Profiles of Governors

Mr John Bateman OBE (Chair)

John retired as CEO of UK Youth in 2010 following a long career in formal and non-formal education in both the maintained and not for profit sectors. He has served terms as President of the European Confederation of Youth Organisations, Vice Chair of the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services and has been a member of numerous Ministerial Advisory Groups at the DfE. He was a founding Trustee of the Foundation for Outdoor Adventure, a Director of Youth FM and a member of the Advisory Board for Whole Education.  He is currently a Trustee at The Rural Media Company and The Aspire Academy, an AP Free School in Worcester. He was awarded the OBE for services to young people in 2004.

Mr Carl Arntzen

Managing Director of Bosch Thermotechnology Ltd.  Having completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Carl joined Worcester Bosch Group in 1984. Following national and international roles throughout the Sales, Marketing and Service organisation he was appointed Managing Director in October 2011 and is responsible for the whole Bosch Thermotechnology business in the UK & Ireland. Carl joined the University’s Board of Governors in 2013.

Dr Diana Beech

Diana is Head of Government Affairs at the University of Warwick. She was previously Policy Adviser for higher education to three separate UK Ministers for Universities and Science. This was a role she fulfilled after a stint as the first Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Higher Education Policy Institute, where she published widely on topics including future demand for higher education, widening access to university and free speech. Diana also previously had a key role in shaping the new regulatory landscape for higher education in England, having been Programme Manager in the Department for Education with specific responsibility for establishing the Office for Students (OfS). Diana holds a PhD in German Studies from the University of Cambridge and has held early-career academic appointments at universities in Canada, Germany and the UK. Diana is an Independent governor and serves on the Audit Committee.

Mr John Bothamley CBE

John used the success of his building development and design career to create a grant making trust www.fouracretrust.org.uk in 1996.  The trust, with the strapline ‘giving individuals a better start in life’, distributes funds to a range of national and international charities mainly those helping young people make the most of their lives. One of the primary recipients is Talk the Talk (www.talkthetalkuk.org) “Confident Communication for Life”  - which helps school children develop communication skills. 

His work is now concentrated on social mobility and education matters; especially wanting to see a widening of the curriculum at school level and the promotion of vocational skills into useful and fulfilling work.

Mr Sean Devlin

Sean retired after 44 years in secondary education in 2017. He enjoyed a career in a variety of schools in Papua New Guinea and England. His career started as a V.S.O teacher and culminated with 15 years as Principal of Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College in Worcester. His main teaching subjects were Economics, Politics and Sociology. He feels fortunate to have had a very satisfying and challenging career. He is currently a Schools and Parish Volunteer with CAFOD, Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors of Worcester Sixth Form College and Vice-Chair of the St. Teresa of Calcutta Multi Academy in Birmingham. Sean became a co-opted governor in January 2020 and serves on the HR committee.

Mr Robert Dudley

Robert is the Head of the Three Counties School of Nursing and Midwifery and has been at the University of Worcester since 2004. A registered nurse by profession, Robert is accountable for strategic leadership, performance and management of the School. 

Robert’s research interests lie in the areas of student’s fitness to practise, practice governance, and simulated learning. He also holds honoured affiliations through fellowships with the Higher Education Academy, and the Honor Society of Nursing Phi Mu Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau International. 

Robert joined the board as an elected staff governor in 2017 and is a member of the Finance and Development Committee.

Mrs Diana Gant

Diana retired from teaching in 2009; for the last 9 years of her career she was Headmistress of the Mount School in York. She was a governor of York St John University for 9 years until she returned to Worcester in 2014, having been Head of Religious Studies at the King's School in the 1980s. She also volunteers with the Maggs Day Centre and Worcester Cathedral Education Department.  Diana joined the Board of Governors as an independent governor in August 2015 and serves on the HR Committee. 

Professor David Green CBE

Professor David Green is the Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Worcester. He has been the University’s executive head since 2003 and is accountable to the University’s Board of Governors for the strategic leadership, overall performance and management of the University. He led Worcester to successful applications for full University title in 2005, and for Research Degree Awarding Powers in 2010. David is a member of the Board of Universities UK and GuildHE. 

Mrs Anna Hooper

After a career in children's book publishing and marketing Anna changed careers and until  2007 she worked for the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in Adult Education.  During this time she developed the GCSE English provision and improved learners' success rates. Anna moved to Worcester in 2008 and has become involved in the Worcester Festival Choral Society and the Worcester Volunteer Centre.  Anna joined the Board of Governors in August 2011 as an independent governor and is a member of the Finance & Development Committee and Academic Board.

Mr David Iddon

David retired in 2013 following a career in secondary education as a modern foreign languages teacher and, from 2003-13, as Headteacher/Executive Head of Bishop Vesey's Grammar School, Sutton Coldfield.  He is passionate about raising aspirations and achievement and providing educational opportunities of the highest calibre. He has a particular interest in community cohesion and social mobility issues.  Having co-founded an educational charity, he has considerable experience of alumni activities, fund raising strategies and capital project management.  He is currently a trustee of a charity with an emphasis on health and education.  Beyond education, his interests include France and French culture, sport, ornithology, aviculture and photography.  David joined the Board in 2014 and serves on the Audit Committee.

Dr Claire Jones

Claire Jones is a local GP, and has worked in Worcester for 22 yrs. She has a special interest in medical research, and is a GP Research Champion for the NIHR ( National Institute of Health Research).  She joined the Board in 2020 and is a member of the HR committee.

Mr Nadeem Khan

Nadeem is a District Judge based in Worcester having previously qualified as a solicitor in 1999.  He has a particular focus on civil and family law with a particular specialism in Children Law. He has previously been a charity trustee for the East Midlands Christian fellowship and was a founding member of the voluntary organisation Indus Project in Derby. Nadeem joined the Board in 2017/18 and serves on the HR Committee.

Liam Lees

Liam is the President at Worcester Students’ Union. Liam's role is to champion the rights, welfare, and diversity of our students. Liam will be making sure all students feel empowered and run campaigns helping students speak up for issues that matter to them. Liam is new to the Presidential role but has had experience representing student voice as both a Network Chair and a Course representative. Liam studied BA Creative Writing and Screenwriting.

Dr Derek McDougall

Derek is currently Head of Geography and Archaeology and also an Associate Head of the Institute of Science and the Environment. The latter includes responsibility for coordinating recruitment activities across the Institute. In terms of teaching and research, Derek is a physical geographer with particular interests in glaciers and glaciation, mountain geomorphology, and Quaternary environmental change.  He is also interested in e-learning, including the use of virtual fieldwork to support and reinforce the ‘real’ thing. Derek joined the Board in 2013 as an elected staff governor and is a member of the Audit Committee. 

Rag Mularczyk

Rag is the Vice President Education at Worcester Students' Union and one of three student representatives on the Board of Governors. He is a sabbatical officer, who has completed his degree in BSc Hons Geography. Rag’s role at Worcester Students’ Union involves being the lead representative for Worcester students on matters relating to their academic experience.

The Rev'd Canon Dr Alvyn Pettersen

 The Rev’d Canon Dr Alvyn Pettersen, who is based in Oxford, is an adviser to Church Action on Labour and Life (CALL), a Europe-wide network that seeks to address employment and related economic and social issues, a Bishops’ Inspector of Church of England Theological Colleges and Courses, and the author of the very recently published The Second Century Apologists [Wipf & Stock 2020]. Prior to returning to Oxford he was Canon Theologian of Worcester Cathedral, a parish priest in Surrey, and a Chaplain of Clare College, Cambridge, and Exeter College, Oxford, in which university he also taught Theology. Co-opted to the Board of the University in 2014, he is a member of the Finance and Development Committee.

Sarah Pittaway

Sarah leads the Academic Services team at The Hive, home to Europe’s first integrated public and university library, where she has worked since 2013. Sarah is an active member of the library community, sitting on the Mercian Collaboration Staff Development Group, the UKSG Outreach & Engagement Committee, and the editorial board of the International Journal of Birth & Parent Education.  She is also a member of the University’s Staff Mental Health Network. Sarah joined the board of governors in 2018.

Neve Ricketts

Neve is Vice President Student Activities within the Students' Union. After four years, she has just finished her Integrated Masters in Touring Theatre MT. Neve’s role is to liaise with the committees of sports clubs and societies promoting engagement within the student body. Neve also takes the lead on fundraising and TeamWorc Action. 

Marc Scriven

Marc Scriven is currently UW Director of Strength and Conditioning (S&C), and Head of S&C for two professional sport franchises; UW Worcester Wolves Ltd and Severn Stars VNSL Netball. In addition, Marc is a Governor for Aspire, a secondary age group, AP school in Worcester. Having been fortunate to enjoy a very successful personal and professional  career in sport, Marc now feels it a privilege to mentor students and young people at the beginning of their working lives. As a member of staff, Marc joined the University Board of Governors in 2018.     

Mr Ian Smith

Ian is the Chair of Bishop Fleming LLP, a top 30 firm of chartered accountants, where he has specific responsibility for the development of partners and senior management. He went to school in Worcester and has a geography degree from Durham University. He is a Trustee of The Rowlands Trust, Queen Elizabeth's Almshouses, The Kildare Trust and The Clothiers Company Charitable Foundation. He is a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Tax Advisor. 

Mrs Sarah Speck

Lay member of the governing body of South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group leading on patient and public engagement. Sarah is a plant biologist and MSc trained science communicator, she transitioned from crop science research to a corporate affairs career managing communications, marketing and public relations programmes for Defra's Animal Health agency and global agribusiness, Syngenta. She is a Chartered member of the Society of Biology and a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.  Sarah is also a parent director of the governing body of a local primary school.  Sarah joined the Board in 2013 and is a member of the Finance and Development Committee.