BPP University Governance

BPP University has a specific structure of governance that supports its effective functioning as an academic institution and in line with its regulatory responsibilities.

The following page outlines and explains the structures of university governance, their membership, and how they function. All questions in relation to our University and Academic Governance Structures can be directed to AcademicGovernance@bpp.com. The following key information is provided on this page:

Overarching Structure of Governance
BPP University Board of Directors (including financial statements and value for money information)
The Academic Council of BPP University

Overarching Structure of Governance

The University’s Board of Directors, Academic Council and the Leadership Team oversee the education character, organisation and function of BPP University:

The University Board of Directors is legally responsible for determining the educational character and mission of the University and for overseeing its activities.
The University’s Academic Council is the primary academic authority within BPP University. In particular, it considers and advises the Vice-Chancellor on matters relating to awarding taught degrees.
The University Leadership Team, under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, is the University’s senior management team with responsibility for organising, directing and managing the functions of BPP University.

The following key documents guide the governance of BPP University:

1. University’s Articles of Association

This establish the key facets of university governance of the Academic Council.

2. Memorandum of Understanding between BPP Holdings (parent company) and BPP University

This refers to the recognition of the powers required by BPP University Board to safeguard the academic standards of the institution and the importance of financial sustainability.

3. Regulations of the Academic Council

These set out the structure adopted by the University and the powers and responsibilities delegated to the Academic Council by the University Board of Directors as the academic authority of the University.

BPP University Board of Directors

The University Board of Directors is ultimately responsible for the success of BPP University, including the retention of degree awarding powers. It is responsible for the educational character and mission of the University and for overseeing its activities. The University Board of Directors comprises of three Non-Executive Directors and six Executive Directors. It is also supported by a secretary that is not a member of the Board but attends to support its functioning, governance, and relation of its work to the other committees in the governance structure in the University. The University Board meets at least once a term (three times in total) with additional meetings where required.

View Terms of Reference of BPP University Board of Directors

These set out the Board’s overarching responsibility to uphold the educational character and mission of the University and to ensure the monitoring and evaluation of the University’s performance, sustainability and effectiveness against long-term academic and financial plans, key performance indicators and the nexus of these with the interests of students, stakeholders and the Group.

Membership of the University Board of Directors

Non-Executive Directors:

Aaron Porter, Non-Executive Director (Chair)

Biography:

Aaron is the Chair of the University Board of Directors and has a portfolio of non-executive and advisory roles, primarily focussed on the higher education sector. As well as being the non-executive chair of the BPP University Board, he serves as a governor of Goldsmiths University of London and as non-executive chair of the board of governance at Nelson College London. He holds a role as Associate Director (Governance) for Advance HE leading training for over 600 higher education governors each year. Outside of higher education, Aaron is a school governor and a trustee of a theatre in Islington.

Current Professional Affiliations:

Chair of BPP University Board of Directors

Associate Director (Governance), AdvanceHE

Council, Goldsmiths University of London

Non-Executive Chair, Board of Governance, Nelson College London

Professional Distinctions & Memberships:

Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts

Ian Creagh, Non-Executive Director

Biography:

Ian is currently Chair of the University’s Academic Council and sits on the University Board of Directors as a non-Executive Director. He holds a portfolio of non-executive and higher education consulting roles. His consulting work is with European and UK universities and focuses on strategy and leadership development. Previously he served 10 years as King’s College London’s Senior Vice-President Operations & College Secretary. He held similar roles at City University London and the University of Adelaide. An experienced non-executive, Ian served on the Board of King’s Health Partners, the Council of Governors of an NHS Foundation Trust, and the audit committee of the British Academy. The early part of his career was in the Senior Executive Service of the Australian Public Service.

Current Professional Affiliations:

Chair of BPP University Academic Council

Ian Creagh & Associates

Professional Distinctions & Memberships:

Fellow of King’s College London

Professor Martyn Jones, Non-Executive Director

Biography:

Professor Martyn Jones has been the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Kingston University since August 2014. He was first appointed in 2007 as Pro Vice-Chancellor for External Affairs and subsequently, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Academic Support and Student Services. Martyn came to Kingston University from the University of Kent where he was the director of the Business School. Prior to this he was the director of the School of Management and Business at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. He was the MBA Director at Cranfield School of Management. His academic career was preceded by service as a British Army Officer. His last role was commander Education and Training 1 (UK) Armed Division. Martyn is the Deputy Chancellor of BPP University and Head of Global Standards for the Association of MBAs.

Current Professional Affiliations:

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Kingston University

Professional Distinctions & Memberships:

Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society

Executive Directors:

Professor Tim Stewart, Executive Director

Biography:

Tim was appointed Vice-Chancellor in 2017, is a graduate of Oxford University and a Professor of Business Education. Tim was asked by the QAA to be involved in the writing of the sector benchmark for Business management as well as helping to define the higher education code around student engagement. He was also asked to speak at the House of Lords Education committee on degree apprenticeships. Tim is a trustee of the Chartered Management Institute and has previously served on the education committees of the Chartered Institute of Management Accounting.

Current Professional Affiliations:

Vice-Chancellor, BPP University

Deputy CEO, BPP Education Group

Professional Distinctions & Memberships

Trustee & Companion of the Chartered Management Institute

Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountant

Graham Gaddes, Executive Director

Biography:

Graham trained as an accountant and auditor at Andersons, and post qualification, moved into accountancy training with Kaplan Financial, where he progressed from Lecturer to Managing Director, to COO. He moved to BPP in 2012 as COO and became CEO in Oct 2017. Graham is currently CEO of the BPP group of companies, with almost 30 years’ experience in the education, training, and apprenticeships business, and working with banks and investors on numerous acquisitions. He is an accomplished strategist, a senior leader, and major contributor to the financial success and expansion of the group.

Current Professional Affiliations:

CEO of BPP Education Group

Professional Distinctions & Memberships:

Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)

Gary Dart, Executive Director

Biography:

Gary is Group Finance Director at BPP Education Group and oversees core day-to-day finance functions, including financial reporting, treasury, tax and processing. He has worked in private education for six years, is ICAEW qualified, KPMG trained and also has experience working in FTSE finance environments.

Current Professional Affiliations:

Group Finance Director, BPP Education Group

Chartered Accountant

Sarah McIlroy, Executive Director

Biography:

Sarah was Deputy Dean of the Business School from 2015, before being appointed Dean of the Business School in 2017, and Dean of International Higher Education in 2021. During this time, she has launched innovative apprenticeship programmes and led the development of digital technology as a discipline. Her most recent focus in addition to her role in leading the Business School, has been on the international strategic growth of the University.

Current Professional Affiliations:

Dean of the Business School, BPP University

Dean of International Higher Education, BPP University

Richard Simmons, CBE, Executive Director

Biography:

Richard is the Executive Chairman of the BPP Education Group. He has been a senior advisor to the BPP Education Group since 2010 and a Director of BPP University of which he was Chairman from 2010 to 2017. Richard served as UK Senior Partner at Arthur Andersen from 1996 -2000. He acted as adviser to a number of Government and Shadow Ministers between 1979 and 2012. He is an active investor in digital media as a former Chairman of Inclusive Learning Limited, Skill Boosters Limited and GreenAcre Films. He has been engaged in education and public policy for many years as a supporter of Politeia and a Trustee of the Foundation for Social and Economic Thinking. He was educated at The London School of Economics and University of California, Berkeley. He was awarded the CBE in June 1995 for political and public service.

Current Professional Affiliations:

Executive Chairman of BPP Education Group

Professional Distinctions & Memberships:

Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)

Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE)

In Attendance Only (non-member):

Dr Alexander Griffiths, Secretary (Director of Academic Governance & Proctor, BPP University)

Biography:

Alex joined BPP University in 2021, having held research and teaching posts and later assuming responsibilities for academic quality, governance and policy, educational enhancement, and the student experience. In the early stages of his academic career, he trained as a Social and Developmental Psychologist at the Universities of St Andrews (MA Hons, PhD) and Cambridge (MPhil) and has latterly developed his research and scholarship portfolio in higher educational practice where he is currently undertaking an EdD at the University of Glasgow. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in recognition of his contributions to education.

Current Professional Affiliations:

Director of Academic Governance & Proctor, BPP University

EdD Candidate, School of Education, University of Glasgow

Professional Distinctions & Memberships:

Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts

Sub-Committees of the University Board of Directors

In addition to the University’s Academic Council acting with the University Board of Directors’ delegated authority with respect to academic matters, the University Board of Directors also has two sub-committees.

Audit Committee: The purpose of the Committee is to provide formal and transparent arrangements for considering how to apply the financial reporting and internal control principles and to maintain an appropriate relationship with the University’s auditors.

View Audit Committee Terms of Reference

Nomination and Remuneration Committee: The NRC supports the University Board in discharging its responsibilities for: the composition and effectiveness of the Board and its Committee, and; the principles and policy relating to remuneration of the Vice-Chancellor and other senior appointments.

View Nomination and Remuneration Committee Terms of Reference

Summaries of the Minutes are available from past meetings of the University Board of Directors can be found here:

Financial Statements and Value for Money

A key element of the University Board of Directors’ work centres on financial governance of the University. Our financial statements and report from 2015 to the present are therefore available to download below, in addition to the University’s Annual Value for Money Statement:

BPP University signed accounts:

View our annual value for money statement here.

Academic Council

The University’s Academic Council is headed by an Independent Chair and Independent Deputy Chair and has up to three further independent members who hold eminent positions in academia and the professions. The Council, additionally, includes the Vice-Chancellor, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education Services), the Director of Academic Quality & Policy, the Deans of School, the President of the Students’ Association, and two elected student representatives. The Deputy Director (Academic Governance & Policy) acts as the Academic Council’s Secretary and co-ordinates its governance and relation to the work of other committees within the University. The voting power of the Academic Council rests with the independent members.

BPP University has a diarchic structure of governance with the Academic Council being the academic authority and the University Board of Directors ensuring that the University operates legally and effectively.

Ian Creagh - Independent Member of Academic Council (Chair)

Liz Winders - Independent Member of Academic Council (Deputy Chair)

Liz is an Independent Member and Deputy Chair of the University’s Academic Council. She is an independent higher education consultant, specialising in governance and regulation. Liz brings a track record in HE governance, policy and regulation at the national level and relationships with national bodies and policy makers through influencing and developing key aspects of the higher education landscape.

Professor Samuel Grogan - Independent Member of Academic Council

Sam has been an Independent Member of the University’s Academic Council since 2021, serves as Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Student Experience at the University of Salford, and is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Professor Osama Khan - Independent Member of Academic Council

Osama has been an Independent Member of the University’s Academic Council since 2024 and serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at Aston University, Birmingham. Educated at Independent University Bangladesh, the University of Surrey and Cambridge University, Osama began his academic career as a lecturer (and then senior teaching fellow) at the University of Surrey in 2004. He moved to Solent University in 2012, where he held a variety of roles including Director of Learning and Teaching at Solent Learning and Teaching Institute. He was appointed as Vice-Provost, Education at the University of Surrey in 2019, and more recently as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) driving the academic strategy, digital transformation in education, and the consolidation of student experience and student services at the University of Surrey.

Professor Denise Prescott - Independent Member of Academic Council

Denise has been an Independent Member of the University’s Academic Council since 2024, and serves as the Education Projects Lead in the Faculty of Health & Life Sciences at the University of Liverpool. Denise qualified as a physiotherapist in 1983 and until 2001 was a clinical manager in the National Health Service responsible for the operational management and continuing professional development of physiotherapists and occupational therapists. During this time, she attained a Master of Arts degree in Industrial Relations and a Master in Business Administration degree, both of which facilitated greater understanding of the professional role within the health care arena. Denise commenced employment with The University of Liverpool in 2001 and has had various cross faculty roles over the last twenty years. Prior to her current role, Denise was Dean of the School of Health Sciences (SoHS) at Liverpool from January 2020 until November 2023.

Jim Irving - Independent Member of Academic Council

Jim has been an Independent Member of the University’s Academic Council since 2024 and serves as Pro Vice-Chancellor Students and Governance at Solent University, Southampton. Throughout his career in higher education, Jim has been driven by his commitment to governance as an enabler for innovation and change and to engaging students as partners in service design. Jim’s experience and work encompasses governance, compliance, administration, and the advancement of the student experience. Having previously worked at York St John University, the University of York, the University of Southampton, Imperial College London, and the University of Portsmouth, Jim has led and contributed to a range of major institutional projects focussed on enhancing the student experience and reducing administrative burden. Jim is committed to authentic and collaborative leadership in higher education and has undertaken activities such as co-presenting a podcast with a students’ union aiming to open discussion and reduce stigma around men’s mental health and chairing a staff LBGT network.

Professor Tim Stewart - Vice-Chancellor of BPP University & Deputy CEO of the BPP Education Group

Professor Tim Jones - Deputy Vice-Chancellor, BPP University

Tim joined BPP University as Deputy Vice-Chancellor from the University of Worcester where he was Pro Vice-Chancellor. He has worked in higher education for over 20 years and is a strong advocate for enhancing student engagement and the learner experience. Tim is a Chartered Psychologist and has influenced national and international education policy in the teaching of psychology.

Juliette Wagner - Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education Services)

Juliette is the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education Services leading the University’s strategic approach to the student experience and prior to joining BPP started her career as a Barrister in 1985. Juliette’s career in legal education spanned 23 years, following which she moved into strategic and leadership roles in education. She is a Principal Fellow of the HEA, a TEF assessor and WP expert on the Law and Business Panel.

Professor Lynne Gell - Dean of the School of Nursing

Lynne joined BPP in 2011 and is a strong advocate of partnership and inter-professional working. As Dean of the School of Nursing, she has been instrumental in developing our national and international portfolio across health and social care disciplines. Lynne is also a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and a Pro-Proctor within the University.

Jo-Anne Pugh - Dean of the Law School

Jo-Anne joined BPP in 2004 and has many years’ experience in legal education across programme design and operational management and leadership. She currently serves at Dean of the Law School at BPP University. Most recently Jo-Anne lead the redesign of the Law School’s programme portfolio to meet the new regulatory frameworks of the SRA and BSB. Jo-Anne was previously a real estate solicitor with Eversheds LLP and has also worked in the financial services industry.

Sarah McIlroy - Dean of the Business School and Dean of International Higher Education

Cassandra McDonald - Dean of the School of Technology

Cassandra is the Dean of the School of Technology at BPP University. She originally trained as a Chartered Accountant for KPMG before moving into accountancy tutoring and joined BPP in 2019 where before becoming Dean she had responsibility for overseeing all aspects of delivery in the School of Technology.

Associate Professor Ramita Tejpal - Dean of Academic Quality & Policy

Ramita is the University’s Dean of Academic Quality & Policy. She joined BPP in 2019, after having previously held Decanal and senior management roles in the education sector with over 10 years of experience in both Higher and Further Education. Ramita is a nationally recognised authority and expert on OfS & QAA regulation, academic quality, standards, and governance practice and policy. She is also an Ofsted Inspector for degree apprenticeships and serves on the OfS’s TEF strategic and QAA’s advisory boards as a member. Ramita is both a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in recognition of her contributions to the education sector.

Associate Professor Dr Peter Alston - Dean of Education Services

With extensive experience across a range of subject disciplines in designing, developing, and delivering innovative academic programmes, Peter joined BPP in 2019. Peter’s role focuses on leading central specialist services that support and enhance the learner and student experience.

Associate Professor Dr Alexander Griffiths - Director of Academic Governance & Proctor, and Secretary to Academic Council

Alex joined BPP University in 2021, having held research and teaching posts and later assuming responsibilities for academic quality, governance and policy, educational enhancement, and the student experience. In the early stages of his academic career, he trained as a Social and Developmental Psychologist at the Universities of St Andrews (MA Hons, PhD) and Cambridge (MPhil) and has latterly developed his research and scholarship portfolio in higher educational practice. In addition to his role as Director of Academic Governance & Proctor he is also in the final stages of undertaking an EdD at the University of Glasgow. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in recognition of his contributions to education.

President of the Students’ Association & Appointed Student Representatives

In order to ensure students are represented centrally in the life of our academic governance the President of the Students’ Association sits as an appointed member of the Academic Council, and in addition two Student Voice Representatives are appointed from the University’s Schools. The Student Voice is given a prominent position in our governance mechanisms and decision-making, and the contributions of our student representatives are central to our work as a university.

View the Terms of Reference of Academic Council in our University Governance Structures

Summaries of the Minutes are available from past meetings: