Our people

University Council

What the University Council does

As the governing body of the University, the Council is responsible for:

Defining the University’s strategic vision and ensuring its delivery in line with our mission and values.
Approving the annual budget and overseeing the prudent management of financial and other resources.
Monitoring institutional risk, governance frameworks and internal controls to safeguard the University’s integrity.
Ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory and statutory obligations to protect the University’s reputation and long-term sustainability.

The Statement of Primary Responsibilities sets out what the Council does and provides information about effectiveness and performance review.

You can find a full list of the Council’s duties and powers in the University Charter.

Minutes of Council meetings

We publish minutes of all Council meetings here after they’ve been approved, usually at the next Council meeting.

Lay Members

George Garlick

Chair of Council

George was appointed as Chair of Council on 1 September 2019. He’s a University of Hull graduate with more than 25 years’ experience at the head of public sector organisations.

George worked as a teacher and a solicitor, and spent 24 years in the North East as Chief Executive of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council then Durham County Council. Here, he led the integration of eight local authorities into a single organisation with 20,000 employees and a £1bn annual spend.

Andrew Haigh

Lay Member

Andrew studied French and Russian at the University of Hull and has been a Lay Member of Council since 2023. He’s also a member of the Finance and Investment Committee, and the Remuneration Committee.

He has had an international executive career in the finance sector, as well as spending over 20 years in governance roles within the arts and higher education. He’s also a Governor at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

Matt Jukes

Lay Member

Matt was appointed as a Lay Member in September 2019. He’s Chief Executive of Hull City Council and, before that, Port Director for ABP.

He has considerable board level experience on Absolutely Cultured, Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, and the Hull Place Based Board.

Vanessa Lee

Lay Member

Originally from Hull, Vanessa was appointed as a lay member of Council in March 2019, and is Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee. She’s the Managing Director of Danaus Consulting, which delivers focussed strategic advice to high-net-worth individuals, families and Trustees.

Before establishing her consultancy practice, she spent over 25 years in the Big 4 Accountancy firms. Recently, she was a Tax Partner at BDO LLP. Here, she led the Private Client practice across the North of England, advising high-net-worth individuals on their strategic global tax affairs.

She’s a Chartered Tax Advisor, an Affiliate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and a member of the Association of Tax Technicians. Vanessa is also a member of the Development Committee for The Prince’s Trust in Yorkshire and Humber, and sits on the UK Advisory Board of Tax Aid. She remains ardently loyal to Hull City AFC.

Vi Davda

Lay Member

Vi Davda is Managing Director, Global Head of Bond Origination at ABN AMRO. Vi is a banking specialist with extensive experience in the ESG sector, an orientation that grew out of a career built around debt financing at major financial institutions, including Barclays and J.P. Morgan.

With almost 20 years’ experience in capital markets and investor relations, Vi works across corporate and financial institution sectors. Vi serves on the Board of Hertfordshire Futures, a former Local Enterprise Authority, responsible for guiding the County’s economic priorities.

She is also a member of ABN AMRO UK’s Sustainability Acceleration Circle and chairs the bank’s UK ESG Summits. Vi holds a BSc in economics from the London School of Economics.

Dr Catherine Murray

Lay Member

Catherine was appointed as a co-opted member of the Audit and Risk Committee in September 2022. In September 2023, she became a Lay Member of Council. She’s the Director of Strategic Planning at Queen Mary University of London. Her portfolio includes strategy, planning, risk management and data leadership.

Before Queen Mary, Catherine worked at several other universities including starting out at the University of Hull, working in widening participation and then planning. She did her undergraduate degree at LSE. Then undertook part-time Masters and doctoral degrees while a member of staff the University of Hull.

Rashmi Rungta

Lay Member

Rashmi was appointed as a Lay Member in October 2022. She brings over 25 years of international experience across technology, consulting and transformation. As well as a strong track record of leading at the board and executive levels.

She’s served as a Non-Executive Director and Trustee across sectors including healthcare, education and sustainability. Rashmi is also an advisory panel member for Digital Health at Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, and Trustee at Myaware and Association of Chairs.

David Flatters

Lay Member

David has been a Lay Member of Council since 2025, having previously being a co-opted member of the Audit Committee.

He has had an extensive career in finance and governance and currently works for a large company in Hull. He’s also a Governor at Hull College where he Chairs the Finance Committee.

Ken Kyle

Lay Member

With a strong family connection to Hull, Ken was appointed as a lay member of Council in 2025 and is a member of the Remuneration Committee.

He brings 30 years experience as an international executive in retail, consumer and healthcare, leading corporate strategy and commercial optimisation in the London, New York and Chicago.

He's a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, with a BA in Accountancy and Finance from Heriot Watt University.

Non-Lay Members

Professor Kevin Kerrigan

Deputy Vice-Chancellor

Sarah Wilson

Chief Operating Officer

Professor Robert Dover

Senate member appointed by Senate

Amy Cowling

Member appointed by non-academic staff

Sam Bixby-Bland

President of Union Development, HUSU

Register of Interests

University employees and Lay Members of Council have a responsibility to respect and promote the financial and other interests of the University, with due regard to academic freedom.

There’s a general duty on all members of staff and Lay Members of the University to disclose at the earliest possible stage any financial or other interest they may have in any transaction, or proposed transaction, between the University and a third party.

We maintain and update a Register of Interests annually. You can download the Register, our Code of Practice on the Registration of Interests, and our Code of Conduct for Council Members from our Policies and Information hub.

View policiesView the Register of Interests and related policies

University Council

What the University Council does

Minutes of Council meetings

2025-26 session

2024-25 session

2023-24 session

2022-23 session

2021-22 session

2020-21 session