Business Continuity Governance Committee
This Committee was re-established on 18 January 2021 as a sub-Committee of the Board of Governors’ to support the effective and robust governance of the University group during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Strategy, Finance and Resources Committee and Human Resources Committee have been temporarily suspended upon the creation of this Committee.
This Committee has delegated powers to consider any business not explicitly reserved by the Articles of Government for Board of Governors’ consideration.
It determines matters in respect of the detailed development of University Group strategy and the determination of large scale and reputationally sensitive capital developments. It also determines or advises the Board of Governors’ on matters relating to the financial affairs of the University; matters relating to the University’s estate and human resource matters.
The Committee’s constitution allows for at least five members to be appointed by the Board of Governors’ to include: the Chair of the Board of Governors’, the Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors’, the Vice-Chancellor; the Provost and other Governors’ appointed as appropriate. With effect from 20 March 2020, Nick Sale and Robert Stockdale are the governors appointed to the Committee.
Business Continuity Governance Committee - Constitution and Terms of Reference
Keith Bissett
Independent Governor (Chair)
Currently the Chair of the Board of Governors, Keith began with Coventry University as a co-opted member of the Audit and Risk Committee and became a full Board member in 2010, taking over as Chair of the HR Committee. Keith also chairs the Strategy, Finance and Resources Committee.
Keith is Chair of the Warwickshire based consultancy and training company Bourton Group. Their clients include the MOD, Highways Agency, Sellafield Rail, Rolls-Royce and other blue chip companies.
Previously a member of the Council for the Management Consultancies Association for 17 years, they have served for 9 years as a member of the Warwickshire Advisory Committee, which is responsible for the selection and appointment of magistrates.
As lead ambassador for cancer support charity Maggies, Keith has helped to raise £5m for a new centre at Walsgrave hospital which will be the first in the West Midlands.
Keith is also a member of the Board of Governors, Strategy, Finance and Resources Committee, Remuneration Committee and Governance and Nominations Committee.
Nick Sale
Independent Governor (Deputy Chair)
Appointed as an Independent Governor in September 2018, Nick became Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors and Pro-Chancellor in September 2020. They are an experienced business leader and company director who worked as a chief operating officer in the automotive industry until early in 2018. Nick has had a successful track record working throughout the world in the IT and engineering services industry, with particular expertise in outsourcing and offshoring. In addition to working as an independent consultant, Nick has also started a cyber-security consultancy with an old work colleague. They are a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.
Nick is also a member of the Board of Governors, Human Resources Committee, Strategy, Finance and Resources Committee, Governance and Nominations Committee, Remuneration Committee and Commercial Advisory Committee.
Andy Meehan
Independent Governor
Andy currently holds the role of Pro-Chancellor, following their appointment to the Board in February 2017. Andy is a graduate of Oxford University, a chartered accountant and for 30 years enjoyed an executive career mainly in the retail sector, having had roles as finance director and chief executive of several companies including Selfridges, Mothercare and Co-operative Retail Services.
For the last 12 years, Andy has had a portfolio of chairing and non-executive directorships across commercial, public and charity sectors, including GHD Group, Fortnum and Mason and Myton Hospice.
Currently Chair of Ramsdens Holdings PLC and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and the hospitals’ charity, Andy is also Chair of the Mayday Trust, a charity working with people experiencing homelessness, treasurer of a local church and is the Chair of the Council at Coventry Cathedral.
Andy is also a member of the Board of Governors, Strategy, Finance and Resources Committee, Remuneration Committee, and Commercial Advisory Committee.
John Latham CBE
Vice-Chancellor
John leads the delivery of the University Group’s strategic objectives as agreed by the Board of Governors and was appointed Vice-Chancellor in 2014. A double graduate of the University, they have a background in information technology and telecommunications, having held high-profile roles at regional, national and European levels promoting innovation, technology and economic development.
John is a non-executive Director of Health Education England (the primary funder of health related education in England), is a Council member of InnovateUK (part of the UK’s National Research Agency (UKRI)) and is a Board member of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership. John is additionally an advisory board member of the UK’s National Growth Board, which is responsible for the oversight of the UK’s European Structural Funds Programme.
John is also a member of the Board of Governors and the Strategy, Finance and Resources Committee.
Robert Stockdale
Independent Governor
Robert joined the Board in 2014 and is currently in their third term as an Independent Governor. Robert has over 30 years of international human resource experience, gained primarily in manufacturing and is experienced in managing, re-structuring and supporting growth across both Europe and the Americas, as well as parts of Asia-pacific.
Robert is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and volunteers as an adviser for Warwick District Citizens Advice Bureau.
Robert is also a member of the Board of Governors, Human Resources Committee and Remuneration Committee.
Ian Dunn
Executive member
Ian, a Coventry graduate, has been employed at Coventry since 1992 and was appointed Provost for Coventry University Group in 2018. Ian’s responsibilities include student services, the students’ Union, library, centre for academic writing, registry and the teaching and learning function at the University.
As Provost, Ian is Chief Academic Officer and takes responsibility for driving the highest standards of academic excellence and supporting the leadership of the Education and Student Experience, Research and Enterprise and Innovation pillars of the Corporate Plan. Also in an increasingly regulated higher education environment, ensuring that the core educational activities of the Group are aligned to both the Corporate Plan and Excellence Frameworks (REF, KEF and TEF) has become an imperative.
Along with the other Associate Deans in Engineering and Computing Ian led the design thinking for the new Engineering and Computing Building, including the creation of Activity Led Learning, which was pivotal in the thinking behind the current Education Strategy. More recently they led the development of Coventry University College Ltd. in 2011 and were involved in subsequent developments in Scarborough and Dagenham. Ian led the creation of Coventry University Online Ltd. and the partnership with FutureLearn and the development of the Better Futures Multi Academy Trust.
In 2016 Ian was voted “Inspiring Leader of the Year” at the Guardian Higher Education Awards. They serve on several local Multi Academy Trust boards across the West Midlands, including chairing the Midlands Academies Trust. They are a member of the jobs and skills group of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership andchair of the National Council for Entrepreneurship in Education. Ian is also a Justice of the Peace in Coventry and Warwickshire.
Ian is also a member of the Education Advisory Committee.
