There have been a number of changes recently to the membership of our University Council, including the end of their term of office for four lay members. Here, we thank those stepping down and introduce Council's new members.

Lay Members Stepping Down

Four members of University Council reached the end of their term of office at the end of July 2015 – Patrick Dunne, Penny Egan, Trudi Elliott and John Higgins.

Sir George Cox said:

We are extremely grateful to all those members who are stepping down from their roles on University Council. Their contributions have been invaluable and I know we'll continue to see the benefits of their work, and the relationships they've built, for many years to come. Thank you to you all."

Patrick Dunne

Patrick began his first term of office as a lay member of Council in 2006. Amongst other contributions, he has served on the Finance and General Purposes Committee, on the former Commercial and related activities groups, and was the lay founder of Warwick in Africa, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary. He has also served as a member of the University Estate Committee since 2013.

Penny Egan

Penny began her first term of office as a lay member of Council in August 2007. Amongst other contributions, she has served as a member of the University Estate Committee since 2013 and will continue to serve as an independent member of the Art Collection Committee until 2017, having been appointed in 2014. She has served on the Building Committee, the Honorary Degrees Committee, the Effectiveness Review of Council and the appointment committee for our new Vice-Chancellor.

Trudi Elliott

Trudi began her first term of office as a lay member of Council in 2008. Amongst other contributions, she has served as an independent member of the Audit Committee since 2009, on the Building Committee and on a number of statutory business committees.

John Higgins

John began his first term of office as a lay member of Council in August 2002. Amongst other contributions, he has served as Chair of the Audit Committee from 2008 to 2014 and as a member of the University Estate Committee until October 2014. He served on the appointment committee for our new Vice-Chancellor, on the 2008 Council Effectiveness Review and on the Council sub-group for California.

Student Representatives

At the end of July, Cat Turhan (outgoing Students’ Union President) and Rob Ankcorn (outgoing Democracy and Development Officer) stepped down from University Council. They are replaced by Isaac Leigh, Students’ Union President, 2015-16 and Oliver Rice, Democracy and Development Officer, 2015-2016.

Viki Cooke

Viki Cooke, current Vice-Chair of Council, has been appointed as a Pro-Chancellor of the University. Viki will work alongside Sir George Cox, Chair of Council, who also holds the role of Pro-Chancellor. The University is able to appoint up to two Pro-Chancellors to support the work of our Chancellor, Sir Richard Lambert.

Read more on Viki's appointment.

Sir David Normington

Sir David Normington, who has been a lay member of Council for a number of years, has been appointed as our next Chair of Council, to succeed Sir George Cox, from 1 August 2017. He will be appointed for five years to 31 July 2022. The Chair’s main role is to ‘ensure that the necessary business of the Council is carried out effectively and in a manner appropriate for the proper conduct of public business.’ To ensure continuity and a good handover period, the Council always identifies a successor Chair well in advance of the current Chair’s end of office.

Dr Neil Bentley and Dr Deborah Keith were also recently appointed as lay members of Council. You can read more about them here.

Find out more...

What is Council?

The Council is our executive governing body, responsible for the financial, property, investments and general business of the University, and for setting the general strategic direction of the institution.

Who sits on Council?

The Council has a majority of members from outside the University, as well as staff and student representatives.

How are Council members appointed?

Lay members are appointed solely on merit: they are committed to taking forward the work of the University and have the necessary skills, experience and enthusiasm for Council's work.