate, term of office 2027
- Martin Downes, Professional services - Management Specialist and Administration, term of office 2027
- Tracey Stenson Jukes, Professional services - Management Specialist and Administration, term of office 2027
- Adrian Price, Professional services - Operations and Facilities Support, term of office 2027
- Michael Storey, Professional services - Operations and Facilities Support, term of office 2027
- Dr Judith Brown, Professional services - Technical and Experimental, term of office 2027
- Vacancy, Professional services - Technical and Experimental, term of office 2027
- Vacancy, Professional services, term of office 2027
Current students, appointed by Council on recommendation of Nominations Committee:
- George Cooper, term of office 2025
- Huw Ford, term of office 2025
- Katie Head, term of office 2025
- Penn Mackintosh, term of office 2025
- Emily McManus, term of office 2025
- Jackson Peace, term of office 2025
- Isobel Shone, term of office 2025
- Dani Stec, term of office 2025
Senior office holders, appointed by Council on recommendation of Nominations Committee:
- Dr Ghazwa Alwani-Starr, Chief Operating Officer, term of office 2027
- Professor Julian Chaudhuri, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education & Global), term of office 2027
- Professor Sarah Hainsworth, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), term of office 2027
- Professor Jonathan Knight, Vice-President (Enterprise), term of office 2027
- Professor Cassie Wilson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience), term of office 2027
Members of Council, appointed by Council on recommendation of Nominations Committee:
- Dr Teslim Bukoye, term of office 2025
- Kate Ehrig-Page, term of office 2025
- Professor Anthony Smith, term of office 2025
Emeritus professors, elected by Emeritus Professors, through secret ballot:
- Professor David Bird, term of office 2027
- Professor Alan Bramley, term of office 2027
- Professor Geoff Hammond, term of office 2027
- Professor Gary Hawley, term of office 2027
- Professor Roland Jones, term of office 2027
- Professor Hartmut Logemann, term of office 2027
- Professor Jane Millar, term of office 2027
- Professor Bernie Morley, term of office 2027
- Professor Sue Wonnacott, term of office 2027
- Professor Geof Wood, term of office 2027
Alumni, appointed by Council on recommendation of Nominations Committee:
- Derek Brewer, term of office 2025
- Vivian Ching, term of office 2025
- Trevor Elworthy, term of office 2025
- Gehan Wanduragala, term of office 2025
- Snow Wu, term of office 2025
- Vacancy
Representatives of communities of strategic importance to the University, appointed by Council on recommendation of Nominations Committee:
- Jamie Agombar, Executive Director, Students Organising for Sustainability, term of office 2025
- Pete Capener, Managing Director, Bath & West Community Energy, term of office 2025
- Drew Ritchie, Investment Director, Big Society Capital, term of office 2025
- Vacancy
- Vacancy
- Vacancy
- Vacancy
- Vacancy
Heads of state-funded schools or academies, appointed by Council on recommendation of Nominations Committee:
- Dr Dayo Olukoshi, Principal, Brampton Manor Academy, term of office 2026
- Emma Reynolds, Principal, Frome College, term of office 2026
- Sara Russell, Principal, Peter Symonds College, term of office 2026
- Alun Williams, Executive Headteacher, Midsomer Norton School Partnership, term of office 2026
Research funders and business partners, appointed by Council on recommendation of Nominations Committee:
- Max Brown, VP Technology, Civil Airframe, GKN Aerospace, term of office 2026
- Jocelyn Foster, Chief Strategic Officer & Commercial Director, Royal United Hospitals, term of office 2026
- David Kelly, CEO Storm Consultancy, term of office 2026
- Ben Rhodes, SW Regional Director, CBI, term of office 2026
- Chris Watt, Director of Qualasept Holdings Ltd, term of office 2026
Employers, placement providers and professional bodies, appointed by Council on recommendation of Nominations Committee:
- Kimberley Bingham, Deputy Prisons & Probation Ombudsman, term of office 2026
- Gary Davis, Defence Sector Capability Manager, Rolls Royce, term of office 2026
- Chris Eldridge, Director of Operations, Mayden, term of office 2026
- Lynne Fernquest, CEO, Bath Rugby Foundation, term of office 2026
- Vacancy
International stakeholders, appointed by Council on recommendation of Nominations Committee:
- Professor Penny Jane Burke, UNESCO Chair in Equity, Social Justice & Higher Education and Director, Centre of Excellence for Equity in Higher Education, University of Newcastle, Australia, term of office 2027
- Professor Carolyn Emery, Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary, term of office 2027
- Professor Antonio Ferrer-Montiel, Director of IDiBE, University of Miguel Herandez, Spain. Scientific advisory board of CTI, term of office 2027
- Professor Felix Goni, University of the Basque Country, Prof of Biochemistry, visiting David Parkin Professor, term of office 2027
Representatives of Campus Trade Unions, appointed by Council on recommendation of Nominations Committee:
- Robert Brain, UNITE, term of office 2027
- Saskia Heijltjes, UCU, term of office 2027
- Chris Roche, Unison, term of office 2027
Routine attendees (in attendance)
- Laura Andrews, Governance Partner
- Ian Blenkharn, University Secretary & Registrar
- Andrew Browning, Secretary to Court, Interim Head of Governance
Other members may be co-opted or invited to attend for specific meetings at the discretion of the Committee.
Council members are renewed annually. All other members serve terms of three years at a time. Members can serve two consecutive terms (a total of six years) but in exceptional circumstances may serve a maximum of three consecutive terms (a total of nine years). All terms are subject to renewal.
Version information
Owner: Court
Version number: 3
Approval Date: 1996, revised in 2000 and 2006
Approved By: Privy Council
Date of last review: 2006