As the governing body of the University, the Council is responsible for:
- The management and administration of the whole revenue and property of the University
- The conduct of all affairs of the University
- All such other powers and duties as may be conferred upon on it by Statute or Ordinance
The Statement of Primary Responsibilities sets out what the Council does and provides information about effectiveness and performance review.
A comprehensive list of the duties and powers of the Council can be found in the University Charter.
Minutes of Council Meetings
Minutes of all Council meetings will be published here shortly after they have been approved (normally at the next Council meeting).
2022-23 session
2021-22 session
2020-21 session
Lay members
George Garlick
Chair of Council
George was appointed as Chair of Council on 1 September 2019. George is a University of Hull graduate with more than 25 years’ experience at the head of public sector organisations. He worked as a teacher and a solicitor and spent 24 years in the North East as Chief Executive of Stockton-on-Tees Bororugh Council and then Durham County Council, where he led the integration of eight local authorities into a single organisation with 20,000 employees and a £1bn annual spend.
Julia Whittaker
Lay Member
Julia was appointed as a lay member of Council on 27 November 2014. Her previous business roles include CEO and Partner of law firm, Wilkin Chapman LLP, where she spent the majority of her career, taking the firm to 105th in the UK by turnover and a major regional employer. She served on the Chamber Council for Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce where she was one of the Business Award judges. Julia is a Trustee of the charity Blood Cancer UK, a member of the Grimsby Branch of Blood Cancer UK and is Chair and co-ordinator for Lincolnshire Cares, a charity which aims to reduce isolation in the elderly in the local community. Julia holds a BSc from the University of St Andrews and MBA from the University of Hull and is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. A former Governor of Caistor Grammar School, where she Chaired the Personnel and Pay Committees, prior to that she also Chaired Caistor Primary School’s PTA.
Ursula Lidbetter
Lay Member
Ursula Lidbetter studied Operational Research and Management here at Hull and has been a Lay Member of Council since 2016. She spent her career in the Co-operative Movement and was CEO of Lincolnshire Co-op and Chair of The Co-operative Group. Her focus has been economic development, social purpose and governance. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute.
Originating from Hull, Vanessa was appointed as a lay member of Council in March 2019 and is Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee. She is the Managing Director of Danaus Consulting which is focussed on delivering focussed strategic advice to high net worth individuals, families and Trustees. Prior to establishing her consultancy practice, she spent over 25 years in the Big 4 Accountancy firms and latterly was a Tax Partner at BDO LLP leading their Private Client practice across the North of England advising high net worth individuals on their strategic global tax affairs. She is 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.
Matt was appointed as a Lay Member in September 2019. Matt is 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.
Rosalyn Schofield
Lay Member
Rosalyn Schofield studied law here at Hull and is a Solicitor. She was Director of Company Secretariat at Associated British Foods plc where she had global responsibility for Governance and Sustainability, including the environmental impact of its businesses from 2001 to 2020. She was a member of the Adaptation branch of the Climate Change Committee until 2021 and continues to chair its Audit and Risk Committee. A former Council Member and Chair of Audit Committee at Regent’s University, she chairs the Audit and Risk Committee.
Rashmi was appointed as a lay member in October 2022.
Denise was appointed as a Lay Member in September 2019. Denise studied Modern Languages here. She is Chief Executive of the Davies Review which was set up by government to improve gender equality in FTSE 350 companies. Denise has had an executive career in large financial services companies.
Non-Lay members
Professor Dave Petley
Vice-Chancellor
Neil Robinson
Chief Operating Officer
Huey Arslan
President of Union Development, Hull University Students Union
Professor Becky Huxley-Binns
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education)
Heidi Broadhead
Member appointed by the non-academic staff of the University
Professor Rob Dover
Senate member appointed by Senate
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 is 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.
A Register of Interests is maintained and updated annually. The Register is available to download below.
Register of Interests
Code of Conduct for Council Members
Code of Practice on the Registration of Interests