About the Governors
Mr Peter Hermitage QPM (Pro-Chancellor)
Mr Peter Hermitage retired as Director of National Police Training (NPT) in May 1999 after serving in the police for over 30 years, during which time he rose from the rank of Constable to Chief Constable.
He spent most of his career involved in policing in Kent with significant involvement in the shaping of operational systems and practices. He served from 1994-1996 with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary at the Home Office having particular responsibility for the inspection of personnel issues and value for money. As the Director of NPT, he was responsible for all recruit training, the Police Staff College, specialist training in crime and operations and the quality of training. He also gave advice to government on such issues.
From June 2000 until October 2003 he served as the Chairman of the East Kent NHS Hospital Trust. He was a Board Member of the Security Industry Authority from April 2003, taking on the Chairmanship of the Authority until 2006. He undertakes consultancy work in the area of management and is a Trustee of Michael Yoakley's Charity in Thanet.
Peter was educated at Chatham House Grammar School at Ramsgate. He lives in Canterbury with his wife. He has a married daughter, a married son and three grandchildren.
Mr Stephen Clark (Deputy Pro-Chancellor)
Stephen is Deputy Chief Executive Officer of VTBE, formally Moscow Narodny Bank. He took up his appointment in January 2005. He has accepted a nomination to join the Board of Halladale Group plc, as a Non-Executive Director, with effect from 1 December 2006.
He has nearly 40 years’ experience in Wealth Management, Investment Banking, Stockbroking and Fund Management, having held senior executive positions at Oppenheimer International, Banque Indosuez, W I Carr Group, County NatWest and latterly Gerrard Investment Managment, where he was Chief Executive.
Stephen is a member of the LSCA Business Ethics Working Group and lectures widely on Financial Services and Regulatory matters. He is an Honours Graduate in Financial Services from UMIST and a Trustee of the Marshall’s Charity (a Church of England charity). He is a former Visiting Fellow at Manchester Business School.
He has been a Territorial Army Officer and holds the Territorial Decoration. He is a Freeman of the City of London, a Liveryman and a member of the Court of the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights. He is also a past Chairman of the Broad Street Ward Club.
Stephen is married with four children and two grandchildren.
Professor Robin Baker CMG - Vice-Chancellor
Professor Robin Baker joined Canterbury Christ Church University as Vice-Chancellor in September 2010.
Professor Baker has a career that has moved between academia, cultural diplomacy and promoting UK education and creative industries as exports. As an academic, he is an authority on East European history, ethnic minorities and languages. He spent 21 years in the British Council, serving in London, South Africa, Hungary, Greece, and Russia. His final post in the British Council was as Deputy Director General, responsible for the Council's global network and operations.
He is a graduate of University College London where he is now a Fellow, was a Finnish Government Scholar at the University of Helsinki, took a PhD at the University of East Anglia, and has studied at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University.
Professor Baker was previously a Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Kent before his appointment as Vice-Chancellor at the University of Chichester.
The Right Reverend Trevor Willmott (Deputy Pro-Chancellor)
Bishop Trevor was 'given the gift of faith' as a teenager by an inspiring Christian family, and studied for ordained ministry at Cambridge after a first degree at St Peter's College, Oxford. Following his curacy in St Alban's Diocese, Bishop Trevor's ministry took him to Oslo and Naples and he later became Officiating Chaplain to H.M. and American Forces in Southern Europe. After returning to the UK, Bishop Trevor worked as the Diocesan Director of Post Ordination Training and later became Canon Residentiary of Durham Cathedral.
In 2002 Bishop Trevor was consecrated as the suffragan Bishop of Basingstoke. During his seven years in post, Bishop Trevor took the lead in the areas of social reform, criminal justice and rural affairs. He was also a founding Trustee of the two social welfare charities.
Bishop Trevor has many national church responsibilities and was elected to the Upper House of the Convocation in the Province of Canterbury in 2005 and is a member of the Business Committee of the Church of England's General Synod.
As the current Bishop of Dover, Trevor has oversight for Canterbury Diocese which stretches from Maidstone southwards and includes the Weald, Romney Marsh, Ashford, Dover, Thanet, Faversham, Sittingbourne and the Isle of Sheppey and includes 288 parish churches.
Bishop Trevor is married to Margaret, who works as a school finance consultant. They have one grown up daughter, Elizabeth, a hydrogeologist who lives in Bristol. Bishop Trevor describes himself as 'a real foodie who enjoys cooking'. His other interests include gardening, rugby and cricket.
The Reverend Janina Ainsworth
The Reverend Janina Ainsworth was appointed as the Chief Education Officer for the Church of England at the end of March 2007.
Jan has devoted her working life to education and was ordained deacon in 2005 and priest in 2006 to be a non-stipendiary curate in the Parish of East Farnworth and Kearsley, having been a licensed reader since 1980. Jan had worked in the Manchester Board of Education since 1986, first as an advisor and schools inspector and, since 1998, as Director of Education, with responsibility for all aspects of Christian education.
She previously taught at schools in Cambridge, Lancaster and North Manchester, lectured at St. Martin's College, Lancaster, and was an education liaison worker for the Tameside Council for Racial Equality.
Mr Paul Bogle - University Solicitor and Clerk to the Governing Body
Paul Bogle studied Law at Bristol University, graduating with an LLB (Hons) Degree in 1994. He trained as a Barrister at the Inns of Court School of Law the following year, before undertaking Pupillages in Chelmsford and then in London at the specialist Family Law Chambers, One Garden Court.
He worked as an employed Barrister with Essex County Council for eight years in a number of advisory and advocacy roles. From 2001 he specialised in education and employment law, providing legal services to over 500 Essex schools, as well as being the Secretary to the County's School Organisation Committee.
He was appointed in 2005 as the University's first in-house Solicitor, and Clerk to its Governing Body. He is also Company Secretary for the University and its subsidiaries.
He is the University's representative on AHUA (the Association of Heads, University Administration) and sits on the UCEA (Universities, Colleges and Employers Association) Health and Safety Board.
Dr Chris Bull
Chris Bull is the Academic Board representative on the Governing Body. Chris came to Canterbury Christ Church in 1994 as Principal Lecturer in Tourism and Leisure Studies in the then Department of Geography, having been a Senior Lecturer in Geography at De Montfort University (Bedford). Since 2002 he has been Head of the Department of Sport Science, Tourism and Leisure.
Chris studied Geography at the University of Edinburgh after which he undertook research, first at Wye College, University of London, and then at the Bartlett School of Architecture and Planning, University College London.
Apart from a brief period working in the Planning Department at Kent County Council, Chris has spent the whole of his working life in academia, lecturing and researching in geography, countryside planning and tourism.
He lives in Canterbury and is married with two grown up sons.
Mr Chris Byrne
Although born in the UK, he spent his first twenty years in Kenya, attending St Mary's School in Nairobi. He read law at Southampton University gaining an LLB (Hons) in 1968. He then joined Girlings solicitors, qualifying as a solicitor in 1971, and was a partner specialising in commercial property from 1975 until he retired in 2008
He is currently the Secretary of Kent Reliance Building Society having been a non-executive director with the Society from 1979 until he retired in March 2009 when he was appointed the Society Secretary.
He was appointed a Notary Public in 1981 and continues with that practice.
He serves on the Finance and Estates Committee of Canterbury Cathedral.
Mr Christopher Calcutt
Christopher is a consultant to FoxWood Maclean, a firm of Chartered Surveyors and Estate Agents.
He was brought up in Hampshire and, after taking a degree in chemistry at Exeter University, he joined a national firm of surveyors in London in 1973 before moving with them to their new office in Canterbury in 1974. He subsequently qualified as a Chartered Surveyor and has practised in East Kent ever since, dealing with residential, agricultural and commercial property.
Living on a small farm about 10 miles south of Canterbury, Christopher is married with three children, with the youngest at school in Canterbury until this year.
He currently serves on the Ashford Economic Development Group of the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, is a Vice-President and Friend of the Canterbury Festival and a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Girdlers.
Mr Colin Carmichael
Colin Carmichael is currently Chief Executive of Canterbury City Council, lives in Canterbury and is married with two children. He was born in London and was educated at the William Ellis School in Highgate. He took a degree in modern history at Merton College, Oxford, and has worked in local government ever since.
His two main local authorities, before coming to Canterbury, were the London Boroughs of Camden and Hackney, where he was at the heart of the political somersaults and difficult managerial changes which Camden, in particular, went through in the late 1980's and 1990's. His main focus of attention, as Director of Corporate Services in Camden, was the need to get the Council to be as effective as possible, at a time when not many people in the Council thought that this was particularly important!
In Canterbury, Colin is a member of the University of Kent at Canterbury Council, and a member of the Board of the East Kent Enterprise Agency. He enjoys singing with the Canterbury Choral Society, cycling and gardening
Mr Cedric Frederick
Cedric Frederick is Chief Executive of Avante Partnership, a Kent based charity that primarily cares for and supports older people, as well as supporting children, young people and families. In total Avante Partnership cares for and supports almost 4,500 people and employs over 1500 staff.
In a 30 year career in the public sector, Cedric has held a series of senior positions in the housing association and local authority sectors, including four years as Managing Director of a BME Housing Association. Most recently, he spent 12 years as Chief Executive of a multi regional charity that supported people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health problems.
Cedric has over 25 years experience as a member of the Boards of several housing related national governing bodies, housing associations and voluntary organisations. This experience includes over 9 years as Non-Executive Director of a specialist mental health Partnership NHS Foundation Trust between 1999 and 2008.
An ex England international basketball player, Cedric was named as one of Britain's 100 Most Influential Black People in 2008 and described as '...unsung hero of the Third Sector, who has changed as many lives in his life outside of work as he has in his job'
Cedric is married to Sue, and they have two children and two grandchildren.
Miss Renuka Chinnadurai
Renuka Chinnadurai is the headteacher of Bridge and Patrixbourne Church of England Primary School, a two form entry rural primary school on the outskirts of Canterbury.
She spent her childhood travelling in developing countries and this shaped her beliefs and values. After gaining a degree in Languages, Economics and Politics she went on to do a PGCE at Roehampton Institute.
She began her teaching career in Inner London, before moving to Kent in 1993. She has had successful experience of working in contrasting schools and schools in challenging circumstances. During this time she has gained much experience of employment and personnel issues. Her current school is a National Support School and she is a National Leader of Education.
She has a daughter at primary school and enjoys cooking and travelling.
The Reverend Nigel Genders
Nigel has been the Director of Education for the Diocese of Canterbury since May 2008 and leads the team serving the 103 Church of England schools in the diocese and overseeing the diocese's work with children and young people. He was ordained in 1992 and before taking up his current post was Area Dean of Sandwich, priest-in-charge of Woodnesborough and Staple, and minister to Sandwich secondary schools.
Nigel is chair of the Kent Admissions Forum and also sits on the Executive of the Kent Children's Trust. He is married to Sarah, a sister on an acute medical ward, and they have three children.
Mrs Sarah Hohler
Sarah Hohler is the Cabinet Member for Education, Learning and Skills at Kent County Council.
An Oxford graduate, Sarah taught French in a Presbyterian Secondary School in Accra, Ghana, before working for Pergamon Press for two years (sales and acquisition), for Oxford University Press in Hong Kong (editing educational books) and Macmillan Education. Following this, she went to New York with her diplomat husband and worked for an International Play Group in order to raise funds for a Young Artists exhibition. In New York, she started a nursery school and worked as a school librarian at Spence School for two years. The family then moved to Brussels where Sarah worked for the British Council, as an English Language Assistant, supporting teachers, before returning to Kent.
She joined Kent County Council as an elected member in 1989 and was appointed Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning in 1997. She later became Cabinet Member for Communities and Deputy Leader to the late Lord Bruce-Lockhart. She stood down from the Cabinet when he retired as Leader in October 2004.
In June 2009, she became the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Kent County Council and, in January 2011, she took on her present role as Cabinet Member for Education, Learning and Skills.
Sarah has four daughters and six grandchildren.
Mr Philip Jones
Philip Jones is the secretary of the local branch of the University and College Union and is a Principal Lecturer in the Computing Department at CCCU. He studied at the University of Sheffield, the University of Liverpool, the University of Bolton and the Open University. He has a BSc in Electronic Engineering and holds a Master Degree in Engineering (M Eng) in Microelectronics and Telecommunication Systems together with a PGCE in Education.
Philip was previously a head of department in a college in Lancashire and before this held a lecturing post in a marine based college in Liverpool after spending time with R. Electronic Systems as a Quality Assurance Engineer. He was appointed to his post at CCCU in 1999.
During his career he has taught a range of disciplines Mathematics, Electronics, Physics, Computer Programming, Systems Analysis and Multimedia Systems.
Mr David Kemp
Born into a clergy household, David has been "in" the Church of England all his life, serving as Diocesan Secretary of the Diocese of Canterbury until his retirement in 2007. After serving as secretary, treasurer and churchwarden of various churches, he became Chairman of the Canterbury Diocesan Board of Finance in 1988, becoming Diocesan Secretary in 1990.
His early career was in banks and building societies and he was Deputy Chief Executive of Kent Reliance Building Society from 1986 to 1990. Since then he has been a non-executive Director of the Society.
David is married with two adult children and lists his interests as playing golf, history, amateur theatre and his local church. He retired from television game shows after winning TV's Krypton Factor in 1986!
Mr Frank Martin
Frank Martin is Chief Executive of Hornby Plc, a post he has held since January 2001. Frank spent his early career in Marketing, moving into General Management in his mid-30’s. Since then he has managed a number of medium sized consumer products companies. Since joining Hornby in 2001, the Company has expanded rapidly, extending its operations into mainland Europe and North America.
Frank is a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent and a Kent Ambassador. He is also a Councillor of the British Toy & Hobby Association. He holds an honours degree in Management Sciences from UMIST, a certified diploma in Marketing and a certified diploma in Accounting and Finance.
Frank is a keen sailor and he is a Committee Member of the Royal Temple Yacht Club in Ramsgate. He lives in Broadstairs and is married with two adult daughters.
Mr Tony McDonald
Born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland, Tony graduated from Van Mildert College, Durham University, with a BSc, General Science, specialising in Computing (1979). His career started as a programmer with Hoskyns Systms Ltd., a software house.He then joined Vosper Thornycroft, a warship builder where he progressed to Business Development Manager for the Marine Systems and Computing Division.In 1987, Tony joined Pfizer, the Pharmaceutical Company, and is currently Executive Director for Informatics for Global Research and Development in Europe.Tony is a Member of the British Computing Society, Chartered Management Institute and the Association of Project Management, and Chairman of the Kent Innovation Centre. He has recently been appointed a Fellow of the British Computing Society.
Tony is married to Janet, and has three daughters , Beth, Hannah and Caitlin. He is a keen yachtsman, and relaxes through wood-turning and carpentry.
Silvia Rasca - Student Governor
Silvia Rasca is the current President of Canterbury Christ Church Student' Union and, as part of this role, takes responsibility as Student Governor.
Originally from Timisoara, Romania, Silvia came to Canterbury in 2007 to study Film, Radio and Television Studies combined with Media and Cultural Studies. She is the first international student to become a Sabbatical Officer for the Students' Union.
In her second year Silvia became a Student Representative for the course she studied and continued the role throughout her degree. She worked as a PAL (Peer Assisted learning) Leader for the Media Department in her third year, as well as being elected Education Officer at the Students' Union. She campaigned actively in her final year and got elected for the Vice President (Welfare and Education) position. She was part of the writing of the Union's Strategic Plan and the developments for the future student building, as well as successfully working alongside the University on issues such as the sustainability agenda, and international students and their benefits.
Silvia is an excellent believer of the sustainability concerns, hence why she cycles every day. Other interests include film and filmmaking, theatre, and scriptwriting.
Mr Paul Sims - Staff Governor
Paul Sims was elected to represent University support staff at the May 2006 Staff Governor elections.He has been the Grounds Superintendent at Christ Church for over five years and is qualified in decorative Horticulture and Management. He has over 28 years experience in horticulture developing and constructing gardens and grounds.
Many years of dealing with clients and the public have also given him experience in Health and Safety matters, Fire Training and Security work including drug and alcohol awareness issues.
Dame Janet Trotter, OBE
Janet Trotter was born in Kent where she was educated and, after training, taught for eight years. She is a frequent visitor to the county, with family at Stelling Minnis. Janet has recently retired as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Gloucestershire.
She has served on the Higher Education Funding Council for England and on the Teacher Training Agency and is a Senior Inspector of Theological Colleges and Courses. She sits on the Gloucestershire Learning and Skills Council. She is a panel member of the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme. Janet has been involved in the NHS since 1991 in various non-executive capacities and is currently Chair of the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She also chairs the charity for bereaved children, Winston's Wish.
She was awarded an OBE in 1991 and a DBE in 2001. Since 2010 she has been the Queen's representative in Gloucestershire serving as its Lord Lieutenant.
Ms Rosie Turner
Rosie Turner has been the Director of the Canterbury Festival - Kent's International Arts Festival - since August 2003.
A graduate of University College of Wales at Aberystwyth, she was a Lecturer in Theatre Studies for ten years at the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education, introducing Drama to the Northern Ireland further education curriculum and contributing to the design of GCSE, BTEC and HND courses.
Rosie became involved with the Belfast Festival at Queen's as a volunteer in 1981 and she left teaching to join the Festival department of the University full time in 1991. Her work with the Belfast Festival at Queen's over a period of twenty years spanned some of the worst days of "The Troubles" and the development of the Peace Process. She was heavily involved with the regeneration of the cultural life of the City, combining her passion for the Arts with international marketing, fundraising and logistics.
Since moving to Faversham, Rosie has immersed herself in the cultural life of the County and was delighted to join the Kent Ambassadors in 2005. She is married to Mark Dougherty, a composer and musical director. When not attending theatre or concerts, Rosie enjoys walking, riding and sailing.
Deborah Upton
Deborah Upton is Director of Governance at Circle Housing, one of the largest national housing associations. Prior to this, she was a senior local government officer with 20 years experience of change management in all aspects of local government. She is a leader in her field and the current author of 'The Law of local Government Meetings', as well as a member of the Law Society's examination board for Local Government Law.
Deborah has an extensive career in law spanning over a decade, offering legal support to various councils across the country. She has led diverse projects in arts and culture; property rationalisation, human resources and facilities management.
The Venerable Sheila Watson
As Archdeacon of Canterbury Sheila Watson has a senior role within the Diocese and in the Cathedral, and represents the Archbishop of Canterbury, for example in installing new Diocesan Bishops in the southern province. Prior to this she was Archdeacon of Buckingham in the Diocese of Oxford.
A Classics graduate of St Andrews University where she went on to research on Augustine of Hippo, after a preparatory year of theology at Oxford she came to Canterbury after 27 years of ministry via Scotland, the North East, London and Salisbury as well as Buckinghamshire. In addition to parochial ministry, she has been closely involved in the selection and training of clergy and laity – first in the Kensington Episcopal Area of London, then at the Advisory Board of Ministry in Westminster as Senior Selection Secretary, and later as Director of Ministry in the Salisbury diocese. Currently she is part of the Bishops Inspection and Quality in Formation provision for theological education.
Sheila is married to Derek, who was Dean of Salisbury until his retirement in 2002, and is now Preacher of Lincoln's Inn, one of the Inns of Court in London.