Meet Our Trustees

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:

  • Kate Bracewell, President and Chair of the Trustee Board

  • Niamh McAuley, Education Officer

  • Emily Houston-Woods, Activities Officer

  • David Grice, Wellbeing Officer

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:

  • Young woman with shoulder-length dark hair, smiling, wearing a striped pink and blue shirt, standing outdoors on a city street with buildings and trees in the background.

    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.

    (1st term: 29 June 2021 - 7 September 2025, currently on 2nd term: 8 September 2025 – 7 September 2029)

  • 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.

    (1st term: 7 September 2019 - 6 September 2023, currently on 2nd term: 7 September 2023 – 6 September 2027)

  • 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.

    (1st term: 29 June 2021 - 7 September 2025, currently on 2nd term: 8 September 2025 – 9 September 2026)

  • 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.

    (1st term: 25 May 2025 – 24 May 2026, currently on 2nd term: 25 May 2026 – 24 May 2027)

Student Trustees

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

  • Ruby Brown

    Ruby Brown (she/her) is currently working towards an MA in physics. Outside of her studies she has a passion for wellbeing, being the current Lonsdale College JCR Vice-President for Wellbeing, previous Women's+ Welfare Officer, member of the sustainability committee and women's+ forum. Ruby was also the departmental rep for Physics and was a CTP panel member in her third year.

    (Currently on 1st Term: 29 June 2026 - 25 June 2027)

  • Henry Carter

    Henry is a 3rd year philosophy student. During his time at university, he has held exec positions in multiple societies, Grizedale JCR, and a Liberation Group, including President of Philosophy Society and Political Lead of the Accessibility Community.  His time as a JCR Officer, LCO, and Subject Rep are also roles that have built up his commitment to protecting the role and power of student voice in decision making.

    (Currently on 1st Term: 29 June 2026 - 25 June 2027)

  • Melody Saynor

    Melody is a 3rd year Natural Sciences student. During her time at university, she has held multiple exec positions of various societies including two years as President of Lancaster University's First Aid Society. In addition, Melody is the department representative for Natural Sciences where she has been recognised for her consistent campaigning in making sure student voice is heard both within and outside of the department.

    (Currently on 1st Term: 12th January 2026 - 10th January 2027)

  • Shalvi Dogra

    Shalvi Dogra is an international postgraduate student pursuing an MSc in Human Resource Management at Lancaster University. During her time at the university, she has been actively involved in ambassadorial roles that contribute to student engagement and support the wider university community. She currently serves as a LUMS Ambassador and a Role Model Ambassador. Her academic background in Human Resource Management informs her interest in contributing thoughtfully and responsibly to university governance and decision making.

    (Currently on 1st Term: 12th January 2026 - 10th January 2027)

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

Trustee Board Sub-Committees

In addition to the Board of Trustees who oversee key decision making, there are various groups working on key areas including finance, governance and HR. 

Governance Sub-Committee

Richard Soper is the Chair of the Governance Sub-Committee. The Governance Sub-Committee has delegated responsibility, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, for: promoting good governance; reviewing the Union’s governance arrangements on a continuous basis; and identifying opportunities to improve the Union’s governance.

Graeme Osborn is the Expert Committee member for the Governance Sub-Committee.

Finance & Risk Sub-Committee

Mike Lekkie is the Chair of the Finance & Risk Sub-Committee. The Finance & Risk Sub-Committee has delegated responsibility, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, for considering the strategy and general management of the Students’ Union finances. This includes setting annual budgets, key performance objectives, and monitoring the financial performance of the organisation. The Committee also considers matters relating to the Students' Union's commerical services ensuring that all operations act within the scope of the Union's vision and values and that services are joined up, sustainable and responding to changing demand, opportunities and risks. 

Human Resources (HR) & Remuneration Sub-Committee

Dave Morris is the Chair of the HR & Remuneration Sub-Committee. The HR & Remuneration Sub-Committee has delegated responsibility, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, for the oversight of matters relating to the Students' Union's staff such as staff recruitment and induction, training and development, monitoring of HR procedures and policies, and pay. 

Trustee Board Code of Conduct

Trustee Board Minutes

Trustee Register of Interest