Warwick Students' Union Trustees
The Trustee Board is the governing body of the Charity.
The Trustees are responsible for making sure that the Students' Union is run effectively, complies with the law,
has a strong strategic plan based on members' needs and is financially secure.
Authority is delegated to the Chief Executive to manage the day to day operations and it is the role of the Chief
Executive to enact the strategy determined by the Trustees. The SU is run on a day to day basis by its staff,
officers and volunteers directed by its members' needs.
Become a Student Trustee
We are currently recruiting for two new Student Trustees.
If you're thinking about becoming a Student Trustee, this is your opportunity to find out more about the role, speak to the team and submit your application.
View the Student Trustee Pack and complete the application form on this
page.
The Trustee Board is made up of:
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Student Officer Trustees
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Student Trustees
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Lay Trustees
Each of the 7 full-time Student Officers are Trustees of Warwick Students' Union.
There are up to 6 Trustees of the SU who are Warwick students (not Student Officers, student staff, Returning
Officer or Deputy Returning Officer). These are appointed by the Board and Union Council.
There are up to 5 external non-student members of the Board. These are also appointed by the Board and Union
Council.
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John Dubber
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Profile:
John is Chief Executive of Students’ Union UCL. In this role, John leads one of the largest student organisations in the UK, that represents and provides services for the 48,000 students at UCL. Students’ Union UCL has the widest portfolio of services of any Students’ Union in the UK, leading UCL’s provision of student sport, music, drama, intercultural engagement, societies and volunteering, as well as advice, hardship funding, representation, cafes, bars and retail.
Previously, John was Head of Policy & External Relations for the British Council, one of the UK’s largest charities, that creates international connections for the UK through culture and education. In his role, he led Government and Parliamentary relations, developed the British Council’s policy research programme, played a key role in the establishment the UK’s international Cultural Protection Fund, and set up the British Council’s flagship global programme for young leaders. Earlier in his career, John worked in regional and local government, including as Director of the national office for the Regional Development Agencies, supporting economic development and regeneration across the English regions.
John is an alumnus of the University of Warwick, where he also served as President of the Students’ Union. He has an MSc in Public Management from the University of Birmingham and recently completed an Executive Programme in Non-Profit Leadership at Harvard University.
John also chairs the Board of the Somers Town Community Sports Centre in Camden.
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Robert Pegg
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Angella Hill Wilson
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Harnaik Dhillion
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Profile:
- Significant commercial experience in finance and audit roles working in a global
environment.
- Significant influencing of commercial priorities and in coaching Senior Management in
governance and to improve the overall control environment.
- Development of a Risk Registers and Risk identification processes embedded as business as
usual activity.
- Lay Trustee at Warwickshire Young Carers so understands the requirements of the role and the
contribution supporting young adults will make to them as individuals and to a future fairer
wider community.
- Worked for a Lay Trustee Board as part of their role as Head of Audit and Risk at the Co-op.
- Has been an ambassador to Warwick University Enactus group for 4 years.
- Working in an international environment leading medium and large teams including outsource
providers in Europe, America and Asia so culturally aware of needs of students from all
backgrounds.
- Fully compliant with the Nolan 7 principles as working within a public sector company and
through alignment to those principles as part of membership to professional bodies.
Current Roles:
- Corporate Audit Manager for Network Rail
Oversight and management of audits which cover multiple processes including; Financial,
Operational, Change programmes and Fraud investigations.
Role Details
The Trustee Board is accountable to Warwick Students' Union members, to the Charity Commission and to the public
in general.
According to the Charity Commission: "Trustees have and must accept ultimate responsibility for directing the
affairs of the Charity, ensuring it is solvent, well run, delivering the charitable outcomes set out in its
governing document".
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Compliance
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Duty of prudence
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Duty of care
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Role description
- Ensure that the charity complies with charity law, and with the requirements of the Charity Commission as
regulator; in particular, ensure that the charity prepares reports on what it has achieved and Annual
Returns and accounts as required by law.
- Ensure that the charity does not breach any of the requirements or rules set out in its governing document
and that it remains true to the charitable purpose and objects set out there.
- Comply with the requirements of other legislation and other regulators (if any) which govern the activities
of the charity.
- Act with integrity, and avoid any personal conflicts of interest or misuse of charity funds or assets.
- Ensure that the charity is and will remain solvent.
- Use charitable funds and assets reasonably, and only in furtherance of the charity’s objects.
- Avoid undertaking activities that might place the charity’s endowment, funds, assets or reputation at
undue risk.
- Take special care when investing the funds of the charity, or borrowing funds for the charity to use.
- Use reasonable care and skill in their work as trustees, using their personal skills and experience as
needed to ensure that the charity is well-run and efficient.
- Consider getting external professional advice on all matters where there may be a material risk to the
charity, or where the trustees may be in breach of their duties.
Main Responsibilities
The Board of Trustees has ultimate responsibility for the financial matters and financial procedures of Warwick
Students’ Union. It must accept ultimate responsibility for giving firm strategic direction to the Union,
and ensuring that it is solvent, well-governed, and delivering the objectives for which it has been set up.
Please see here for our Code of
Conduct.
The trustees will also annually review how the Union’s aims are to be achieved, which are found in the
Governing Document – the Memorandum and Articles of Association. These include:
- Promoting the interests of our members as effectively as possible at institutional, local and national
levels.
- Ensuring effective communication between our members, the University of Warwick and other bodies.
- Providing for the educational, cultural, recreational, sporting, social and welfare needs of our members to
the best of our ability.
- Operating an effective Equal Opportunities policy while guaranteeing freedom of expression and minimising
any adverse environmental impact, thus providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all.
The Board of Trustees has a responsibility not to implement any democratically-developed policy which has
damaging financial implications or breaches the law, if it is passed without a realistic financial plan.
Key Duties
- To work collectively and with the Chief Executive and other senior staff to ensure that WSU has a clear
vision which recognises its values and meets the needs of its members.
- To monitor and evaluate the performance of WSU against targets, and to ensure that it remains focused on
achieving its vision.
- To ensure that WSU complies with all legal and regulatory requirements, including its governing document,
charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
- To agree any delegated authority and ensure that such delegated authority is clearly expressed.
- To safeguard the assets of WSU, taking due care over their security and proper usage, ensuring that they are
used exclusively in the pursuit of the agreed objectives.
- To ensure that the governance of WSU is of the highest standard and that it follows guidance from any
relevant bodies.
- To recommend the auditors and name the bankers of WSU.
- To safeguard the good name and values of the organisation.
- To annually approve and amend the finance regulations, annual budgets and strategic plans of WSU.
- To appoint and appraise the Chief Executive and to appoint the Board of Directors of any direct subsidiary
companies of WSU.
- To contribute actively to the Board of Trustees, using any specific skills, knowledge or experience to help
the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions by scrutinising board papers, focusing on key issues
and providing guidance.
- Take or seek opportunities to enhance their effectiveness as a Trustee through participation in training and
development programmes, and by increasing their own knowledge of WSU.
When do the Committees meet?
These dates may be subject to change in exceptional circumstances. The roles of each of these committees and who sits
on them are set out in the Terms of Reference: People
& Remuneration Sub Committee, Governance
& Appointments Sub Committee and Audit &
Risk Sub Committee.
People & Remuneration Committee
- 5th October 2023
- 30th November 2023
- 29th February 2024
- 23rd May 2024
Governance & Appointments
- 16th November 2023
- 15th February 2024
- 16th May 2024
- 20th June 2024
- 28th November 2023
- 1st February 2024
- 14th March 2024
- 13th June 2024
Framework of Good Governance
The Framework of Good Governance is established to clarify the relationship between the University of Warwick and
Warwick Students’ Union. The Framework is based on a spirit of partnership and covers a range of aspects from
premises, transport, financial and legal requirements to data sharing, dispute resolution, complaints and
representation.
Click here to download framework agreement.
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