Education Committee
This Committee is responsible for monitoring the University's performance against the Education Strategy. The Committee is also responsible for ensuring that high levels of academic standards and student experience are achieved and maintained.
Vacancy
We are currently inviting expressions of interest for governor vacancies across the Board of Governors and its Committees. This committee currently has a vacancy for the role of Governor, and we are particularly keen to hear from individuals with expertise in Further Education / Apprenticeships.
You can view further information including a role description and details of how to enquire.
Richard Thomas
Chair of the Education Committee and Independent member of the Board of Governors
Richard spent the early years of his career as an engineer and manager in the manufacturing industry before moving into Higher Education. He has worked with a number of UK Higher Education providers, in roles ranging from lecturer to Assistant Vice-Chancellor. Throughout his career, he has been heavily involved in teaching and curriculum development across a broad range of STEM related programmes. In addition, he has been involved in leading numerous applied research and knowledge exchange projects with a wide range of industrial partners.
Richard served on the PVC International Advisory Group for Universities Wales and is a former Visiting Professor at Wuhan University of Technology.
He has been heavily involved in STEM outreach activities and, during his time in the North of England, worked closely with the National Science and Media Museum on the Yorkshire Games Festival and with a number of cultural organisations, reflecting the diversity of the region. Alongside his academic career, Richard also worked as a music journalist for many years. He has been a member of the Council of Guild HE and the project board of the Teaching Excellence Framework, and is currently a governor at Wrexham Glyndwr University, a member of the Board of Trustees at the National Museum of Wales, and a non-executive director at Careers Wales. He is passionate about the power of education to transform the lives of individuals and the strong role that universities can play in the social and economic wellbeing of the UK.
Richard is also a member of the Board of Governors.
Helen Nixseaman
Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors
Helen was appointed as a Governor in September 2017. Prior to this Helen was an external co-opted member. Helen is a Chartered Accountant with expertise in risk management and internal controls, with a career that has included being a risk assurance partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Helen has an MA in Natural Sciences and an MSc in Biochemical Engineering.
Helen is Chair of the Strategy, Finance and Resources Committee, Deputy Chair of the of the Board of Governors and a member of the Governance and Nominations Committee, People Committee and Remuneration Committee.
Kerry McGreavy
Staff Governor
Kerry was appointed as Staff Governor in September 2022. Having joined Coventry University in 2011 as an Employment Personal Tutor based within the Faculty of Business and Law, in 2018 she moved into a role managing the apprenticeship team, and is now the Head of Apprenticeships within CU Apprenticeships (Better Futures).
In 2013 Kerry, as a mature student, joined the first cohort of part time learners to study through the newly formed Coventry University College (later becoming the CU Group), achieving her BA in Management and Leadership in 2017.
Kerry developed an interest in coaching and mentoring during her early years as an Employment Personal Tutor, writing her dissertation on the topic while establishing a student mentoring scheme with the Government Economics Service. When the Coventry University Coaching and Mentoring Academy was formed in 2018 she joined the first cohort of internal staff to be trained as coach/mentors, and has continued to support colleagues though her involvement with the Academy ever since.
She also developed an interest in supporting the career ambitions of women, and has been part of both the Athena Swan Action Team and the Gender Leadership and Development Group. Kerry later joined the first cohort of staff members to undertake the Aurora programme, and has used these experience to further inform the support she offers colleagues through the Coaching and Mentoring Academy.
Kerry is also a member of the Research Committee and a member of the Board of Governors.
Professor Deborah Lycett
Staff Governor
Professor Deborah Lycett RD PhD is Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research Skills & Education, and Director of Health & Community Wellbeing Research at Coventry University. She has a PhD in Behavioural Medicine.
She was previously Director of Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Director of the Centre for Intelligent Healthcare, Professor and theme lead for Behaviour and Implementation Science, and Professor in Religious Health Interventions and Dietetic Practice. Prof. Lycett has an international reputation for research using the biopsychosocial-spiritual model of health to improve the lives of those living with dietary and nutrition-related conditions. Her research explores whole-person approaches to chronic disease management.
Her research partnerships span the NHS, public health departments, commercial and private health providers, as well as the third sector. She is an Associate Non-executive Director on the board of Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust that seeks to champion the care of children, adults and the families of those living with poor mental health and eating disorders.
Professor Lycett served for several years on the Education Board of the British Dietetic Association (BDA) and was Chair of the BDA Quality Standards Committee. She sits on the Scientific Committee for the European Institute for Religion, Spirituality and Health. She is a Fellow of the Association of Higher Education and has taught in medical and health science faculties. She has 20 years of clinical experience as a dietitian having worked for many years in the NHS and also privately, running her own Nutrition and Dietetic Consultancy.
Deborah was elected as a Staff Governor in May 2024 and is also a member of the Board of Governors.
Akhil Sha
Student Governor
Appointed as Student Governor in July 2023, Akhil is Your SU’s Welfare Officer and a trustee of the Coventry University Students' Union. His journey at the University began in May 2022 when he joined as a Master of Business Administration student, specialising in Artificial Intelligence.
Akhil has played a number of diverse roles within the University, previously serving both as an Educational Transformation Representative and as a mentor, providing invaluable support to fellow students. Before venturing into academia, Akhil previously worked as a marketing manager for a sports company and held a position as an Assistant Professor in Engineering.
Outside of University, Akhil is a martial arts enthusiast and is a Karate black belt instructor affiliated with the Karate Federation of India. Most notably, in March 2018, he achieved a Guinness World Record certificate for partaking in the organisation of a 5000 all-female assembly of Karate students, showcasing their commitment to women's empowerment.
Academically, Akhil holds a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering and a Master's degree in Thermal Engineering, a testament to his passion for diverse fields.
Akhil is also involved in Coventry University’s Citizen scientist team project and is a member of the Board of Governors.
Promise Owai
Student Governor
Promise Owai is a distinguished professional currently making significant strides in both the medical and academic fields. Appointed as a Coventry University Student Governor in June 2024, Owai also holds the position of Student Union Education Officer for the 2024/2025 academic session. His leadership journey at Coventry University includes serving as the School of Health and Care Part-Time Officer during the 2023/2024 academic session, where he played a crucial role in amplifying students' voices and gathering feedback to enhance their educational experience.
In addition to his governance roles, Owai has made a substantial impact through cultural advocacy. As the leader of the Nigerian Society at Coventry University, he successfully registered over 90 members and engaged more than 183 interested participants. This role has seen him actively promote culture, equality, diversity, and inclusiveness within the university community.
Owai’s academic pursuits are equally impressive. Enrolled in May 2023 for a master's degree in Global Healthcare Management at Coventry University, he has a special interest in healthcare policy, strategic planning, and program management. This follows his extensive experience as a Resident Doctor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. His responsibilities there were wide-ranging, including the investigation and diagnosis of infectious diseases and managing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Owai holds an MBBCh degree in Medicine and Surgery from the prestigious University of Calabar, Nigeria, where he also served as the Student Union Speaker of Parliament. During his tenure, he reviewed and amended the Student Union Constitution, which remains in use today. His multifaceted contributions to both his home country and his current academic environment underscore his dedication to healthcare, education, and community service.
Promise is also a member of the Board of Governors.
Mark Richards
Independent Governor
Mark won an open scholarship to read music at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, going on to secure a First before successfully completing an MMus in Theory and Analysis at King’s College, London and further research in the music of Webern at Cardiff University. Mark has tutored at several universities, but his main focus has been school teaching and senior leadership; at present he is Senior Deputy Head.
Prior to Queen Anne’s, Mark was Director of Studies and Head of Sixth Form at Saint Martin’s School in Solihull (GSA Day School). Mark has been a governor of three schools, is a trustee of the Society for Music Analysis and the Society for Minimalist Music and is a member of the Society for Musicology in Ireland.
Mark also teaches A Level Music at Queen Anne’s, is an experienced school inspector and A Level and IB music examiner; he has also written several books and articles associated with A Level Music.
When away from school leadership and music, Mark enjoys North Devon coastal walks with his wife, Claire, and their four golden retrievers, Bertie, Monty, Rufus and Gideon! He is also a member of the Research Committee.
Davinder Dosanjh
Independent Governor
Davinder has extensive experience in education, serving as a school teacher, senior leader, and one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors. She was the Head of Secondary Teacher Training and an Associate Professor at Birmingham City University, where she held strategic responsibility for the Teach First programme in the East and West Midlands. She is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Davinder also served as an Executive Director for a large multi-academy trust, leading its school-centred initial teacher training. Passionate about equality, diversity, and inclusion, she has been an active member of the Diverse Educators, Initial Teacher Training, and Education national group. Davinder has worked internationally in schools in the United Arab Emirates. She has undertaken research projects in the Hague and Germany.
She is an experienced governor and trustee. Currently, she is a trustee for the Sir Barry Jackson Trust, a theatre charity, and the Education Opportunity Foundation, a grant-giving organisation supporting educational projects in the UK and worldwide.
Joysy John MBE
Co-opted Governor
Joysy John MBE is an entrepreneur, edtech advisor, and global speaker. Previously she was the Strategy and Transformation Director at Trinity College London and is the ex-Director of Education at Nesta, UK’s innovation agency and ex-Chief Industry Officer of Ada, the National College for Digital Skills. She has over two decades of experience across different sectors in Singapore, the US and UK.
Joysy was the youngest person selected into the Future Leader Development Programme at JP Morgan Chase, however left her banking career to change education in the UK. She was appointed to the Department of Education’s Edtech Leadership Group and Welsh Government’s Schooling Reimagined expert-panel.
Helping to shape Edtech policy and promoting innovation in education saw Joysy awarded an MBE for services to the technology sector in the King’s birthday honours, having also been nominated as Top 100 Most Influential Black Asian Minority Ethnic leaders in UK Tech in 2019. She has a Computer Engineering (with Honours) degree from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and an MBA (with Distinction) from London Business School and is on the Education Committee of The Royal Society, Advisory Council of Foundation for Education Development, Global Advisory Committee of Intrinsic Labs and Founder of Startup Leadership Program in the UK.
Elliot Goodman
Independent Governor
Elliot was born and raised in North London and attended local state primary and secondary schools before moving on to study at Cambridge University and its medical school. After completing his education, Elliot spent 30 years in New York City, working as a surgeon in various large inner-city hospitals, primarily serving underserved communities.
During his tenure in New York, Elliot also took on several hospital leadership roles. Upon retiring from active clinical practice in 2022, Elliot transitioned into the role of Director of Surgical Education at the City University of New York School of Medicine in Harlem.
Elliot was recently appointed as the Executive Clinical Dean of a medical school in theCaribbean, a position that allows for significant remote work, enabling him to spend much of the year back in the UK. Elliot is eager to contribute to the UK's educational system, acknowledging the foundational education he received from the British education system.
Elliot's experience working with minority groups in New York City has equipped him to serve effectively as a governor. The university's focus on educating a diverse student body resonates with the communities he served in New York. Elliot is enthusiastic about re-engaging with the UK higher education community through his role as a member of the University’s Education Committee.
Jenny Shaw
Independent Governor
Jenny Shaw spent the first part of her career in higher education, specialising in the delivery of emerging policy. After working on business and community engagement initiatives for Middlesex University, she went on to lead the Aimhigher partnership in York
and North Yorkshire, and later was the Director of the Yorkshire and Humber East Lifelong Learning Network.
She also co-led research into widening access and diversity for the HE Academy, and research on contextual admissions for UCAS. She is currently the HE External Engagement Director for FTSE 100 student accommodation provider Unite Students, leading on national research into the student experience including Meeting the Needs of Neurodivergent Students and the annual Applicant Index.
In 2022 she established the Living Black at University Commission to address national inequities in the student accommodation experience. Prior to this, she led on student experience and student wellbeing for Unite Students, setting up the first student support team in the PBSA sector and contributing to DfE endorsed national guidance for the sector as a whole. Between 2023 and 2025 she was seconded one day a week to support the work of the DfE’s Higher Education Mental Health Implementation Taskforce.
