Remuneration Committee

The Remuneration Committee is responsible for determining and reviewing the remuneration and terms and conditions of the Vice-Chancellor and the senior leadership team of the institution. The committee is independently chaired and comprises of the Chair, Deputy Chair and two other independent members who are experienced HR professionals. The Vice-Chancellor is not a member of this committee and plays no part in meetings or discussions on his own pay and rewards.

Remuneration Committee - Constitution and Terms of Reference (CTRs)

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Karen Martin

Chair of the Remuneration Committee and Independent member of the Board of Governors

Karen’s background has been in the NHS, having worked there for 38 years. She has extensive experience as an Executive Board Director in different NHS organisations, including Deputy Chief Executive Officer, and a wealth of experience in transformation, Human Resources/workforce, organisational development, leadership, communications, corporate affairs and change management. Karen’s career has spanned a range of health organisations including health authority and both acute and mental health services and has always held responsibility for education, learning and development within these different organisations.

Karen has previously been a school governor and Trustee and is a qualified executive coach and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, with a Master’s Degree in Public Sector Management.

Karen is also Chair of the People Committee and a member of the Board of Governors.


Stephen Brooks

Stephen Brooks

Independent Governor

Appointed in September 2021 as an Independent Governor, Stephen’s early career included international HR roles with Bank of America, General Electric, Morgan Grenfell and Deutsche Bank.

Later he moved into management consultancy and was a partner at KPMG and PA Consulting. During this time, he worked with a wide range of commercial and Government clients in the UK and abroad.

He brings expertise and practical experiences of People management, leadership, change management and organisation design.

He is currently Chairman of the commercial operations of the Faculty for Medical Leadership and Management - charity that seeks to improve leadership skills in the medical professions. His previous roles include Chairman of the East London Small Business Centre, Director of Higher Education for Capability and Trustee Director of the PA Pension Fund.

Stephen is also a member of the People Committee.


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Helen Nixseaman

Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors

Currently in their first term as Deputy Chair and second term as a Governor, Helen was appointed 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 Board of Governors and a member of the People Committee and Remuneration Committee.


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Nick Sale

Chair of the Board of Governors

Appointed as an Independent Governor in September 2018, Nick became Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors and Pro-Chancellor in September 2020, before being appointed as Chair in September 2021. An experienced business leader and company director who worked as a chief operating officer in the automotive industry until early in 2018, Nick has a successful track record working throughout the world in Professional Services for both IT and Engineering Companies. More recently Nick has worked as an advisor and Non-Executive Director to both UK and International Technology Companies and is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Nick is also Chair of the Board of Governors and Governance and Nominations Committee and a member of the People Committee and Strategy, Finance and Resources Committee.


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