University and College Union
The Open University branch of the University and College Union
Branch Executive Committee
The executive committee is responsible for the day to day running of the branch. They are elected once a year in a ballot of the membership. If you are interested in joining the executive committee, the calling notice for nominations is issued in April. The election results are announced at the Branch AGM in June, members become exec members 3 weeks after the AGM.
You can contact members of the executive committee directly, or by emailing ucu@open.ac.uk. Alternatively, see the ‘Get Help’ page if you have an employment issue.
Click here for a list of the current executive committee, updated 28 November 2024.
UCU office phone number: 01908 6(53069) or email ucu@open.ac.uk.
Officers followed by Executive Commitee Ordinary members
Here are photos and mini biographies of our current Executive Committee, Officers followed by Ordinary members. (June 2024 to June 2025).
Exec members don't show in the menu on the right hand side of this page, if we don't yet have a photo and mini biography for them.
Pete Wood, Branch President
Read about Pete Wood, OU UCU Branch President, view biography
Malik Refaat, Vice President 1
Information about Malik Refaat - coming soon.
Chenoa Putter, Vice President 2
Read about Chenoa Putter, OU UCU Vice President, view biography
Caitlin Adams, Immediate Past President
Read about Caitlin Adams, Immediate Past President, view biography
Gillian Jack, Equality Staff Officer (role share)
Read about Gillian Jack who is our Equality Officer, view biography
Shivanti Lowton, Equality Staff Officer (role share)
Information about Shivanti - coming soon.
Alison Higgs, Central Academic Staff Officer
Read about Alison who is our Central Academic Staff Officer, view biography
Kieran McCartney, Regional/National Academic Staff Officer
Information about Kieran - coming soon.
Torin Grace, Central Academic-Related Staff Officer
Information about Torin - coming soon, Torin was co-opted to the Executive Committee on 24 July 2024.
Jenny Kermally, ALs Officer
Read about Jenny Kermally, Associate Lecturers Officer, view biography
Kit Power, Membership and Recruitment Secretary
Read about Kit Power, OU UCU Vice President, view biography
Ordinary Executive Committee members (in alphabetical order)
Becca Harrison
Read about Becca Harrison, Ordinary member, view biography.
Steve Kirtley
Read about Steve Kirtley, Ordinary member, view biography.
David Knowles
Read about David Knowles, Ordinary member, view biography
Isabella Muzio
Read about Isabella Muzio, Ordinary member, view biography
Penny Oderberg
Read about Penny Oderberg, Ordinary member, view biography
Chelle Oldham
Information about Chelle to be added - Chelle was co-opted to our Exec. committee on 14 November 2024.
Saoirse O'Shea
Read about Saoirse O'Shea, Ordinary member, view biography
Jason Phillips *new Exec member
Information about Jason to be added.
Saleem Rashid
Information about Saleem to be added.
Gerry Stroud-Campbell *new Exec member
Read about Gerry Stroud-Campbell, Ordinary member, view biography
Marianna Volpi
Read about Marianna Volpi, Ordinary member, view biography
Ben Wiedel-Kaufmann
Read about Ben Wiedel-Kaufmann, Ordinary member, view biography
Contact information:
Phone us on 01908 6(53069) or Deb Shann on Skype for Business or Teams
Call into Room 015, Wilson C block, Walton Hall