Dr. Katherine Birch joined Birmingham Newman University as an independent member of Council in January 2024.

Dr. Birch is the Director of the Academy at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Trust, which is one of the largest specialist paediatric hospitals in Europe and she is also Lead Governor at Mid Cheshire NHS Foundation Trust.

She brings significant experience of cross sector, collaborative working gained through a series of roles in higher education and the health sector, and she has a particular interest in learning and development, the role of anchor organisations in supporting social and economic development and widening participation.

In her previous roles she has been responsible for large portfolios of academic courses including both NMC and HCPC approved programmes and Public Health and Wellbeing and she has led on strategies to support recruitment into the clinical and non-clinical workforce. She has also developed major programmes of outreach involving schools, FE colleges and local employers to promote careers in the health sector (reflecting her passion for widening opportunities in this area).

Previously, Dr. Birch has provided policy and strategic advice to the Department of Health in terms of audit and has led national programmes focused on embedding good governance within healthcare organisations. She has a keen interest in developing robust quality governance and improvement frameworks within high education (both UK and TNE).

Dr. Birch lives in Cheshire and enjoys playing netball and spending time with family and her dogs. 

Katherine’s current term runs from January 2024 to December 2026.

Key roles and responsibilities

• Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee

Gemma has been elected as the President of Newman Students Union for 2024-2025 and sits as the Student Governor at Council to represent the student voice.

Before returning to education Gemma worked in dentistry, from trainee Dental Nurse through to Practice Manager. During this time, Gemma gained her NVQ Level 3 Dental Surgery Assistant, NVQ Level 3 in Customer Service and an ILM Level 5 in Leadership & Management. During her time in dentistry she had a key role in implementing strategies to gain Investors In People recognition.

Gemma studied her Law LLB with Foundation Year at Birmingham Newman University. During her time at University she held the positions of Student Trustee for the Union, Foundation Year Mentor, Welcome Mentor, Class Rep and a Student Ambassador.

Gemma has volunteered at Breaking the Silence UK, a charity that supports women and children who have suffered domestic abuse and human trafficking. Also, during her studies she has gained valuable work experience in a local law firm where she attended various court hearing, Gemma also had the opportunity to shadow a family court Judge.

Gemma is looking forward to implementing her Manifesto and the Unions strategy during her term.

Key roles and responsibilities

• Member of the Nominations and Governance Committee 

Mike Diiorio joined Birmingham Newman University as a Catholic Member of Council in 2024.

He is the Chief Executive Officer of Marble Bar Asset Management, an alternative asset manager based in London. At Marble Bar, he is responsible for the execution of the firm’s overall strategy, plays a significant role in the selection and onboarding of talent and drives a culture of accountability, rigour and collaboration.

Mike’s career spans 29 years and a variety of management, trading and sales roles in financial services firms including Credit Suisse, Barclays Capital, Lehman Brothers and Bank of America.  He has extensive global experience having worked in London, Frankfurt and Hong Kong.

He holds a B.A. in Economics and Mathematical Sciences from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  He served 10 years on the Global Leadership Council of UNC-Chapel Hill and has delivered guests lectures to business and economics students at both UNC-Chapel Hill and King’s College, London.

Mike’s current term runs from January 2024 to December 2026.

Key roles and responsibilities

• Member of the Finance and General Purposes Committee

Gayle Ditchburn has been an independent member of Council at Birmingham Newman University since 2017.

She is the Vice-Chair of Council and Chair of the Remunerations Committee and a member of Nominations and Governance Committee (having also spent time as its chair).

She is a Partner at the international law firm Pinsent Masons LLP, where she leads the firm’s commercial, governance and regulatory advice to its universities and higher education clients. Since March 2023 she has also been the Head of its Birmingham Office.

She advises clients on a wide range of commercial projects including mergers, joint ventures, collaborative partnerships (both in the UK and overseas), and also on constitutional, governance and regulatory matters affecting the higher education sector.

Gayle studied for her law degree at Nottingham Trent University and undertook her postgraduate diploma in legal practice at Nottingham Law School. She qualified as a solicitor in 2001.

Gayle’s current term runs from April 2022 to end March 2025, and she has been re-appointed for a further three year term of office through to 2028.

Key roles and responsibilities

• Vice-Chair of Council
• Chair of the Remunerations Committee

Professor Jackie Dunne was appointed as Newman’s Vice-Chancellor in March 2020 and is an Ex-Officio Member of Council.

Previously Professor Dunne was Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wolverhampton, where she held responsibility for a number of strategic areas including; Widening participation and outreach; Regional engagement and lifelong learning; Digital Strategy; Equality and Diversity; Degree Apprenticeships and the development of the Springfield Campus.

Professor Dunne graduated in Hispanic Studies from Liverpool University and has an MA in Education and Industry from the University of Warwick, as well as being a Professor of Lifelong Learning and Skills. Jackie has over 25 years of experience of higher education and has held senior management positions, having previously worked at the University of Leicester and Coventry University.

Commenting on her appointment, Professor Dunne, said:

“It is an honour and privilege to be taking up the role of Vice-Chancellor at Newman University. I am delighted to be joining a successful institution with a strong heritage and values base, alongside a clear mission to offer a university experience to all who can benefit. The focus on the individual learner experience and an inclusive environment where students are nurtured and supported to succeed gives Newman a unique offer and I look forward to working with staff and students to take the University to the next stage of its development.”

Jackie brings to Newman a strong record of academic leadership, a passion for lifelong learning, and a commitment to opening up education to all people from all backgrounds, faiths and cultures.

Key roles and responsibilities

• Member of the Finance and General Purposes Committee
• Member of the Nominations and Governance Committee

Alex Fisher joined Birmingham Newman University as a Catholic Member of Council in 2025. He is a Birmingham-based entrepreneur, innovation strategist, and sustainability advocate. With a career dedicated to building high-impact ventures and scaling innovative technologies, he brings deep expertise in clean tech, strategic leadership, and inclusive growth to Birmingham Newman University’s Council.

Alex has received national and international recognition for his work, including being named a Maserati 100 Innovator, a Commonwealth Export Champion, and a winner of the InnovateUK SME Innovation Award. In 2023, he was selected as a Fellow of the Clinton Global Initiative for his contributions to climate resilience and inclusive economic growth. He has also been featured in Forbes, the UK Government’s 25-Year Environment Plan, and served as a visible figure in the “Britain is GREAT” campaign.

He has advised at the highest levels of government, including participating in a 10 Downing Street panel on business scaling, and has spoken at influential global events such as the Clinton Global Initiative and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. His collaborations span academia, public institutions, and corporate partners, with extensive experience in working with universities on research and development projects.

A graduate of the University of Birmingham and a practising Roman Catholic, Alex is deeply aligned with Newman’s values of equity, service, and social justice. Through his role on Council, he supports the University’s mission by contributing a forward-thinking perspective on innovation, disruption, and entrepreneurship—helping to shape a vibrant and inclusive future for its students and community. Alex’s current term runs from March 2025 to March 2028

Karan Gilmore joined Birmingham Newman University as a Catholic Member of Council in 2018 and the Chair of the Nominations and Governance Committee.

She trained as a nurse at Hammersmith Hospital, qualifying in 1976. She went on to practice as a Health Visitor in Wolverhampton and in 1982 was promoted to a Senior Nurse role, managing Health Visitors, District Nurses and School Nurses in a deprived area of the City.

As part of this role, she developed a keen interest in Child Protection and in 1991 was appointed Designated Nurse for Child Protection, a new role in the Health Service identified as part of fundamental changes in inter-agency working and the management of children at risk of harm.

The job was an interesting mixture of strategic and of operational; sitting on the Area Child Protection Committee (forerunner of Local Safeguarding Children Boards), advising the Health Authority on all aspects of Child protection, developing policies and training programmes, delivering training, supervising Health Visitors with children on the Child Protection Register and giving day-to-day advice to anyone employed by the Health Authority who had concerns about a child.

After a short career break when her 4th child was born, in 1999 Ms. Gilmore started working for Children’s Social Care in Wolverhampton, and then Coventry, chairing Child Protection Conferences; complex meetings with parents and professionals present whose function is to develop and regularly review a plan to keep a child deemed to be at risk of significant harm safe within the family.

Now retired, Karan lives with her husband and 3 of her 4 adult children in Birmingham. She is a practicing Catholic, and actively involved in parish life at St Mary’s, Harborne.

Over the years she has been part of the children’s and the adult liturgy teams, a catechist for adults wishing to be received into the Church, an auditor for the Metropolitan Marriage Tribunal and now helps to run the repository shop.

She is also a Governor for the Blue Coat School, an independent prep school in Edgbaston and is Vice Chair of New Routes Fostering Panel, part of Father Hudson’s Care.

Karan’s current term runs from July 2024 to July 2027.

Key roles and responsibilities

• Chair of the Nominations and Governance Committee
• Safeguarding Champion

Professor Tony Harris joined Birmingham Newman University as an independent member of Council in June 2022 and is the Chair of the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

Tony joined Newman University Council in 2022. He is Executive Director and Dean of the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP), a small and specialist higher education provider based in London. Prior to joining ICMP he was Head of Teacher Education at Nottingham Trent University, where he led its highly successful PGCE Secondary Music programme for over 10 years. He studied at University College Bretton Hall prior to completing his PhD at Birmingham Conservatoire. He is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Tony’s background is as a musician, composer and producer. He was a founder member and toured internationally with the Pound Shop Boys (1998-2010) and resident percussionist with CoMA East Midlands for 10 years. His music has been performed by the Cornelius Cardew Ensemble, Backbeat Percussion Ensemble, Stockholm’s Great Learning Orchestra and he has produced numerous albums of experimental electronica under the artist name Boring Phil. His expertise as a designer of participatory music education projects has led him to work with a wide range of organisations including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the BBC, the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.

As an academic, Tony’s specialism combines the world of experimental music and the avant-garde with music pedagogy, community music practice, and music education more generally. A major book, The Legacy of Cornelius Cardew (2013), has become a seminal text on the composer, and other publications include The GCSE Composition Course (a set of 5 textbooks published by Peters Edition) and Valuing Music in Special Needs Settings (2016).

Tony is also on the Board of Trustees for Contemporary Music For All, Vice-Chair of Governors at Charnwood Academy, Staffordshire, and a non-executive member of the Academic Board at Met Film School, based at Ealing Studios. 

Tony’s current term runs from June 2022 to June 2025.

Key roles and responsibilities

• Chair of the Finance and General Purposes Committee

Dr. Joanne Hill joined Newman University as Associate Dean in the Faculty of Education in 2021 and was appointed as a Staff member of Council in 2023. 

Joanne was born and educated locally in the north of Birmingham. She trained to become a teacher on a four-year undergraduate route at Wolverhampton Polytechnic. Joanne’s expertise is predominantly in early years and KS1, she taught in Birmingham primary schools and in her last school post she was Deputy Head Teacher/Acting Head Teacher at Acocks Green Infant and Nursery School. 

Joanne moved to Birmingham City University in 2000 and has had a number of roles including Primary Partnership Manager, PGCE Primary Course Leader, Director of Work-based Learning and Associate Head of School for Education and Social Work. 

Joanne strong regional engagement; she has been a governor with E-ACT academies and was Chair of Governors at Ryders Hayes Primary School for five and a half years. She was actively involved in the development of Teaching Schools supporting the work of Bournville Teaching School, Ryders Hayes Teaching School and sitting on the strategic boards of Colmore Teaching School Alliance and Greet Teaching School Alliance. Joanne was also a member of the strategic board of the Four Oaks Learning Trust for Excellence and was approached to sit on the Walsall Local Authority Challenge Board which later became Walsall Learning Alliance. 

Joanne’s current term on the University Council lasts from October 2023 to October 2026. 

Laila Iftikhar-Ali joined Birmingham Newman University as an independent member of Council in January 2024.

Laila is a seasoned leader in change and transformation, with 21 years of experience in the HR solutions industry. Her driving force lies in her purpose of “daring people to be better,” which she exemplifies in her leadership, strategic approach, and performance.

Laila holds a degree in accounting from Birmingham City University and is affiliated with the ACCA. Based locally, she has spearheaded various functions, working for The Adecco Group, including Finance Shared Services, Change, IT, and digital services.

Having served as a board member in the UK and Ireland, Laila transitioned to a global role within the organization, spearheading Digital Transformation initiatives across 60 countries for colleagues, candidates, and clients.

Currently, Laila serves as the Head of Finance Shared Services Transformation at DLA Piper, leveraging her extensive experience in driving change and innovation.

Additionally, she continues to contribute as a Non-Executive Director for The British Quality Foundation and remains an active member of the Change Management Institute.

Laila’s current term runs from January 2024 to December 2026.

Key roles and responsibilities

• Member of the Finance and General Purposes Committee
• Member of Estates Strategy Programme Board

Chris Leigh joined Birmingham Newman University as an independent member of Council in January 2024.

Having graduated from the University of Leicester with a degree in Financial Economics he joined PwC where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant, leaving in 2009 to join Rolls-Royce plc.

During his time at Rolls-Royce, Chris has held a number of leadership positions across the group, including Internal Audit, Group Treasury and Financial Control.

Since 2019, he has spent his time business partnering within the leasing, manufacturing and aftermarket divisions.  In his current role, Chris leads finance for a business with revenues in excess of £1.5bn covering the entire value stream from delivery of engineering programmes, sale of engines through to the selling and delivery of multi-year aftermarket contracts.  In this role, he has been instrumental in leading the business to deliver higher margins and returning the part of the business back to profitability.

Originally from York, Chris now lives in Sutton Coldfield with his wife and two children.

Chris’s current term runs from January 2024 to December 2026.

Key roles and responsibilities

• Vice-Chair of the Finance and General Purposes Committee

The Most Reverend Bernard Longley is the Archbishop of Birmingham and is an Ex-Officio Member of Council. 

Archbishop Bernard Longley was born in Manchester. He studied at Xaverian College and the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and New College, Oxford. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton on 12th December 1981 at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh, and was Assistant Priest at St Joseph’s, Epsom, and Chaplain to Psychiatric Hospitals.

From 1987 to 1996 he was on the staff at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh, teaching dogmatic theology. In 1991, he was appointed Surrey Chairman of the Arundel and Brighton Diocesan Commission for Christian Unity and in 1996 became National Ecumenical Officer at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. 

His Grace was ordained Bishop and appointed as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Westminster in 2003. Archbishop Longley was Head of the Diocesan Pastoral Board and had pastoral responsibilities for the Deaneries of Camden, Hackney, Islington, Marylebone, Tower Hamlets, and Westminster. 

The Archbishop was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in October 2009 and was installed as the ninth Archbishop of Birmingham on Tuesday 8th December 2009. 

In 2011 Pope Benedict appointed the Archbishop as the co-Chairman of ARCIC, with oversight of the third phase of Anglican-Catholic dialogue. 

Martin McNeill joined Birmingham Newman University Council as a Catholic member in January 2024.

Although Martin began his working life as an investment banker, his focus for over 30 years has been on the management and governance of public services.  He was the principal author of 16 influential reports published by the Audit Commission, where he also led the development of a sustainable supply strategy for local public audit.

He served for four years on the Commission’s Management Board, with responsibility for finance, HR and other corporate services.  He continues his involvement with the audit of public bodies as a director of Smaller Authorities’ Audit Appointments, the organisation that oversees the audit of town and parish councils.

Based in Exmoor, close to the Somerset-Devon border, he has worked as a School Improvement Partner as well as leading change management projects in the NHS and other parts of the public sector.  He was for nine years Chair of Governors at a large 13-18 comprehensive school, and is currently a governor of Petroc, North and Mid Devon’s Further Education College.  He is or has been a trustee of a number of local charities working in the education, recreation and childcare sectors.

From 2015 to until his retirement in 2023 Martin was Clerk and Company Secretary at Morley College London, having previously held a similar position at Bicton College in Devon.  He has been a National Leader of FE Governance and continues through his consultancy work to promote better governance in colleges and schools.

Martin’s current term runs from January 2024 to December 2026.

Key roles and responsibilities

• Vice-Chair of the Nominations and Governance Committee

Dr. Kristin O’Donnell joined the Birmingham Newman University Council as a Staff Governor in September 2024.

Kristin is an interdisciplinary researcher with a background spanning the arts, humanities and cultural policy. She began her academic journey at the University of Brighton, where she completed a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Social History, followed by an MA in Cultural History, Memory and Identity. Her AHRC-funded doctoral research explored the cultural politics of commemoration during the Centenary of the First World War.

Kristin’s career reflects her passion for teaching and learning in higher education. Currently a Senior Lecturer in Applied Humanities at Birmingham Newman University, she has received multiple awards for teaching excellence, and Advance HE Fellowship recognition. Kristin also serves on various university committees, focusing on retention, employability, and student engagement.

Beyond academia, Kristin is deeply engaged with the intersection of cultural policy, heritage, and public history. She has collaborated with artists and organisations such as Cumberland Lodge, The British Council, and Dover Arts Development to address complex social challenges through the arts and media. Her work extends to film production and consulting on historical and cultural projects.

Before entering academia, Kristin spent 16 years in the retail sector, including a decade in management roles including national and international management training and support. During this time she also wrote international marketing copy and contributed to a range of international ethical campaigns. This experience provided her with valuable insights into leadership, operations, and business, which she brings to her work on the Council.

Kristin is committed to enhancing education and community connections. As a Staff Governor, she aims to bring her experience in governance, interdisciplinary teaching, and cultural advocacy to the continued success and inclusive mission of Birmingham Newman University.

Kristin’s current term runs from September 2024 to September 2027.

Peter O’Hagan joined Birmingham Newman University as a Catholic Member of Council in 2025. He has had a distinguished career in education, beginning with his teaching roles after graduating from Loughborough University. He progressed to leadership positions and contributed to the development of the English National Curriculum in collaboration with the DFE and later in Malaysia with Cambridge University. 

As a member of DEMOS, a Government Think Tank, he contributed to education policy initiatives for the Labour government, including the National Grid for Learning and the Academies Programme, while also contributing to the Building Schools for the Future programme. He has supported educational development internationally, including the USA, Australia, New Zealand, UAE and many others. Along with Channel 4 he was responsible for the BAFTA and RTS winning “Grid Club”. He has also represented the UK at NATO STEAM conferences and the Global Education Forum

Peter played a key role in establishing a Unitary Authority, and later helped create an educational division within a FTSE 100 company, successfully transforming failing Local Education Authorities. His division expanded globally, providing various educational services, including training for OFSTED inspectors. 

After retirement, he has engaged in non-executive roles in both public and private sectors including the NHS and is currently a member of an international group focusing on the impact of Artificial Intelligence on education. He is on the board of Directors of a very large Multi Academy Trust comprising 63 schools. Peter is committed to ensuring access to world-class education and effective support for educators

Peter’s current term runs from March 2025 to March 2028

Dr. Angel Garcia Velazquez joined Birmingham Newman University as a Catholic Member of Council in 2022.

Angel was born and raised in Mexico City, where he lived for over 20 years. After moving to the UK, he attended the University of Sheffield, where he earned a MA in Governance and Public Policy and PhD in Politics, specialising in policy making in embryonic democracies.

Throughout his career he has worked in the public and private sectors across several fields, from higher education to retail. This has included leading multimillion-pound higher education agreements at the British Council and the British Embassy in Mexico, delivering policy changes in the Falkland Islands and Iraq, and developing insights to inform national investments in R&D.

Being passionate about higher education, he has also lectured at research intensive universities, including the University of St Andrews, The University of Sheffield and Universidad Anahuac in Mexico. And, through his previous experiences as Trustee of the University of Sheffield Students’ Union, Board Member of a Multi Academy Trust in Sheffield and Governor of a primary school in the south of England, he has aimed to contribute to a more inclusive education in the UK.

As an Independent Council Member he is committed to define policies and objectives that contribute to Newman’s financial health and sustainability, so that the University continues delivering increasingly high quality programmes and activities to its community.

Angel’s current term runs from June 2022 to June 2025.

Key roles and responsibilities

• Member of the Audit and Risk Committee