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 Trustee and NTSU President Joe Cormack. 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
• Lay/External trustees

Officer Trustees

Joe Cormack - President:

Joe began his role as NTSU President in July 2026. He leads the Executive Team and represents over 35,000 NTU students to the university, local community, and national organisations. Joe 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.

 

Katie Booth - VP Education:

Katie took up the role of VP Education in July 2026. 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.

 

Mischa Dooley – VP Community and Welfare

Mischa became VP Community and Welfare in July 2026. Her 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.

 

Angeline Smith – VP Societies & Sport:

Angeline Smith was elected as VP Societies & Sport in July 2026. Her role is to represent students involved in societies, sports clubs and student-led activities, helping to create an inclusive, engaging and rewarding extracurricular experience while ensuring participation supports students' personal and professional development.

• Represents Student Groups: Champions the voices of societies, sports clubs and student-led activities, ensuring they shape NTSU and NTU priorities.
• Supports Student Leaders: Works with societies and sports clubs to provide training, guidance and support, helping groups thrive and grow.
• Promotes Participation and Belonging: Encourages students to get involved in extracurricular opportunities, removing barriers and making activities more accessible and inclusive.
• Shapes Student Experience: Works with NTU Sport, the Opportunities Team and student leaders to influence initiatives including Varsity, awards and wider student opportunities.
• Develops Skills Beyond the Classroom: Champions the leadership, employability and personal development opportunities that come from participating in societies, sport and student-led activities.

 

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 (Deputy Chair)

Kudzai is an Internal Audit Manager and Chartered Accountant (ACA) at Capital One, working within the Global Payment Network team. His work focuses on internal audit across payment network activities, including the Discover Network, PULSE, and Diners Club International, with exposure to governance, risk management, operations, and regulatory control environments.
 
He is a graduate of the University of Lincoln, where he completed a degree in Psychology and later served as President and Chair of the Board of Trustees for the University of Lincoln Students’ Union. Kudzai completed his professional training with PwC, where he was involved in internal audits across higher education organisations, charities, and publicly listed companies.
 
Outside of work, Kudzai is an avid live music and Formula 1 fan. He is based in 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.

 

Dr Jane Rigbye

Jane is a Chartered Psychologist and experienced charity CEO, currently leading the Shannon Trust, where she drives strategy, organisational performance and partnership development across a national operation.

She has a strong track record of leadership within the charitable and public health sectors, including previous CEO roles and senior positions at Ygam and GambleAware, where she led large-scale, impact-focused programmes addressing inequality and wellbeing. Jane brings extensive governance experience, having worked closely with boards as a CEO and served as a trustee and school governor.

Jane is a Nottingham Trent University graduate at both undergraduate and PhD level. She offers particular expertise in strategy, safeguarding, stakeholder engagement and organisational transformation, alongside a strong commitment to inclusion and improving outcomes for diverse communities.

 

Matt Nicholson

Matt is a senior higher education professional specialising in sport, student development and strategic partnerships, currently serving as Head of Performance Integration at the University of Nottingham.

He leads cross-institutional collaboration between academic, research and performance environments, designing initiatives that enhance student experience and institutional growth. A Nottingham Trent graduate and former Vice President Sport at NTSU (2015-17), Matt combines professional expertise with direct experience of students’ union governance and student leadership.

Matt has board-level experience through his role as Student Director at British Universities & Colleges Sport and brings strengths in stakeholder engagement, partnership development and mentoring emerging leaders.

 

Board Summaries