New Reps in ONCampus & London and Appointment of Branch Membership Secretary

New Reps in ONCampus & London and Appointment of Branch Membership Secretary

We are very pleased to announce that we now have two department reps in Lboro London. Matt Vidal has stepped back into the role following a short break and will work alongside our new London Rep, Anaïs Carlton-Parada. We are also delighted to announce we now have a department rep in Lboro ONCampus where Pedro Nunes has recently taken on the role. We know all three of these reps will do a great job representing members in London and ONCampus.

In addition to our new reps, we also are also very happy to announce that Eleanor Roberts, who joined the branch committee in the summer as an ordinary member, has been appointed as the branch Membership Secretary. Eleanor will take a lead in the important areas of recruitment and organising in the branch.

Anaïs Carlton-Parada, LUCU Rep for Loughborough London.

“I’m Dr Anaïs Carlton-Parada and I’ve been a researcher and teaching fellow at Loughborough University London for four years in the Institute for Creative Futures. Prior to working at Loughborough, I was a graduate student at the University of South Carolina, U.S., in Anthropology. This is my first union role, although I have been involved in union actions since my start at Loughborough. My research and personal interests align through actionable care and moving toward equity in significant, tangible ways, so I’m looking forward to supporting as a rep and being a first point of contact for our union members.”

Matt Vidal, LUCU Rep for Loughborough London.

“I joined Loughborough London in 2017 as Reader in Sociology and Political Economy. I was deeply involved in union activism during my PhD programme at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I was an Organizing Committee and Executive Board member, Teaching Assistants’ Association, AFT #3220. I took some years off from formal union activism work after I got my first academic job at King’s College London, though was always active in following and supporting UCU and all other unions. I first started as department rep at Loughborough London in 2022.”

Pedro Nunes, LUCU Rep for ONCampus.

“I joined UCU during my time as an FE teacher, after coming into contact with the “Respect FE” campaign. Around a year and a half ago, I was employed by ONCampus at Loughborough University, right after the opening of the new pre-programme centre for international students. Previously, I took precarious teaching positions both at Durham and Leicester Universities. These experiences gave me insights into some of the most pernicious dynamics currently affecting the sector, and how unions are one of the main drivers of positive change. Consequently, it is fundamental for unions to stand by policies that empower our members and strengthen our collective voice.”

We currently have vacancies for Reps in Computer Science, Lboro Sport, Chemistry, Student Services, Lboro Law & Wolfson. Interested members from those areas are encouraged to get in touch with our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, for more information or a chat about the role.

Introducing the 2024-25 LUCU Committee

Introducing the 2024-25 LUCU Committee

Starting on the 1st August a new LUCU committee has been elected. We offer our thanks and appreciation for the brilliant work of our outgoing committee members, Mary Brewer (Chair), Kerry Featherstone (Equality Officer) and Marc Gibson. We also offer a warm welcome to our new committee members: Scott Fernie, Angela Dy, Marco Pino, David Saal and Eleanor Roberts.

Marco Pino, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, LUCU Treasurer

“Hi everyone. I am Marco Pino, a senior lecturer in Communication and Social Interaction (School of Social Sciences and Humanities). I have been working at Loughborough University since 2015. I was involved with my School’s EDI committee for the last three years, and I was responsible for coordinating the submission of the latest School Athena Swan renewal application. I am also a voluntary member of the University Trans and Nonbinary Working group, and a member of the LGBT+ Network. I will serve as Treasurer for the LUCU committee, and I am excited to start contributing more actively to the life of the Union.”

Angela Dy, Loughborough London, LUCU Equality Officer

“I’m Dr Angela Martinez Dy, Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at Loughborough University London, where I have worked since the campus opened in 2015. I am very pleased to join the UCU Committee as Equality Officer. My academic specialism is in digital entrepreneurship and intersectionality, and I have been invited to use this expertise to collaboratively initiate and drive a range of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) work at the University. Past roles have included network lead for the REACH (formerly BAME) Staff Network since 2019, Strategic Architect of the LU RACE Equity Strategy (2021-2022), and co-chair of the EDI Advisory Forum (2021-2023), which at its height included 118 members from across grades and job families.

In 2020, I proposed and instituted the EDI Committee and Advisory Forum as the University’s first dedicated EDI governance structures. I have also served as UCU rep for the London campus (2016-2020) and supported members individually as a caseworker. My (virtual) door is always open to members to discuss EDI issues and concerns. I will do my best to raise and shepherd these through the appropriate channels or create new ways forward if these do not yet exist.”

Eleanor Roberts, University Library, LUCU Committee Member

“Hi! I’m Eleanor Roberts. I’m an Academic Librarian and a committed trade unionist. In both roles I’m all about finding information and helping people. I just joined the university and am delighted by how welcoming everyone is, both in the union and the university more broadly. I’m looking forward to getting properly stuck in!”

Scott Fernie, School of Architecture Building & Civil Engineering, LUCU Committee Member

I have been at Loughborough University (2nd tour!) since December 2011 and am the Director of Postgraduate Studies in the School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering. After a sustained period of time in my youth doing a variety of jobs (soldier, forklift driver, insurance salesman, waiting list manager in NHS, barman and office equipment engineer), I eventually studied at Abertay University and Dundee University before pursuing an academic career via spells at Heriot-Watt University, Reading University and Loughborough University. I have always been interested in, and a member of, unions coming from a very working-class background. I hope to initially concentrate on engaging with members and non-members alike to help grow the union.”

The LUCU committee is now made up of the following members.

  • Chair: David Wilson
  • Branch Secretary: Anthony Kevins
  • Treasurer: Marco Pino
  • Personal Casework Coordinator: Andrew Dix
  • Equality Officer: Angela Dy
  • Health, Safety & Environment Officer: Alec Edworthy
  • Ordinary Committee Members: Marie Hanlon, Denise Coles, Scott Fernie, David Saal & Eleanor Roberts.

We are always on the lookout to add to our team. If any of the following roles interest you, please get in touch with our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, or one of our committee members for more information or a chat about what the role entails: Membership Secretary, Vice Chair, Anti-Casualisation Officer, Pensions Officer, Recruitment Officer, Green Rep & Union Learning Rep. We also have space for additional Ordinary Committee Members, which are great roles for anyone who wants to get more involved and/or build up some experience before potentially taking on a role with a portfolio.

LUCU Committee Meeting

Branch committee meeting, committee members invited. Department Reps can attend by request. Currently held online.

LUCU Committee Meeting

Branch committee meeting, committee members invited. Department Reps can attend by request. Currently held online.

LUCU Committee Meeting

Branch committee meeting, committee members invited. Department Reps can attend by request. Currently held online.

LUCU Committee Meeting

Branch committee meeting, committee members invited. Department Reps can attend by request. Currently held online.

LUCU Committee Meeting

Branch committee meeting, committee members invited. Department Reps can attend by request. Currently held online.

LUCU Committee Meeting

Branch committee meeting, committee members invited. Department Reps can attend by request. Currently held online.

LUCU Committee Meeting

Branch committee meeting, committee members invited. Department Reps can attend by request. Currently held online.

LUCU Committee Meeting

Branch committee meeting, committee members invited. Department Reps can attend by request. Currently held online.