Details of Directors
UNIPOL STUDENT HOMES BOARD MEMBERS
Leeds Metropolitan University
Mr Steve Denton - Registrar and Secretary
Steve graduated in Law from Lancaster University in 1986; following which he spent a further year as a sabbatical officer on the Students' Union.
In 1987 he worked for Hounslow Borough Council in West London. He followed this with a brief spell at Surrey County Council. In 1997, he became University Secretary and Clerk to the Board at Thames Valley University, based in Ealing, West London and Slough, Berkshire.
In May 2001, Steve relocated to Yorkshire, becoming University Secretary and Clerk to the Board at Leeds Metropolitan University. In February 2004, Steve became Registrar and Secretary of the University, bringing together a range of University wide student administrative and support services, including governance and legal matters, the academic registry, planning, student services, communication and marketing and widening access and participation. He was made a Pro-Vice-Chancellor in November 2005.
Steve is also a member of the national executives of both the AUA and AHUA.
Mr David Arblaster - Director of Services to Students
In my role as Director of Services to Students at Leeds Metropolitan University I have responsibility for student welfare including the counselling, healthcare, disability, careers, student employment and financial advice services. Prior to my current post I have been a senior lecturer and head of a teaching department in a further education college. I have served as a management information services manager and have worked for local education authorities in the East Midlands. I have had a variety of roles on the governing bodies of primary schools and further education colleges. My qualifications include a Masters degree in Business Administration. I am ordained as a Deacon for the Catholic Diocese of Leeds.
Mr Martin Rushall - Deputy University Secretary
Details coming Soon
The University of Leeds
Dr Andrew Brooks - Head of Academic Appeals and Regulation
After a PhD and post-doctoral work in Physical Chemistry at the University of Leicester, Andrew took up a position in the Faculty of Technology and Construction at the now De Montfort University, later being promoted to Faculty Officer. Andrew became Assistant registrar at Leeds in 1979, later becoming senior Assistant Registrar. Following this Andrew was Head of Central Student Administration before taking his current position in 2001, dealing with academic legal matters.
Andrew has been Secretary to the Military, Air Force and Naval Education Committee and a leading member of the Leeds Defence Studies Dining Club since the 1980s. From 1989 to 1996 he was the Secretary to the Council of Military Education Committees of the Universities of the UK.
On joining the Board of Unipol in February 1996 he accepted the Deputy Chairman’s post, which he continues to hold. In 2007 he became Honorary Treasurer on the understanding that the finances would be made transparent to a layman and that this perspective would be reported to the Board
Andrew is the University’s representative Governor, Deputy Chairman and Chairman-elect of the Board of Governors of Rishworth School where he was a pupil.
Previously an executive member of Selby Conservative Association Andrew currently is Chairman of the York Outer Constituency Conservative Association.
Professor Stephen Scott - Pro-Vice-Chancellor
Professor Stephen Scott is the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Students & Staff at the University of Leeds. He has strategic responsibility for student support including Residential & Commercial Services, Equality, Counselling, Careers and Sport. Steve was a student at Leeds in Chemistry and is Professor of Mathematical Chemistry.
Mr Dennis Hopper - Director Residential & Commercial Services
Dennis is The Director of Residential and Commercial Services at the University of Leeds, one of the largest departments in the University with around 8,000 bedspaces, 550 staff and a turnover of £30 million per annum. He is a hotel management graduate, a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality and an affiliated professional with the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Dennis is also a Director of Weetwood Hall Ltd.
Dennis has spent over 12 years in Higher Education, at senior management level, firstly at Keele University and then Edinburgh before joining Leeds in 2002.
Leeds University Union
Hi, I'm Suzy tobias and have been elected to the post of Welfare Officer at Leeds University Union. I grew up in the south side of Glasgow before moving to Leeds to study New Media at the University. My role requires me to represent students on a wide range of issues from health and wellbeing to debt management. I am also repsonsibel for ensureing that there is enough support available to our students when they need it.
Rob Damiao - Community Officer
Rob is 22 years old and originally hails from Chester in the North West. After moving to Leeds in 2005 to study Politics at the University of Leeds - in which he graduated summer 2008 - he has been elected to the full time representative post of Community Officer at Leeds University Union. Rob chose to stand for the position based on the strength of his passion in the area of student housing - believing that it is a vital area for students and can have a massive impact upon the overall experience of students choosing to study in Leeds and that Unipol is a key partner in the drive to improve student housing. He is also strongly committed to improving the relationship and generating a real mutal respect between long term owner occupiers in Leeds and the student side of the community.
Mr Aidan Grills - Membership Services Manager
Aidan has worked at Leeds University Union since 2002, previously he had been General Manager at York St. John Students' Union and held a number of posts in F.E. Colleges within Student Services and also some lecturing in Sociology. Aidan has held national committee positions within the Association of Managers in Students' Unions and sat on advisory groups for NUS. Since joining the Unipol Board Aidan has sat on the IT Sub-Committee, Governance Steering Group and now Finance Sub-Committee. Aidan is involved locally in youth work undertaken voluntarily with the Salvation Army in Leeds.
Leeds Metropolitan Students' Union
Mr Ben McDougall- Associate President Activities and Community
Ben McDougall sits on the Board as one of the three representatives from Leeds Met Students’ Union having been elected to the Executive Committee where he serves as Associate President Activities and Community. Ben has a history in student media, co-founding and running the student newspaper since its inception almost three years ago. He has also been constantly involved on the Union’s Council in a variety of roles, including, equal opportunities and student development. His current role sees a significant portion of his time spent creating and developing student-led activities and the rest of his time spent fostering links with the local community.
Ms Vikki Baars - Associate President Welfare and Campaigns
Vicki is the Associate President for Welfare and Campaigns at Leeds Met Students' Union. She was elected into the role in 2008 with a prior backgroup of human rights campaigning and a general health and well being interests. She has been involved in NUS since begining university and sits on the NUS LGBT committee as one of three womens representatives. Vicki is taking time out from studing for a Bsc Hons degree in Biomedical Sciences to fulfil her role within the student union and is hoping to inject her enthusiam into others during her term. Vicki sits on the sub - committee for Accomodation Bureau services in Leeds.
Mr Trevor Page - Interim General Manager
Independent Members
Mike Wilkinson is an Independent Director and a former Chair of the Board. He serves on the Staff Review & Remuneration Sub-Committee. Until 2001 he was University Secretary of Leeds Metropolitan University. He is now a consultant and acts as Independent Assessor to the Student Loans Company. Mike is a magistrate and an independent member and Chair of the Standards Committee of Leeds City Council. He is also a member of the City Council's Corporate Governance & Audit Committee and acts as Secretary to the Audit Committee of the Higher Education Academy.
Mr Mike Cole - Student Strategy Manager, Nottingham City Council
Mike Cole is the Student Strategy Manager for Nottingham City Council. He is responsible for the city's Student Housing Action Plan as well as supporting the links and co-ordinating the work between the different partners with an interest in student accommodation. Mike was a student in Hamburg in social sciences and has worked in the field of community work and fundraising for the past 30 years.
Officers of Unipol Student Homes
Mr Martin Blakey
Chief Executive
Ms Fiona Barry
Financial Controller
Mr Ron Strong
Assistance Chief Executive (Development and IT)
Ms Liz Hodgen
Deputy Chief Executive and Company Secretary
Mrs Geneve Smith
Housing Services Manager
All contactable at:
Unipol Student Homes
155/157 Woodhouse Lane
Leeds LS2 3ED