Trustee board

Our Board of Trustees is the highest decision-making body at NTSU. Their duty is to ensure that the charity (Nottingham Trent Students' Union) complies with our governing document and the law.

NTSU's Board is chaired by NTSU President Jess Walker. They safeguard the vision and values of the Union, establish the organisation's strategic direction, and ensure it meets the needs of its members. 

Our trustees ensure NTSU strives for good operational practice and review and monitor the organisation's performance and progress towards its objectives. In addition, the trustees ensure the organisation works within its charitable purpose and complying with its governing document at all times.

Every trustee is responsible for this. Even if specific tasks are done by individual trustees, employees or volunteers, all trustees are responsible.  

Each trustee has their own experiences that collectively help the Board to carry out its role. They are all equal in terms of responsibility and fall into three categories:

• Officer trustees
• Student trustees
• External trustees

Officer trustees

Libby Sinclair - President:

Libby Sinclair was elected NTSU President in July 2025. She leads the Executive Team and represents over 40,000 NTU students to the university, local community, and national organisations. Libby chairs the NTSU Board of Trustees and is also a member of the NTU Board of Governors.

• Chair of NTSU’s Board of Trustees: Oversees the strategic direction and governance of the Students' Union.
• Member of NTU's Board of Governors: Represents students at the highest level of university decision-making.
• Leads Campaigns on Student Housing and Safety: Advocates for more affordable housing, rent reductions, and improved safety measures across campus and city nightlife.
• Promotes Student Welfare and Accountability: Focuses on awareness of medical services, support schemes, and officer transparency.

 

Mischa Dooley - VP Education:

Mischa Dooley took up the role of VP Education in July 2025. She champions students’ academic needs across NTU and works closely with course reps and academic departments to ensure student voices are heard and acted upon.

• Attends Quality Assurance and Academic Standards Committees: Advocates for inclusive learning experiences and fair academic processes.
• Improving NECs and Access Statements:: Works to streamline processes so that students can access support quickly and confidentially.
• Supports Career Development: Promotes CV writing and interview preparation workshops to help students prepare for life after university.
• Focused on Employability and Equity::Committed to ensuring every student can access equal academic and professional opportunities.

 

Joe Cormack – VP Community and Welfare

Joe Cormack became VP Community and Welfare in July 2025. His work focuses on improving the wellbeing and safety of all students, from mental health support to housing advice.

• Chairs the Environmental, Social, and Governance Committee: Leads NTSU’s work on sustainability, ethical governance, and social impact.
• Sits on the Health, Safety, and Risk Committee: Works to ensure student welfare is prioritised in decision-making.
• Focuses on Mental Health and Night-time Safety: Delivers campaigns and partnerships to support safer environments for all students.
• Supports with Housing and Academic Wellbeing: Offers practical guidance for students navigating housing, stress, and university life.

 

 

Ryan Turner – VP Postgraduate

Ryan Turner was elected VP Postgraduate in July 2025. He represents the postgraduate student community, working to improve their academic experience, welfare, and engagement.

• Collaborates with VP Education and Student Voice Team: Supports academic reps and gathers postgraduate feedback across all schools.
• Advocates for Better Teaching and Engagement: Pushes for improvements in contact hours and reduced reliance on self-study.
• Focuses on Housing and Financial Support: Campaigns for better living conditions and financial incentives to boost student representation.

 

Ben Parker – VP Opportunities

Ben Parker was elected as VP Opportunities in July 2025. His role is to support NTSU societies, encourage student leadership, and make extracurricular activities accessible to all.

• Sits on Committees Supporting Student Life: Works across departments to expand society opportunities and improve student engagement.
• Empowers Society Committees: Delivers workshops, offers free socials, and introduces incentives for cross-campus collaboration.
• Bridges Academic and Social Life: Collaborates with VP Education to connect course content with society activity.
• Promotes Student-led Events and Campaigns: Provides societies with platforms to showcase their events and successes.

 

Jasmyn Smith - VP Sport:

Jasmyn Smith began her term as VP Sport in July 2025. She works closely with NTU Sport and NTSU clubs to deliver an inclusive, supportive, and exciting sporting experience.

• Promotes and Celebrates Sport Across Campuses: Runs initiatives like Club of the Month and shares success stories on social media.
• Supports Clubs in Varsity and Beyond: Works to increase participation and make sports events more accessible.
• Champion for Mental Health in Sport: Collaborates with Student Minds to provide training for committee members.
• Experienced in NTU Sport: With a background in NTU Cheer and Dance, she brings deep understanding of student-led sport and wellbeing.

 

Paige Skelland – Brackenhurst Officer

Paige Skelland joined the Board of Trustees as Brackenhurst Officer in July 2025. She represents students based at NTU’s rural campus and works to ensure their voices are heard across the Union and University.

• Champion for Brack Students: Advocates for more accessible services, inclusive opportunities, and better transport links, including night bus improvements.
• Represents Underrepresented Voices: Focuses on engaging quieter students and encouraging greater involvement in campus life.
• Drives Cross-Campus Collaboration: Works with officers and societies to build stronger links between Brackenhurst and other campuses.
• Committed to Community and Belonging: Strives to create a welcoming, supportive environment for all Brack students.

 

Student Trustees

 

 

 

Melekwe Ebite

Hello! I'm a first-year, soon-to-be second-year Accounting and Finance student with aspirations of working in data analysis. I decided to become a student trustee to create a lasting, positive impact within our community. My passion for sports, including boxing and swimming, fuels my dedication to discipline and perseverance. I am committed to using my skills and interests to contribute to our board's initiatives. My goal is to foster a more inclusive and dynamic campus community, where every student feels heard and valued. With a keen eye for detail and a heart set on progress, I am excited to bring a fresh perspective and drive meaningful change.

 

 

Nikita Shefner

Nikita is a student studying Politics and International Relations. He works in the School of Social Sciences and has an interest in examining the policymaking process at the foreign and domestic level. 

Nikita began his engagement with NTSU in his first year of study. Working as a Course Representative, Nikita attended School Forum meetings, Course Committee's, alongside termly NTSU Union Meetings, making sure that student voice is represented front and centre. Nikita became a student trustee at the end of his first year, formally accepting the position in June 2024. 

Nikita had this to say following his appointment to the trustee board: "It is a great honour to be asked to join the Board of Trustees. I'm very excited to be a part of the NTSU family and I cannot wait to officially start working in this role this coming autumn!

I've completed my training for the position, and I've already observed one trustee board meeting. Student voice and diversity are one of the core pillars of NTSU and I promise to safeguard these principles whenever we vote on any motion at the Board or Committe level. 

External Trustees

 

Geoff Love - University Appointed Trustee

Geoff Love was formerly Chief Executive Officer of Commify, Europe's leading business messaging solutions provider. After leading a management buyout of Nottingham-based Esendex, he partnered with private equity to create the Commify group of companies. Working with over 35,000 businesses worldwide and with turnover approaching €100m, Commify's mission is to 'make business communication brilliant'. The group operates around a dozen global brands from its Nottingham headquarters.

After graduating from Sheffield University with a degree in Business Studies, Geoff started his career in retail banking, specialising in marketing, where he held many senior roles with the likes of Lloyds TSB and Alliance & Leicester. He was Customer Marketing Director of HomeServe and a member of its UK board, seeing its sales increase tenfold during his tenure before swapping insurance for software.

Geoff lives in Nottingham with his two teenage children and wife, a senior lecturer at NTU.

 

Kudzai Muzangaza

Kudzai is a Principal Auditor and Chartered Accountant (ACA) at Capital One UK. He is responsible for the execution of risk based internal audits across the Capital One UK and Canada card businesses covering a suite of activities which include Customer Service, Risk Operations, and Legal and Governance.

He is a graduate of the University of Lincoln, having completed a degree in Psychology and was the President and Chair of the Board of Trustees for the University of Lincoln Students' Union. Kudzai completed his training with PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) and was heavily involved in the internal audits of Higher Education organisations, charities and publicly listed companies.

Outside of work Kudzai is an avid music and Formula 1 fan. He currently splits his time between Nottingham and London.

 

Dr Georgie Benford

Dr Georgie Benford is an Associate Head of School at the University of West England, Bristol. She is a Criminologist and academic leader with a wide range of educational governance experience. Georgie joined the board in June 2023, but her first experience of trusteeship within an SU, was as a Sabbatical at Loughborough University. Returning to this sector she hopes to make an impact on NTSU's sustainability, wellbeing and equality agenda.

Board Summaries