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Charities Committee

This Committee is responsible for the development, support and oversight of the University Group’s non-core charitable activities. These include the activities within CU Social Enterprise CIC and the management of funds within existing trusts within the Group, including the Coventry University Charitable Trust and Coventry University Welfare Fund.

It focuses upon ensuring that the correct structures and processes are in place to achieve the aims and objectives of the University and to provide assurance to the Board of Governors, to which it is directly accountable.

The membership of the Charities Committee is drawn from Coventry University Governors, members of the Coventry University Executive Team and Non-Executive Directors.

 Charities Committee (formerly known as Charities Advisory Committee) Terms of Reference

Sue Horner

Sue Horner MBE

Chair and independent member of the Board of Governors

Appointed to the Board of Governors in September 2018, Sue began a career as a school teacher and has been at the forefront of developments within the national curriculum in the UK in her capacity as Director of Curriculum for England, leading a team working on the national curriculum and regulating GCSE and A level examinations. Sue is a leader in education and the arts with a commitment to young people, their futures and what they need to succeed.

Sue has also worked at an international level in Rwanda and Oman assisting in the redevelopment of their education systems and is recognised as an international expert on reading and its assessments.

Closely involved with arts charities, particularly those working with children and young people, they are focussed on creative writing and reading. In 2013 Sue was awarded an MBE for services to literature.

Sue is also a member of the Education Committee, Strategy, Finance and Resources Committee and the Board of Governors.


Donna Kendall

Donna Kendall

Executive member, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Student Journey)

Donna Kendall is responsible for strategic developments and high-level programme and project planning across the University Group. This includes line management of the Strategic Transformation Office, oversight of appraisal evaluation and control measures, provision of infrastructure and resources, as well as planned programmes of activity for key strategic developments.

They were previously Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Continuous Improvement) and Director of Human Resources at Coventry University. Prior to joining Coventry University, Donna was director of Human Resources and Organisational Development for a London-based NHS organisation and has held a number of senior positions in the field of human resource management. Donna holds a governing body position with Coventry School Foundation.


Steve Galliford

Steve Galliford

Executive member, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education)

Steve Galliford has nearly 30 years of experience in Higher Education. With a background in Real Estate Investment and Appraisal, they joined Coventry in 2013 as Associate Dean in the Faculty of Business and Law. Following a period as Deputy Dean in the same Faculty, Steve is now Dean of Postgraduate Studies and has active interests in student experience and teaching and learning pedagogy, especially student centred learning and innovative learning spaces. They are a member of the Group Leadership Team and sits on the Academic Board and the Quality in Learning and Teaching Committee (QUiLT).


Sally Hannah

Sally Hannah

Independent Governor

Appointed as an Independent Governor in September 2020, Sally has over 30 years’ experience in the private sector, primarily within the West Midlands and Oxfordshire region. This included a 16 year career at the CBI, the UK business lobbying group, representing the interests of businesses of all sizes and sectors, including HE and FE, building senior networks, directing strategic membership portfolios, leading successful commercial growth strategies and passionately championing business as a force for good with external stakeholders. Advisory Group roles included the Oxfordshire LEP Business Support Group.

Sally initiated and led the CBI Business in the Classroom initiative from 2008, which aimed to inspire young people into business and enhance their employability skills, achieving sponsorship from Advantage West Midlands and facilitating over 50 business/school partnerships. They also have experience in the aerospace and automotive industries, after having studied modern languages for business at Birmingham City University.

Sally is a Non-Executive Director/Board Trustee of the National Association of Able Children in Education (NACE), which works with schools and education leaders to improve provision for more able learners, driving whole-school improvement and increasing challenge for all students. She is an Independent Member of the Education Advisory Committee of the Jon Egging Trust, which works with the RAF and aviation industries to support disadvantaged young people overcome adversity and achieve their full potential and is also a member of the Enterprise and Innovation Committee.


Paul Reeve

Paul Reeve MBE

Independent Governor

Paul is the CEO of Into Film, a charitable organisation whose UK-wide film education programme engages with over a third of state schools.

Paul has worked in cultural education for over 25 years, including posts at the Royal Shakespeare Company, English Touring Opera and the Royal Opera House where, as Director of Learning and Participation, they led a major expansion of educational and audience engagement activities, and the development of a learning and community participation programme linked to the High House Production Park in Thurrock.

They are also an advisory panel member for the Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s Arts and Education and Teacher Development Funds, and the Cultural Learning Alliance. They are a trustee of National Youth Ballet and previously served as Chair of East London Dance and Signed Performances in Theatre (national body for promoting BSL interpretation of arts events, now named Signed Culture).

Paul was awarded an MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours list for services to film and the arts. Paul is also a Non-Executive Director of CU Social Enterprise CIC.

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