Dr Deepa Govindarajan Driver (University of Reading)

Dr Deepa Govindarajan Driver (University of Reading) 

Election address 

• Lecturer in Governance, Financial Regulation and Risk, University of Reading (2008 - today)  

• Previously a financial regulator, banker and consultant   

• Member of UCU's NEC; former vice-chair of Higher Education Committee  

• Chair of negotiators (union side), USS pensions JNC   

• Branch President, ReadingUCU  

• Former chair of UCU's Legal Panel  

I seek your vote for Honorary Treasurer, so I can use my professional expertise, organising skills and experience, to serve UCU's members. As a disabled, Black, first-generation immigrant, woman NEC member, I have been proud to partake in grassroots organising within UCU, mobilising for decent pensions, secure jobs, pay that keeps up with inflation, and fair treatment.   

I am an experienced negotiator capable of dealing with employers from positions of strength, and from positions of extreme vulnerability for members. Having mobilised UCU members to undo employers' circa 40% cuts to USS pensions, and championed progressive compensation, I want us now to harness the strength of our union to build a well-funded, well-run post-16 education sector that is drawn from, and contributes to our diverse communities.   

Whether it is our struggle against overwork, casualisation and inequality; or members needing legal assistance or taking industrial action; we must be able to trust UCU. To be trustworthy, UCU should have robust finances and the political courage to stand by members.   

As vice-chair of the Board of Brussels-based NGO Finance Watch, and given my professional experience as a financial regulator, I am accustomed to examining financial information. I can provide meaningful scrutiny on behalf of UCU's democratic structures. In my years on UCU's NEC, I have closely observed instances when UCU has faltered during sector-defining struggles, often citing resource constraints. As Treasurer, I will help ensure that when members collectively decide to take action, we have sufficient means to see decisions through and win.   

A democratic, member-led union thrives on vibrant, pluralistic debate. As a national officer (Hon. Treasurer), I will aim to ensure that:   

• members receive good-quality, timely information,  

• our platforms for internal dialogue can facilitate wide participation,  

• our collective decisions are implemented effectively.  

If you elect me as Treasurer, I will continue to seek a diverse range of members' views. When we make collective decisions, you can be confident that I will uphold our agreed policy positions.   

I have undertaken wider roles including as co-vice-chair of the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers. I have done significant work internationally championing national security whistleblowing, democratic accountability and justice for survivors of war. I hope to use these strategic skills and the experience gained from building broad coalitions, to serve UCU members.  

Please vote for Rhiannon Lockley as Vice President, for me as Treasurer and for UCULeft candidates