Board of Governors

Meet our Governors

Our current Governors have all made notable contributions to business, academic and public life. They contribute their professional, specialist and general management skills to drive the development of the University. Members of the Board bring an independent view to their work so they can hold the Executive to account.

Meet the inspiring individuals whmo volunteer their time and expertise to Middlesex.

Chair of the Board of Governors: Rebecca Lawrence

Rebecca was the Chief Executive of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) until November 2023 and brings a wealth of finance, technical and HR experience to role and will support the University in taking its Strategy 2031 forward.

Rebecca is committed to co-leadership with staff and students. The hybrid working models at the CPS were co-designed by staff and managers and she brings this collaborative approach to her role at Middlesex.

Professor Liz Barnes CBE

Professor Liz Barnes was Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive at Staffordshire University from 2016 to 2022, having previously been Deputy Vice Chancellor at Sheffield Hallam University and Derby University, following a long career at Teesside University.

With a commitment to social justice and mobility Liz continues to serve as a non-executive Director on a number of Boards including a NHS Trust and a Social Housing Board.

Liz was appointed to the Order of the British Empire with a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2019 for services to higher education. In 2020, Liz became a Deputy Lieutenant of Staffordshire.

Simon Darling

Simon Darling is the Managing Director of digital transformation consultancy, Jack & Anna. Clients include multinationals and startups within FMCG, telecoms, financial services, retail and healthcare sectors in both turnaround and high growth situations and PLC and private equity environments.

Simon started his career in Finance at Unilever. He has been Marketing Director at eBay, VP Marketing at Skype and Chief Commercial Officer at Trainline. He has founded two startups, one of which, Fonepark, was acquired by an AOL-backed company. He has a First in Economics from Cambridge University and is a prize winner and Passed Finalist with CIMA.

Professor Mandeep K Dhami

Professor Mandeep K Dhami is based in the University's Department of Psychology. She has previously held academic and research positions in the UK (University of Cambridge, University of Surrey), Canada (University of Victoria), USA (University of Maryland) and Germany (Max Planck Institute for Human Development), as well as visiting posts in Spain and Australia. Mandeep has also worked as a Principal Scientist for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (UK Ministry of Defence), and has work experience in British prisons.

Mandeep is an internationally recognised expert on human judgment and decision-making, risk perception and uncertainty communication. She has authored over 140 scholarly publications and is lead editor of the book ‘Judgment and Decision Making as a Skill’. Her research has received several international awards including from the European Association for Decision Making, American Psychological Association (Division 9), and NATO Science & Technology Organisation. Mandeep was awarded Fellowship of the Psychonomics Society, and the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. She regularly advises Government bodies nationally and internationally on evidence-based policy and practice in the criminal justice and defence & security domains.

Mandeep was previously Chair of the Ethical Standards Committee for Cambridgeshire Police Authority, and Executive board member of the Restorative Justice–City of Victoria Program (BC, Canada). She is currently Editor of Judgment and Decision Making, UK representative on a NATO research panel, and President-elect of the European Association for Decision Making. Her hobbies include competitive Ballroom and Latin dancing.

Chris Fenton

Chris Fenton, after an early international career in chemicals, has focused on infrastructure and services. Most recently Chris was Chief Executive of the Rail Safety and Standards Board after senior management roles at Amey, Tube Lines and BSI and a non-executive director at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

In education and skills he is currently on the Board of City and Guilds Group. He was previously chairman of the National Skills Academy for Rail and a Trustee at JTL, a major apprenticeships provider.

David Gilani

David works at Middlesex University as our Head of Student Engagement and Advocacy leading on our efforts to engage both current students and alumni. Having started his career as a students’ union officer, he is a strong proponent of the student voice and in 2012 he founded the Student Publication Association, which supports student journalists across the UK and Ireland.

David believes strongly in universities working together to support student engagement efforts, and so co-chairs the CASE Student Communications conference and leads AHEP’s Student Experience and Engagement Network. He is also studying for his PhD at the University of York on the topic of student belonging.

Dr Nabeel Goheer

Dr Nabeel Goheer, PhD, is PATH’s Chief of Asia, Middle East, Europe (AMEE) Region. He is responsible for providing strategic leadership and guidance and overseeing program activities in the regional hubs in South Asia, South East Asia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, China, and Western Europe, as well as PATH’s other projects in the region. He also develops and executes strategies to expand and grow the AMEE portfolio into new regions, including the Middle East and additional countries in Asia.

Nabeel is a seasoned leader with near 25 years of professional experience. Before joining PATH, he spent the last ten years assisting and representing the Commonwealth Secretary-General while providing leadership in the areas of strategy, governance, partnerships, portfolio, evaluation, technology, innovation, and digitalization. Prior to joining the Commonwealth, he worked with the International Labor Organization (ILO) at the United Nations, World Bank, United Nations Development Program, USAID, and the Government of Pakistan.

Nabeel holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore, Pakistan, a Master of Arts in International Development from the International University of Japan, a Master of Philosophy in Technology Policy from Cambridge and MIT, and a PhD in Management from the University of Cambridge. He also holds a Certificate in Macroeconomic Policy and Management from Harvard.

Laura Guittard

Laura Guittard is currently Vice-President Global Finance Risk Management & Controls at GSK. She oversees the risk management of the enterprise risk ‘Finance Controls & Reporting’ on behalf of the CFO. Laura has a BA in Business Administration from Strathclyde University. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant of Scotland and moved to Paris with KPMG. She then moved to Kraft Foods/Mondelez where she had roles of increasing responsibility and lived in 5 different countries across 3 continents.

Laura is a strong advocate of meritocracy and in GSK participates or chairs voluntary groups and provides mentoring for women and those just starting their career. Laura is also a Director of various GSK subsidiaries

Anne Kiem OBE

Anne is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors.

Prior to this, she was Executive Director of the Small Business Charter, and Chief Executive of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, having been Chief Executive of the Institute of Financial Services, part of what is now the London Institute of Banking and Finance. She has also worked in banking and as a Secondary school Maths teacher.

Anne was awarded an OBE in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to small businesses and entrepreneurs. She sits on the Dean’s Advisory Board at Oxford Brookes Business School, from which she received an Honorary Doctorate in 2024.

Mark Leach MBE

Mark Leach is the founder and Editor in Chief of Wonkhe – home of the UK higher education debate. Before setting up Wonkhe, Mark worked in policy and public affairs roles in and around higher education, working at the National Union of Students, HEFCE, University Alliance, GuildHE as well as a stint in politics as a special adviser to the former Shadow Minister for Universities and Science.

Mark established Wonkhe as a business in 2014 which he now runs, as well as overseeing its editorial platforms that span influential email briefings, Wonkhe.com, events and The Wonkhe Show podcast which he also hosts. Mark was awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours in 2023 for services to higher education.

Matt Lewis

Matt Lewis retired from KPMG in March 2016 having worked there for 30 years and been a partner for 20 years. He worked in a number of industry sectors, including Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Retail, Leisure, Engineering, Defence and Business Services. His clients were predominantly large international listed groups. As well as audit, Matt supported clients on many significant transactions, including IPOs, mergers, acquisitions and disposals.

Matt chairs the Audit, Assurance and Risk Committee and the Remuneration Committee. Matt is also a trustee of the Weald and Downland Museum in Sussex.

LiLi Long

LiLi Long is an experienced angel investor and portfolio non-executive Director. She serves as the Vice Chair at Partnership Learning Multi Academy Trust, where she also Chairs the Audit and Risk Committee. LiLi’s other focus is on advising and investing in tech start-ups.

She was a non-executive Director at the London Historic Building Trust, where she Chairs the Finance, Risk and Investment Committee, a charity focussed on regenerating the future of heritage buildings in London. In addition, LiLi was a non-executive Director at the Quality of Life Foundation, an organisation which, through its research and local engagement, strives to make health and well-being central to the way homes and communities are developed.

During an Executive career spanning over twenty years, LiLi held several senior strategic and commercial roles in sectors ranging from capital markets to retail financial services and real estate in the UK and Asia. An active member of the socially engaged Buddhist movement, SGI-UK, LiLi graduated with a Master's degree from the London School of Economics and completed her undergraduate degree at Royal Holloway, University of London. She is fluent in Mandarin, Hainanese and English. LiLi loves to travel, often using her native Singapore as a base, enjoys competitive ballroom dancing, Pilates, theatre, opera and is a self-confessed foodie.

Dame Jil Matheson

Dame Jil Matheson was National Statistician, Head of the Government Statistical Service and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority from 2009 until 2014, following a career in social research and statistics. Jil also Chaired the OECD's Committee on Statistics and Statistical Policy and the UN Statistical Commission.

She is currently a member of various committees, including the UK Committee on Research Integrity, and the Academy of Social Sciences. She is a non-executive Director of the Sports Ground Safety Authority.

Throughout her career Jil has championed research and statistics for the public good to enable citizens and decision makers to understand their communities, their countries, and the world. She was appointed DCB (Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath) in 2014 for services to official statistics.

Mihita Parekh

Since joining the University in January 2023, Mihita Parekh has been dedicated to amplifying student voices and enhancing their academic experience. She began her leadership journey as a Student Voice Leader, passionately advocating for peers. This commitment led her to serve as a Student Learning Assistant and join the Students' Union as student staff, where she assisted previous Sabbatical Officers with events and campaigns.

Collaborating with the events team, Mihita played a key role in organising significant events such as Black History Month and Men's Mental Health awareness. These experiences inspired her to run in the Students' Union elections, resulting in her election as the next Education Officer.

Aivin Saji

Aivin Saji joined Middlesex University in 2023 for an MSc in Finance and Investment. He was the Student Voice Leader of his cohort and actively engaged in various extracurricular activities. Prior to this, he worked with Ernst & Young (EY) and launched his own entrepreneurial venture focused on women empowerment.

In his current role, Aivin is dedicated to ensuring higher student engagement and inclusivity, with a strong emphasis on student welfare and amplifying the student voice. One of his major goals is to enhance student employability.

Professor Shân Wareing

Professor Shân Wareing is the University's Vice-Chancellor. Prior to this role she was Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Northampton, and other executive roles she has held include Chief Operating Officer at London South Bank University and Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning and Teaching at Buckinghamshire New University.

Shân’s first job was as a Lecturer in English Language and Linguistics at the University of Roehampton, before she moved into the field of Education Development, during which period she was Co-Chair of the Staff and Educational Development Association. She has a track record of leading institutional transformation programmes including assessment at University of the Arts London, leading to a 12% uplift in the assessment and feedback questions in the National Student Survey sustained over ten years, digital transformation of the student journey at London South Bank University, which won a PwC award, and recruitment improvements at the University of Northampton, leading to an uplift in recruitment of 18-year-old students, ahead of comparable Higher Education Institutions.

She is Chair of the charity Unite Foundation, Chair of AdvanceHE’s Leadership and Management Strategic Advisory Group, and has published in the fields of linguistics, equality, diversity and inclusion, leadership and team development, and learning and teaching in higher education. Her current scholarly interests are leadership and governance from the perspective of diversity and inclusion, and higher education policy.

Shân studied English Literature and Language at the University of Oxford, and Sociolinguistics at the University of Strathclyde. She was a competitive rower for many years and has a rowing half-blue from Oxford. Shân holds a postgraduate diploma in Higher Education studies from the Institute of Education, University College London, she is a Professor of Teaching in Higher Education, a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a National Teaching Fellow.

Homiyar Wykes

Homiyar Wykes is currently Global Financial Controller for Exa Infrastructure, a digital infrastructure company, where he is responsible for finance transformation and managing the global finance function. 

He started his career as an audit trainee with Arthur Andersen and worked in positions of increasing global responsibility at KPMG, ArcelorMittal (Metals and Mining), Stolt-Nielsen (Transportation and Logistics) and ED&F Man (Commodity Trading). Homiyar is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from Warwick Business School.