University Council and Committee members

Professor Bob Cryan (Vice-Chancellor) CBE DL FREng

Professor Bob Cryan took up the post as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield on the 1st January 2007, a University that now has over 22,000 students from over 120 countries. Bob holds two first class honours degrees (Engineering, Mathematics), an MBA and two doctorates (PhD, DSc) and he is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering Technology and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Bob is a Deputy Lieutenant for West Yorkshire and in 2013 he was awarded The Guardian Inspiring Leader Award. In 2014 he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours and made a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute. In 2015 he received The Daily Telegraph Educate North Inspiring Leader Award and was included in the group of 50 World leading Engineers appointed as Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Mr Brown is Chair of Thermal Energy Ventures Ltd (Brighouse) and Wakefield Acoustics Ltd as well as a Director of Bluestone Films Ltd and Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club Ltd. He is an active competitive swimmer with the City of Bradford Swimming Club. Mr Brown was appointed a member of the University Council in 1996 and elected Chair of Council in September 2004.

Mr Nicholls is a retired Human Resources Consultant and former Head of Personnel for the Bradford & Bingley Building Society. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and a former Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Bankers and the Royal Society of Arts. Mr Nicholls was appointed a Member of the University Council in April 1999, Vice-Chair in September 2006 and Chair of the Estates Development Committee in November 2010.

Mr Fisher is the Director of the Office for Civil Society and Innovation at the Cabinet Office and was previously the Social Justice Director at the Department for Work and Pensions. In January 2010 Mr Fisher received a CBE. He was appointed to the University Council in March 2006.

Mrs Harris is a celebrated local author whose novels include ‘Chocolat’ which became an international best seller and was subsequently made into an Oscar-nominated film. Her books are now published in over 40 countries and have won a number of British and international awards. Mrs Harris was the recipient of an Honorary Award (Hon DLitt) from the University in 2003 and has recently become a patron of The Kirkwood Hospice in Huddersfield. In June 2013 Joanne Harris was awarded an MBE. She was appointed to the University Council in November 2010.

Baroness Pinnock was elected as a Councillor for the Cleckheaton ward in 1987 and has served the Cleckheaton community as its Councillor ever since. She served as Leader of Kirklees Council from 2000 to 2006 and was also the leader of the Kirklees Liberal Democrat Councillors from 1991 to 2014. Baroness Pinnock was appointed to the University Council with effect from August 2016. 

Professor Pollock-Hulf is currently working with WISE (Women into Science and Engineering) and the Bloodhound Project to promote STEM to the next generation of engineers. She has been an active volunteer member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers for over 30 years and was the 127th President of the Institute in 2012. In June 2014, Professor Pollock-Hulf was awarded an OBE for services to mechanical engineering. She was appointed to the University Council in March 2015.

Dame Ingrid Roscoe became the first lady Lord-Lieutenant in the north of England in 2004. She is a sculpture historian, responsible, among other publications, for editing and co-authoring ‘A Biographical Dictionary of British Sculptors, 1660-1851’, 2009, a 1,600 page tome described by critics as magisterial and an essential research tool in the field. In addition to being a trustee of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and a Commander of the Order of St John, Dame Roscoe holds a number of voluntary positions including Patron of the Prince’s Trust for West Yorkshire, Patron of the National Mining Museum, President of the Royal British Legion in West Yorkshire and President of the Leeds Philharmonic Society. She was made Dame of the Royal Victorian Order in the 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours. Dame Roscoe was appointed to the University Council in November 2010.

Mrs Thomson, who is a registered nurse and midwife, began her nursing career at Leeds General Infirmary and moved to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary in 1989 . She became the Executive Director of Nursing for the newly-formed Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust in April 2001 and has also held the post of Deputy Chief Executive since January 2006 until her retirement in March 2014. She is now an independent Healthcare Consultant. Mrs Thomson was appointed to the University Council in November 2010.

Mr Thornton has retired from his position as Chairman of Thornton & Ross Ltd, a Healthcare Manufacturing Group based in Linthwaite. He has served as Vice-President of Euralliance Farma and as a Member of the Executive Committee of Proprietary Association of Great Britain.  He was appointed to the University Council in July 2006 and elected Chair of the Audit Committee in August 2012. 

Professor Thornton is Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield and is responsible for planning, resources and marketing across the University. Professor Thornton studied at New College, Oxford and specialises in the late medieval and early modern political and social history of the British Isles. He was appointed to the University Council in September 2015.

Professor Owen-Lynch is Dean of the School of Applied Sciences and was appointed to the University Council in March 2016.

Dr Lane is a Senior Lecturer in Law at Huddersfield Business School and Branch Secretary of the University and College Union. She was elected to the University Council in July 2015.

Mrs Allen is currently Deputy Head of School Administration in the School of Human and Health Sciences, a post she has held for over 10 years. She holds an MBA from the University of Bradford and a BA (Hons) in Philosophy and English from Manchester Metropolitan University, as well as professional qualifications in teaching and health and safety. Mrs Allen has a particular interest in the management of work-life balance and the quality of working life with a focus on the role of women in senior management positions. Mrs Allen was elected to University Council in July 2015.

Mr Alenezi is the current President of the University of Huddersfield Students’ Union. Prior to this he was the President of the Kuwait Students’ Society for 3 years. Mr Alenezi will graduate on November with a bachelor of Electronic & Electrical Engineering.

Mr Cox is a retired Chartered Accountant and former Finance Director of AQA Education. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He has held a number of Finance Director roles across a range of industries and is currently Treasurer/Trustee of Girlguiding. He was appointed to the Audit Committee in March 2013.

Mr Kelly is a Partner at Schofield Sweeny Solicitors in Huddersfield, having formerly worked for Armitage Sykes Solicitors and Eversheds LLP. He is also a qualified chartered accountant and previous roles include Finance Director and Deputy Group Managing Director for Kunick Leisure and European Finance Director for Caudwell Communications, based in Dusseldorf. Mr Kelly was appointed to the Audit Committee with effect from August 2016.

Contact
Tel: 01484 473919
E-mail: m.m.boryslawskyj@hud.ac.uk

Michaela Boryslawskyj was appointed University Secretary in August 2014.  She joined the University in 2009 as Legal Officer and became University Solicitor in 2012.

The role of University Secretary is very varied; but includes being responsible for ensuring that the University operates within its prescribed constitution and legal framework and to support the governance of the University through its University Council and Senior Management Team.

Other key roles and responsibilities of the University Secretary are to: 

• Advise the University Council on the proper exercise of its powers under the Instrument and Articles of Government;
• Advise the University Council on governance matters, including the management of Council and Committee succession plans, the provision of induction, training and briefings and maintaining a register of interests;
• Manage the business of the Committees of the Council, by providing an effective servicing function;
• Provide legal advice to the University’s Senior Management Team;
• Ensure effective processes are in place for the management of enquiries made under the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts; and
• To maintain arrangements for the safe handling of the University Seal and provide advice, where required, on documentation to be executed under seal.

Michaela qualified as a solicitor in 2005, having studied at the University and the College of Law in York.  Prior to joining the University, Michaela practised as a corporate/commercial solicitor in both regional and international firms in Leeds.  Michaela holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University and is a student member of the Institute of the Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.

Mrs Lloyd is a business woman and has a manufacturing and property business based in Elland.  She stepped down as High Sheriff of West Yorkshire in April 2014 and was appointed President of the RNLI Leeds Business Branch in May 2014. Mrs Lloyd was appointed to the University Council in July 2014.

A leading figure in the construction industry, Bernard Ainsworth is regarded as the 'ultimate' project manager and has been responsible for leading teams in the construction of many famous buildings, including the iconic London Shard and the Millennium Dome, and it was for this latter project that he was awarded his OBE. Mr Ainsworth now carries a number of Non-Executive Director roles on major construction projects and was appointed to the University’s Estates Development Committee with effect from 1 August 2017.