Board of Governors
The Board of Governors is the University of East London’s governing body. It carries the ultimate responsibility for the determination of the educational character and mission of the University and for the management of the financial sustainability and viability of the University.
Members of the Board of Governors
Independent Members
Steve Armstrong (Chair of the Board)
Steve Armstrong has over 40 years of experience in the automotive industry, including 35 years with Ford Motor Company in global leadership roles. Starting as an apprentice at 16, he worked across the UK, US, Sweden, Germany, Brazil, and China, holding senior positions at Jaguar, Mazda, Volvo, and Ford. He was elected Group Vice President of Ford Motor Company in 2014 and later served as Vice President and Transformation Officer for Ford South America and India. Steve led Changan Ford’s turnaround in China and was Chairman, President, and CEO of Ford of Europe, overseeing operations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He also served as President of Ford South America and held executive roles at Volvo Cars and Getrag-Ford Transmissions.
Since retiring in 2022, Steve has continued as a non-executive director and leadership consultant. He’s received multiple industry accolades, including Automotive News Eurostar and Auto Express’s “Most Influential Brit in the Global Auto Industry.” Born in Luton, Steve is married to Kay and has two grown-up children. He enjoys cycling, motorsports, and shares a passion for wine with his wife.
Sarah Fahy (Deputy Chair of the Board)
Sarah is a chartered accountant and member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation and spent over 30 years in senior International Finance roles in large multinational organisations including Sony and Pepsi. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Birmingham. Sarah brings a wealth of experience in risk management and governance procedures, as well as a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion.
She was head of the Sony Pictures Gender Equality Group, is a Trustee of the Sony Music Pension Fund, and acts as a mentor under various programmes including the University of Birmingham's Alumni Leadership Mentoring Programme, Cancer Research's Women of Influence Programme, and UEL’s own Career Mentoring Programme. She ran a highly successful student internship programme for many years and is particularly interested in strengthening links between the University and business, and ensuring students are supported and prepared as well as they can be as they transition into the world of work.
In her spare time, Sarah loves exploring the great outdoors and cooking for family and friends.
Amanjit Jhund
Amanjit Jhund is CEO of Whipps Cross University Hospital and a qualified medical doctor with degrees from Edinburgh and Harvard. He’s served on NHS boards and advised global healthcare institutions through McKinsey. An award-winning entrepreneur and former Labour parliamentary candidate, Amanjit is passionate about education’s role in improving health and economic outcomes in East London.
Ben Buckton
Ben is Chief Marketing & People Officer and Partner at Ampa LLP, a professional services group, and sits on the board of law firm Shakespeare Martineau. With over 20 years’ experience in marketing, people, and transformation strategy, he has held senior roles at global firms including Experian, AXA, Allianz, and RSA, working across EMEA, North America, and Asia.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a Leadership Fellow at the Society of Leadership Fellows, Windsor Castle. Ben holds a BSc in Business Economics from Manchester Metropolitan University, along with postgraduate qualifications from the Chartered Institute of Insurance, Chartered Institute of Marketing, and a Master’s in Marketing & Communications Leadership from York University’s Schulich School of Business.
Ben leads growth across Ampa’s group of companies through brand, culture, and stakeholder engagement. He is spearheading the group’s B Corp accreditation journey, championing responsible business practices that benefit people, communities, the environment, and investors.
A long-time resident of East London, Ben is a passionate advocate for local communities. He serves on the Advisory Board of the Vulnerability Registration Service and mentors social impact entrepreneurs through Ingenuity Impact and the Managing Partners Forum.
Fiona Bolton
Fiona is a seasoned Human Resources Managing Director with over 30 years at Accenture, where she most recently served as Global Strategic People Programme Lead and Chief Talent Officer for Accenture Song and Accenture Digital. She is known for designing and executing global talent strategies that drive responsible growth, enhance performance, and foster positive workplace culture.
Her career has spanned continents, including two years living and working in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and she thrives in cross-cultural, global environments. While her experience is rooted in large corporate settings, Fiona is passionate about working with emerging businesses and unconventional talent, where she can challenge traditional models and drive meaningful change.
A strong advocate for inclusion, Fiona believes in cultivating environments where everyone—regardless of background—can thrive. Her leadership style centres on equity, innovation, and human impact. Fiona has deep family roots in East London and now resides in the Essex countryside with her husband. They share a love for travel, staying active, and exploring food and wine.
Gavin Poole
Gavin Poole is CEO of Here East, a thriving tech and creative campus in East London. He transformed the former Olympic media centre into a hub for 6,000+ workers and students. Gavin also directs Plexal, an innovation centre focused on cybersecurity and national prosperity. A former RAF Wing Commander, he later led the Centre for Social Justice, helping shape the Modern Slavery Act. He sits on advisory boards for Tech London Advocates and Global Tech Advocates. Gavin lives in London with his family.
Jackie Craissati
Jackie Craissati is a consultant clinical and forensic psychologist and director of Psychological Approaches, a community interest company working with individuals with complex mental health needs.
She has 30 years' experience of working in the NHS and with the criminal justice system and was clinical director of a forensic mental health service in south-east London for many years.
Jazz Bhogal
Jazz is the Assistant Director of Health, Education and Youth, Greater London Authority.
Jazz has spent her career in the health and care sector, working at all levels from managing a busy A&E department in a major London hospital, right through to working at an international level overseeing the UK’s Overseas Territories preparations for Brexit. Having spent the last decade working as part of the UK Government on health and care policy, and led the UK Government’s strategy to create a more diverse and inclusive Civil Service.
In 2019, Jazz moved to regional government at the Greater London Authority, as the Assistant Director for the Health and Education Unit, responsible for the development and implementation of policy and strategy relating to the Mayor’s priorities on health inequalities and health improvement, the health and social care system, early years, education, and young people.
Tackling inequalities and discrimination has underpinned Jazz’s career and drives her passion to support our public services to become the inclusive and diverse organisations we need to improve outcomes for all.
Kieren Mayers
Kieren Mayers is VP of ESG at Sony Interactive Entertainment, overseeing sustainability, accessibility, and ethical gaming. With nearly 30 years in environmental leadership at IBM, HP, and Sony, he helped found the European Recycling Platform and chairs the UN’s Playing for the Planet Alliance. A Visiting Professor and published scholar, Kieren advocates for inclusive gaming and climate action. He grew up in poverty and now mentors students to unlock their potential.
Professor Sir Leslie Colin Ebdon CBE DL (Senior Independent Governor)
Sir Les Ebdon is a renowned leader in higher education, social mobility, and analytical chemistry. As Director of Fair Access to Higher Education (2012–2018), he helped raise disadvantaged student numbers to record levels. He previously served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire, increasing student numbers and income significantly. Les has chaired Million+, served on boards for Universities UK and UCEA, and led the Association of Universities of the East of England. He was awarded a CBE in 2009 and knighted in 2018 for services to education. He currently chairs NEON and the University Centre Peterborough Council and is President Elect of the European Association of Professors Emeriti.
Lucy Millar
Lucy has over 35 years experience in the manufacturing industry in diverse roles across finance, strategy, risk, internal audit and pension management. She has lived and worked around the world including India, Spain and the USA, and was most recently General Auditor for Ford Motor Company. She is a qualified management accountant and internal auditor, and chaired the Trustee Board for Ford's Senior Staff Pension Scheme for 8 years.
Naureen Khan
Photography and biography to follow.
Paul Confrey
Paul is an award-winning marketing leader who spent 20 years in a wide variety of roles and agencies within WPP PLC, the world’s largest communications group. Some highlights there include co-founding the agency Blue Hive and becoming CEO of the pan-European agency network GTB. His earlier marketing career was in GM Europe, with brand management, research and e-commerce positions in Vauxhall UK and Opel Germany.
He has held roles as CMO and COO at various companies. He is currently CMO at Prometheus Space Technologies – an environmental space-tech start-up, based in Athens, that is focused on wildfire prediction and tracking.
Paul is known as the individual who created and launched the world’s first vehicle online purchase system - when he was at GM Europe. He has won two Guinness World Records, which were based around marketing launches in Spain and Italy, and has been the advertising expert on the BBC’s The Apprentice.
Paul is passionate about working culture and DE&I in all its forms, and has been recognised by Glassdoor within their Top 50 Places to Work awards. He is also passionate about his two kids, his two dogs, and his two guitars, not necessarily in that order.
Steve Shaw
Steve is an experienced HR and organisational development leader with a career spanning senior executive roles and international consultancy. He has served as Chief People Officer at MPB Group and Chief HR Officer at HP Inc.’s Apogee Corporation, leading global people strategies and transformation programmes across the UK, US, India and China. He has also held senior HR leadership roles with Interpublic, one of the world’s largest marketing services groups, supporting international teams and complex organisational change.
Alongside his people leadership expertise, Steve has been closely involved in advancing sustainability, including with the Global Sustainability Benchmarking in Sport organisation. He is passionate about embedding responsible and ethical practices within organisations, and championing the role of sustainability in shaping long-term organisational resilience and positive societal impact.
As founder of Wyndham James, his consultancy practice, Steve works with small businesses and education-focused organisations on growth, workforce strategy and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. He is recognised for designing and delivering leadership, coaching and mentoring programmes that have strengthened senior leadership effectiveness and improved organisational performance.
Steve has over 20 years of boardroom experience. He also brings to the University Board extensive international experience, a track record of driving organisational growth, and a strong commitment to sustainability, widening participation and developing diverse leadership pipelines that reflect the global outlook of the University of East London.
Reverend Trevor Critchlow
Trevor Critchlow is 52nd Rector of Stepney, an office stretching back to 1233. Trevor has undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Ethics from Lancaster University and King's College London and has an interest in business ethics. Trevor was Chair of Governors at an East London secondary school that made rapid progress from being in Special Measures to Outstanding in record time. He also has wide experience of charity governance at the board level. Trevor lives in East London and is the chair of numerous local charities.
Uzoamaka Nwamarah
Uzoamaka Nwamarah is a Climate Change Adviser at the Commonwealth Secretariat, where she leads strategic programmes including the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub and the Living Lands Charter. She heads the Commonwealth NDC Programme, supporting member countries in achieving their National Climate Plans, and champions inclusive climate action through gender and youth initiatives. Her previous roles include Principal Climate Finance Consultant at Atkins Realis UK, Senior Climate Change Specialist at the African Development Bank, and Energy Policy Consultant at Camco UK. She has worked extensively with governments and international institutions to design low-carbon, climate-resilient policies and mobilise climate finance.
Uzoamaka holds a Master’s in Environmental Science and Technology – Energy Policy from Imperial College London and a BSc in Geology from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri. She is a Certified Expert in Climate Adaptation Finance and serves as a vetted UNDP Climate Resilience Expert. She’s also an Associate Member of the Energy Institute and sits on the ECOWAS Climate Change Programme Steering Committee.
A finalist in the BBBAwards STEM Senior Leader category, Uzoamaka is a member of the Court of Imperial College London and enjoys family life with her husband and three children.
Ex-Officio Member
Amanda Broderick
Professor Amanda Broderick is Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of East London, leading over 2,000 staff and 40,000 students across UEL’s London and global campuses. A distinguished social scientist and strategic leader, she has held Board-level executive and non-executive roles for over 15 years, including Chair of London Higher, Chair of BUCS, HEA Principal Fellow, and Council Member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
Her previous roles include CEO of Newcastle University London, Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Salford, and Principal of St. Cuthbert’s Society at Durham University. Amanda is renowned for transformative innovation, having led the creation of University Academy 92 and its Target Talent Curriculum. Under her leadership, UEL was named The Times & Sunday Times University of the Year 2025 (Teaching Quality) and ranked 1st in London for student positivity in NSS 2024.
Amanda’s research spans international business, marketing psychology, and strategic communications, with publications in leading journals and contributions to all four UK REFs and RAEs. She has secured multi-million-pound funding from government and industry. Her leadership is driven by a commitment to inclusive futures, health gain, and the power of sport as a catalyst for transformation.
Staff Members
Regina Everitt
Regina Everitt is Director of Library, Archives and Learning Services at the University of East London. She began her professional career as a technical author/trainer working with computer companies that developed bespoke software for the manufacturing, pharmaceutical and financial sectors in the US and UK. She later transitioned into the Higher Education sector developing and managing libraries, social learning spaces, and other learning resources.
Concerned about the low representation of BAME staff members in leadership positions in academic libraries, she co-project managed SCONUL research to document BAME staff experiences in LIS with a view to working with the sector to change the trend. She is also a member of a number of library boards and committees including the CILIP BAME Network Steering Group, M25 Consortium of Libraries Steering Group, Senate House Library Board and the British Library Council.
Matthew Almond
Dr Matthew Almond is Vice Dean of the School of Health, Sport and Bioscience at the University of East London. Dr Almond holds an undergraduate degree from Keele University and a PhD from Loughborough University. He has worked as the Director of the company Step into Health Ltd from 2005-2010, working with the public sector, private sector companies across England, Wales and Scotland. He has lectured nationally and internationally in areas such as physical activity and sedentary behaviour, population health, health inequalities, addictive behaviours and health and Global Health. Dr Almond is engaged in exploring the meaning of excellent teaching and teaching to excellence with particular focus on professional courses.
Sophia Bokhari
Dr Sophia Bokhari is Head of Psychological Sciences at the University of East London’s School of Psychology. With over two decades in higher education, she brings deep expertise in academic strategy, student success, and institutional leadership. Holding a PhD in Education, Sophia designs creative, targeted interventions that drive academic achievement, progression, employment, and social mobility. She has held research and teaching roles across Russell Group and Post-’92 universities, and now leads with pragmatism, fiscal caution, and a strong connection to the student body. This year, she launched a talent pipeline model at UEL, enabling graduates to return as academic staff. A trained university investigating officer, she is known for her criticality, reflexivity, and due diligence.
Sophia has won numerous HE awards, including leading the team that won the inaugural UK Pearson HE Innovate Award for Most Innovative Approach to Supporting Students. She now serves as a Pearson HE Judge and Collaborative Partner.
Her research as Principal Investigator spans local to international projects, co-producing with refugee and asylum seekers, Looked After Children, and SEND communities. Her work has shaped policy at multiple levels, and she recently contributed to the British Psychological Society’s From Poverty to Flourishing Expert Reference Group.
Student Members
Abhi Roy
Abhi Roy is this year’s Education Officer in East London Students’ Union. He is a recent graduate of the University’s MBA programme. Abhi previously completed an undergraduate degree in political science in Kerala, India. Abhi’s work as an officer is focused on enhancing students’ academic experience at the University of East London, with this year’s priorities including improving placement opportunities, increasing access to academic advisers, and enhancing the consultation and engagement processes between the Students’ Union and the University.
Stuti Sah
Stuti is this year’s wellbeing officer in East London Students’ Union. She is a recent graduate of MSc International Business Management. Stuti previously completed an undergraduate degree in physiotherapy in New Delhi, India. Stuti’s work is focused on improving the wellbeing of every student at the University. She aims to improve their mental and physical health, as well as to encourage the adoption of more sustainable behaviours. Stuti’s priorities for this year include bridging the gap between students' knowledge of sustainability principles and their actual behaviours, increasing physical activity among students, and strengthening the connection between halls residents and the Students’ Union.
Meeting Calendar for Board of Governors
| dAY | DATE |
|---|---|
| Monday | 20 October 2025 |
| Tuesday | 25 November 2025 |
| Tuesday | 2 December 2025 |
| Tuesday | 10 February 2026 |
| Tuesday/Wednesday | 17/18 March 2026 |
| Tuesday | 19 May 2026 |
| Tuesday | 7 July 2026 |
Sub-Committees
The Board of Governors oversees various committees that provide reports on matters related to University governance. The following committees report into the Board of Governors:
Key Info
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Legal Framework
Read our governing documents for the Board of Governance.
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Ethical Framework
Read the University's ethical framework
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Meeting Minutes
The Minutes of Meetings of the Board of Governors.
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Annual Report of the Remuneration and Staffing Committee
This report outlines the work of the Remuneration Committee for the 2023/24 academic year.
