Committee Team Update – A Fond Farewell to our Personal Casework Co-ordinator
We are wishing a fond farewell to our Personal Casework Co-ordinator, Eleanor Roberts, who has left the University to take up a role with the National Education Union. Eleanor has been a huge asset to the branch in her time here, initially working as our Membership Secretary and for the last year as our Personal Casework Co-ordinator. We thank Eleanor for her huge contribution and wish her all the best for her new job.
With Eleanor leaving we are left with a vacancy for a Personal Casework Co-ordinator. As an interim measure, our Equality Rep, Angela Dy, will carry out these duties with support from Marie Hanlon. We also currently have vacancies for a Vice Chair, Membership Secretary, and Anti-Casualisation Officer. If anyone is interested in joining the committee to fill one of our vacant positions, or as an ordinary committee member (with no portfolio – a great first step to being more involved in the branch), please get in touch with our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, to discuss which role may be a good fit for you.
UCU Officer & National Executive Committee elections
Voting in the UCU Officer and National Executive Committee elections positions has opened, with the ballot window closing by 17:00 on Monday 2 March 2025.
This is a key moment for you to make your voices heard, especially since low voter turnout (often around 10%) means your vote carries considerable weight. These elected representatives take extremely important decisions about how our union is run – so whichever way you vote, we strongly urge you to use your ballot and make sure your voice is heard.
You can find more information on the process and all of the candidates in your ballot pack, as well as on the UCU UK elections 2025-26 webpage.
A hustings event for officer candidates will take place online on Thursday 12 February, 16:30 – 18:00, and you can register to attend here.
Finally, if you have not received the ballot pack by 9 February, please contact UCU to request a duplicate ballot paper. The last day on which duplicate ballot material enquiries will usually be dealt with is 26 February.
A Fond Farewell and a Warm Welcome
Since the make-up of our 2023/24 committee was confirmed at our AGM, we have found ourselves bidding a fond farewell to a remarkable advocate while simultaneously welcoming two new faces to the team.
Firstly, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to Ellen Nicholls, our tireless Equality Officer. Ellen’s unwavering dedication, passion and hard work have been instrumental in advancing the cause of equality within our university. As Ellen embarks on new adventures at Nottingham Trent, we wish her all success and happiness.
But while sad to lose Ellen, we are delighted to welcome Kerry Featherstone, our new Equality Officer, and Anthony Kevins, our newest committee member. Kerry brings fresh perspectives and a wealth of experience to his role, and we are pleased to see him leading this important work for us. Kerry will be sitting on the EDI Ops Committee (on behalf of all campus unions) for this academic year. Likewise, we are delighted to have Anthony with us.
Kerry and Anthony have written brief introductions below:
Kerry Featherstone,School of Social Sciences and Humanities, LUCU Equality Officer
I am a lecturer in Creative Writing. I’ve been teaching at Loughborough since the early 2000s, and full time since 2009. My teaching involves giving students creative skills as well as industry knowledge: I am the Programme Lead for the MA in Creative Writing and Writing Industries. My research ranges from representations of Afghanistan to creative responses to English landscapes. I have also translated texts from English to French. I’m on the EDI committee for SSH and served for fifteen years on the board of Apples and Snakes, a poetry organisation that aims to amplify unheard voices. I have ADHD, so am writing this at the last minute.
Anthony Kevins, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, LUCU Committee Member
I’ve been at Loughborough University since September 2019, when I took up a lectureship in Politics and International Studies, and I’ve also worked in Canada, Denmark, and the Netherlands. I’m a political scientist by training, and most of my research relies on statistical analysis of survey data, often with a focus on social policy, inequality, and democratic influence. As a co-opted ordinary committee member, I’m looking forward to helping the branch committee get things done and work toward improving the working conditions of all Loughborough employees, members and non-members alike.
UCU Trustee, Officer & NEC Elections 2021-22
The ballots to elect trustees, vice president (becoming president in 2024-25) and national executive committee members opened on 27 January 2022. The NEC, chaired by the president, is one of the union’s most important elected decision-making bodies, and it is very important that members exercise their right to decide who holds these positions. We strongly encourage you to take part in the ballots.
Ballot information
If any member has not received the ballot material to which they are entitled by Monday 7 February, they should contact the union to request a duplicate ballot paper using the online form which will be made available on this web page on 7 February. The last day on which duplicate ballot material enquiries will be dealt with is Tuesday 22 February 2022. The ballots close at noon on Tuesday 1 March 2022.
Hustings
A live on-line hustings event for the position of UCU Vice president (becoming president in 2024-25) will be taking place at 12:30 – 13:30 on Tuesday 8 February. You can register for the hustings event here.
Election Addresses
Candidates election addresses can be seen by clicking on the name of the candidate towards the bottom of this web page.
