Professor Neil Macfarlane (Nottingham Trent University)

Election address

The formal role of a trustee is to safeguard the property, funds and other assets of the Union on behalf the NEC and to invest these funds as directed, in accordance with the law. I have completed two terms as a trustee (2007-12, 2012-17), much of them as Chair of Trustees, before standing down under rule. I am now eligible to stand again and seek to resume service with the Union in this role.

With Scottish degrees I completed a post-doc at Cambridge, then became a Lecturer in Physiology at Trent Polytechnic in 1973. I retired from Nottingham Trent University in 2007 as Associate Dean of Biomedical and Natural Sciences and Emeritus Professor. I also taught for the Open University as Summer School Tutor/Associate Lecturer for over 30 years.

My union service began with AUCL in the 1970s and included roles as local secretary, executive/council member (1975-97) and national chairman (1994-96). I was a member of the Lecturers' Common Interest Group (1992-2002) and of the ACAS Working Group which agreed the Post-1992 Lecturers' Contract. With AUT I was a Vice-President (1997-2000), Vice-Chair of the Education Committee (1998-2001) and AUT Council/UCU NEC member (2000-07) before election as a Trustee.

My first term as a Trustee covered the aftermath of the AUT/Nathfe merger and securing the longer-term financial health of the new UCU, including: the sale of Tavistock House (the old AUT HQ); the acquisition/fitting out of Carlow Street, and the (eventual) sale of Britannia Street (the old Natfhe building), and well as important property matters in the regions. Later, the financial crisis, the costs of campaigns, ballots, staff costs and their pensions etc, required careful management of union finances by the Treasurer, other officers, the GS and her staff, all under the direction of the NEC and the oversight of the Trustees. Congress and the NEC determine UCU policies and priorities but both bodies must be wary of committing to policies, often with international dimensions, that might conflict with the Union's aims and objects, lack sympathy within the wider membership, or open the Union to legal action so putting our funds at risk.

The Trustees attend and may contribute to Congress, NEC, and Strategy and Finance Committee but they have no role in making policy. In my experience they have worked very well with the officers, GS, finance and legal staff of the Union. I would like to resume that excellent working relationship for the overall good of UCU and its members.