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 David Collett- Head of Campus and Residential Services
For the past seven years I have worked for Leeds Metropolitan University as Head of Campus and Residential Services. In this role I have strategic responsibilities for a series of services which include, Residential Accommodation, Security, Portering and Cleaning, Food Services, Mail Services, Business Development and Conferencing, and Merchandise.
Prior to my current role I have held Senior General Manager positions with Jarvis Hotels, Stakis and Hilton Hotels including running my own Restaurant and Brassiere business.
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 of Facilities Management
Dennis is The Director of Facilities Management at the University of Leeds, one of the largest departments in the University which combines Residence Management, Catering and Commercial activities, Sport and Estate Services. 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 and Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre.
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
Miss Hannah Greenslade - Community Officer
Hannah was elected to the post of Community Officer at LUU for the academic year 2009/10. Originally from Bristol, she studied Politics at Leeds and has an environmental/human rights campaigning background, having been involved with a number of societies and organisations of this type throughout her time at university. As well as becoming a director of Unipol as part of her current post, Hannah sits on the management committee for People and Planet (the UK’s largest student campaigning organisation) and on the Ethical and Environmental board at NUS Services Ltd. She is dedicated to improving relations between students and local residents, in particular on housing and keeping the local area clean and tidy.
Madeleine Harris-Smith - Welfare Officer
Madeleine is the elected Welfare Officer for Leeds University Union. She grew up in London before moving to Leeds to complete a degree in Politics at the University of Leeds. During her time at Leeds she aslo acted as the Chair of the Leeds University Women's Assembly as well as working as a student representative for Access and Community Engagement and in marketing in the Union. The role of Welfare Officer requires representation for students on a wide range of issues, from health and wellbeing to debt managment to raising awareness of support services that Leeds has to offer its students.
Mr Kevin Pearson - Resources Director
Kevin joined Leeds University Union in February 2010 as their Resources Director. He is responsible for key elements of their central and corporate services including Finance, Human Resources, and IT. In addition to management of these areas, he has direct responsibilities for strategic financial planning, internal financial control systems, information and support to the Audit and Risk Committee and risk management across the organisation.
Kevin trained to be an accountant in the coal industry and is a fellow member of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants. He has spent the past 15 years or so working for regeneration companies such as Creative Sheffield and Renaissance South Yorkshire to bring much needed economic change to Yorkshire and the Humber. More recently, he has been successful in managing European Funding to secure investment in to the region and was The Director of Corporate Services for Business Link Yorkshire providing business support services in Yorkshire and the Humber.
Leeds Metropolitan Students' Union
Mr Liam Challenger- Associate President Activities and Community
Liam Challenger 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 Community Wellbeing. Graduating this year in Film & TV Production, he has spent his time at Leeds Met involved in various actives ranging from Union Council to Student Media. Over the past four years he has worked on various youth and community groups in Leeds and Bradford.
Ms Vicki 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 studying for a Bsc Hons degree in Biomedical Sciences to fulfil her role within the student union and is hoping to inject her enthusiasm into others during her term. Vicki sits on the sub - committee for Accommodation Bureau services in Leeds.
Ms Nicky Goldthorpe- Chief Executive
Nicky started work at Leeds Met Students’ Union in May 2009. Prior to this she was General Manager at York St John for 3 years. Nicky has been involved in the student union movement since 1996 working at Birmingham Guild of Students and also for AMSU (the Association for Managers in Students’ Unions). Nicky has held national committee positions within AMSU and is currently a staff advisor on the national Ethical and Environmental Committee at NUS Services Ltd.
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
Ms Liz Hodgen Deputy Chief Executive and Company Secretary
Mrs Geneve Smith Assistant Chief Executive - Housing Services
Mr Scott Blakeway Development Manager
All contactable at:
Unipol Student Homes
155/157 Woodhouse Lane
Leeds LS2 3ED