UCU UK elections 2025-26
25 September 2025
UCU has a national executive committee, elected by the union's members. Elections take place annually.
Ballots to elect Officers and National Executive Committee members open 30 January.
- Vice president from the further education sector, becoming President 2028-29
- By-election Vice President from the higher education sector, becoming President in 2029-2030
- Members of the national executive committee
- Casual vacancy: Geographically-elected NEC member, FE North West
Ballot information
Ballot material is being dispatched on Friday 30 January. This can take a few days to arrive.
If you have not received the ballot material by Monday 9 February, please use this online form to request a duplicate ballot paper.
The last day on which duplicate ballot material enquiries will usually be dealt with is Thursday 26 February 2026. The ballots close at 17:00 on Monday 2 March 2026.
The scrutineer for these elections is Civica Election Services, The Election Centre, 33 Clarendon Road, London N8 0NW. Please note that the pre-paid reply envelopes provided for the return of ballot papers will show a different address; this reflects an arrangement Civica Election Services has to deal with the very large volume of post it receives. All ballot papers returned in pre-paid envelopes or to the Civica office address above will reach the scrutineer.
Hustings
The on-line hustings event scheduled for 12 February will no longer be taking place.
A list of nominations received, ordered randomly by the independent scrutineer, can be found below.
Members with queries about the election process, or requiring documents in hard copy or alternative formats, should contact the democratic services team at demservices@ucu.org.uk.
Information on UCU's geographical constituencies can be found here.
Nominations received
Vice President from the further education sector (1 seat)
Regine Pilling (Capital City College Group Kingsway / Kings Cross)
Nominations supported by the signatures of at least 20 members
By-election Vice President from the higher education sector (1 seat)
Stephen Desmond (Southampton Solent University)
Sean Wallis (University College London)
Dr Mark Pendleton (University of Sheffield)
Stephen Desmond supported by resolution of quorate branch general meeting
Dr Mark Pendleton and Sean Wallis supported by the signatures of at least 20 members
Northern Ireland HE (1 seat) [uncontested]
Aisling O'Beirn (Ulster University)
Nomination supported by the signatures of at least 10 members
Northern Ireland FE (1 seat) [uncontested]
Ms Bernie Rutherford (North West Regional College)
Nomination supported by the signatures of at least 10 members
Wales HE (1 seat)
No nominations received
North East HE (3 seats)
Terry Murphy (Teesside University)
Susan Fitzpatrick (York St John University)
Dr Loes Veldpaus (Newcastle University)
Matt Perry (Newcastle University)
Nominations supported by the signatures of at least 10 members
North East FE (1 seat) [uncontested]
Rachel Minshull (Luminate Education Group (Leeds City))
Nominations supported by the signatures of at least 10 members
London and the East HE (5 seats) [at least two must be women]
Michael Abberton (University of Cambridge)
Dr Bianca de Haan (Brunel University) [woman]
Christina Jessika Marie Paine (London Metropolitan University) [woman]
Professor Anastasia Christou (Middlesex University) [woman]
Jo Taplin-Green (London School of Economics) [woman]
Cecilia Wee [woman] (Withdrawn)
Sean Wallis (University College London)
Simon Courtenage (University of Westminster)
Nominations supported by the signatures of at least 10 members
London and the East FE (2 seats)
Averil Young (West Suffolk College)
Sean Vernell (Capital City College Group CANDI Camden Road)
Mark Murphy (London South East Colleges)
Regine Pilling (Capital City College Group Kingsway / Kings Cross)
Nominations supported by the signatures of at least 10 members
UK-elected members HE (5 seats) [at least one post-1992, at least one academic related role , at least one woman]
Dr Rhian Elinor Keyse (University of Wales Trinity Saint David) [woman]
Grant Buttars (University of Edinburgh) [academic related role]
Dr Deepa Govindarajan Driver (University of Reading) [woman]
Professor Alex Prichard (University of Exeter)
Dr Marion Hersh (University of Glasgow)
Terry Murphy (Teesside University) [Post 92]
Jo Taplin-Green (London School of Economics) [woman] [academic related role]
Michael Abberton (University of Cambridge) [academic related role]
Dr Gillian Jack (Open University) [woman]
Dr Matthew J. Barnard (Manchester Metropolitan University) [Post 92]
Dr Bianca de Haan (Brunel University) [woman]
Bee Hughes (Liverpool John Moores University) [Post 92]
Professor Anastasia Christou (Middlesex University) [Post 92] [woman]
Dr Sinan Khwandah (Southampton Solent University) [Post 92]
Donna Brown (Royal Holloway, University of London)
Nominations supported by the signatures of at least 10 members
UK-elected members FE (3 seats) [at least one ACE, at least one woman]
Maria Vasquez-Aguilar (City Literary Institute) [woman] [ACE]
Duncan Moore (South Devon College)
Scott Hunter (New College Swindon) (Withdrawn)
Rav Lall (Harrow & Uxbridge Colleges) [woman]
Elaine White (Bradford College) [woman]
Regine Pilling (Capital City College Group Kingsway / Kings Cross) [woman]
Jill Kennedy-McNeill (Morley College)[woman] [ACE]
Nominations supported by the signatures of at least 10 members
Representatives of women members in the higher education sector (3 seats)
Dr Rhian Elinor Keyse (University of Wales Trinity Saint David)
Dr Gillian Jack (Open University)
Poppy Gerrard-Abbott (University of Edinburgh)
Jo Taplin-Green (London School of Economics)
Dr Deepa Govindarajan Driver (University of Reading)
Professor Anastasia Christou (Middlesex University)
Nominations supported by the signatures of at least 10 members
Representatives of women members in the further education sector (2 seats)
Tania Wanjiru Manyuira (Sandwell College of FHE)
Safia Flissi (South and City College Birmingham)
Monica Lawson (New College Swindon)
Nominations supported by the signatures of at least 10 members
FE North West Casual Vacancy (1 seat)
Dr Andrew Oldham (Hopwood Hall College)
Nominations supported by the signatures of at least 10 members
Relevant documents:
UCU2182 call for nominations [163kb]
UCU2185 casual vacancy FE NW - call for nominations [69kb]
Election guidance notes [58kb]
NEC and officer role outline [201kb]
Nomination form 2025-26 [73kb]
FE NW casual vacancy - nomination form [73kb]
Signature sheet 2025-26 [22kb]
Election address form 2025-26 [40kb]
Regulations for candidates election addresses 2025-26 [21kb]
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