Trustees are the people who form the governing body or ‘board’ of a charity. They are the people with ultimate responsibility for directing the business of the charity. Most trustees are volunteers, and receive no payment except for minor expenses. Our Board of Trustees is made up of a mix of students, elected officers and external members who can offer a different perspective and expertise.

Officer Trustees

Full Time Officers (FTOs) serve as Officer Trustees for the duration of their terms of office. The President is also Chair of the Trustee Board. You can read more about the FTOs and their priorities here. The current FTOs are:

• Cerys Evans, President and Chair of the Trustee Board
• Harrison Stewart, Vice President Union Development
• Josh Newsham, Vice President Welfare
• Jack Watson, VP Sport
• Sam Hedges, VP Education
• Santi Siabato, VP Societies & Media

 

External Trustees

The Students' Union has up to five External Trustees at anyone time. These are people from outside of the Students' Union and University who can offer expertise and guidance to help us maximise our potential. External Trustees serve for an initial period of two to three years. Currently serving are:

 

Richard Soper, Vice Chair of the Trustee Board and Chair of the Governance Sub-Committee

Richard studied English & Philosophy at Lancaster University and represented students as the elected SU President. He is a Chartered Director, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport, and holds a Master of Arts in Art History. His principal career has been in public transport and he continues to work as a transport consultant focused on public/private partnerships. He is an experienced trustee director, and currently holds a number of board level positions including as Chair of the First UK Bus Pension Scheme and of its Investment Committee, and as Chair of The Royal Opera House Pension Scheme.

(Currently on 1st term)

 

Amanda Chetwynd

Amanda was previously Pro Vice Chancellor then Provost (Student Experience, Colleges, Library) at Lancaster University. She is an emeritus Professor of Mathematics and Statistics with research interests in medical statistics. She is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and awarded a National Teaching Fellowship. She has been a member of a number of national Higher Education committees and working groups and currently is a member of the Office for Students Quality Assurance Committee and Chair of the Complete University Guide advisory board. She is a member of Dame Shirley Pearce’s advisory group for the Independent Review of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). She was a school governor for nine years and is a trustee of Mirador, a local arts heritage group.

(Currently on 2nd term)

 

 

David Morris, Chair of the HR & Remuneration Sub-Committee

David has previously studied and worked at Lancaster University as a mentor for undergraduate students looking to secure careers in leading companies. As an experienced strategist and engagement specialist, he has worked as the Global Head of Learning and Organisational Development for Mobica Limited. He has also worked as the Head of Learning and Organisational Development for an NHS Foundation Trust.

(Currently on 1st term)

 

Mike Leckie, Chair of the Finance & Risk Sub-Committee

Mike has lived in the Lancaster area most of his life and has spent his career in Finance based roles, often with responsibilities for other departments including IT, Procurement and Legal. Mike is currently in an interim position as Group Head of Business Finance for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and prior to that spent 4 years as Finance Director for the NDA’s rail business, Direct Rail Services, based in Carlisle. The majority of Mike’s career was spent in the oil and gas industry working for Centrica in Heysham, ultimately as the Head of Business Services and he also spent a short time as Finance Lead on the Manchester Airport Transformation Programme. Mike is a Chartered Management Accountant and Chartered Secretary/Governance Professional and is also Chair of the Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Joint Scrutiny Committee.

(Currently on 1st term)

 

Student Trustees

Student Trustees are directly elected by the student membership to serve on the Trustee Board. 

 

Laura Yianni

Laura is a fourth-year integrated masters Biology student from London. As a disabled woman, she brings a strong commitment to representing the diverse voices on campus. Prior her role as a Student Trustee, Laura has taken on several representation and leadership roles both college and university wide. This includes being Women’s+ Welfare, Vice-President and finally President of Lonsdale College JCR Executive and a member of the Students Union Executive Committee and Experience Committee. Laura continues to be an active participant on campus where she is involved in several societies and is an ambassador for Lancaster Environment Centre. She is eager to make a meaningful and lasting impact as a student trustee.

 

Thomas Cross

Thomas is a 3rd year History and Politics student who comes from Somerset. In his time at Lancaster so far, Thomas has been active in multiple societies and forums. They were chair of the Lancaster Students’ Union Assembly from January to June 2023 as well as the President of Politics Society. This year they are the LGBTQ+ LCO and involved in SU decision making from the Union Assembly to Trustee Board. Thomas ran as a candidate for the University ward in the local elections and has been a part of multiple parliamentary campaigns both before and after coming to Lancaster. Additionally, they have written a report for Glastonbury Town Council on recommending future revenue streams and local enterprise. They look forward to serving as a Student Trustee on the board and using their skills to push for change in the Students’ Union.

 

Nathan Mooney

Nathan is a second year LLB Law student and has worked in and around Lancaster for many years. During his time at Lancaster so far, Nathan has taken on many student representation and leadership roles: from being Social Secretary to General Secretary and currently Vice-President of Lonsdale College JCR Executive with the plan of advancing to President following the summer elections. Nathan is also an ambassador for Lancaster’s Law School and is an avid member of The Law Society. Furthermore, whilst undertaking his studies Nathan completed an Introduction to Law programme with Linklaters LLP, which allowed him gain key professional experience working in areas of restructuring and insolvency and dispute resolution. Prior to moving to Lancaster Nathan worked with The Citizens Advice Bureau as a legal advisor offering free legal advice

 

Role of the Trustee Board

The Trustee Board has the ultimate and collective responsibility for directing the non-political affairs of the union, and ensuring that it is well-run, financially sustainable and solvent and delivers the objectives for which it has been set up. The board has numerous responsibilities, including:

 

• Approving the mission of the union and ensuring that it meets the interests of groups who can affect or who are affected by the achievement of the mission
• Stimulating, challenging, evaluating and endorsing strategies to deliver the union’s objectives on an ongoing and financially viable basis including preparing strategic direction.
• Ensuring that there are in place appropriate arrangements for the management of the union, particularly through the appointment of the Chief Executive and the senior management team
• Ensuring that there are appropriate systems of audit control and accountability
• Approving the principle policies of the union (only in the areas of finance, assets and human resources (where appropriate)) and ensuring that there is an ethical policy framework consistent with the union’s Articles of Association, bye-laws and mission
• Making such provision as it thinks fit for the general welfare of students, in consultation with the union Executive
• Ensuring that there is full and appropriate consultation on major issues with internal and external groups with an interest in the union
• Monitoring the union’s performance and effectiveness against its objectives through the use of key performance indicators (KPIs) and benchmarking. The Trustee Board also regularly reviews its own effectiveness in facilitating the institutional performance