UCU UK elections 2025-26

Nominations opened on 26 September 2025 and closed at 5:00pm on 11 November 2025 for the following positions:

• 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

Nominations opened on 10 October 2025 and closed at 5:00pm on 14 November 2025 for the following position:

• Casual vacancy: Geographically-elected NEC member, FE North West

The term of office for this casual vacancy will be from the declaration of the election result until the end of UCU's annual Congress in 2027. 

Ballots for all contested elections set out in this list will open on Friday 30 January 2026 and close on Monday 2 March 2026. 

Candidates have the opportunity to provide an election address which will form part of the ballot material sent to members. 

Results of these elections will be made available to members as soon as practical after the receipt of the scrutineer's report. 

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)

Suzi Toole (Bolton College)

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 (Royal College of Art) [woman]

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 ARPS, at least one woman]

Dr Rhian Elinor Keyse (University of Wales Trinity Saint David) [woman]

Grant Buttars (University of Edinburgh) [ARPS]

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] [ARPS]

Michael Abberton (University of Cambridge) [ARPS]

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)

Lesley Kane (Open University)

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 Manyuiura (Sandwell College of FHE)

Safia Flissi (South City College Birmingham)

Monica Lawson (New College Swindon)

Maxine Looby (Oldham College)

Nominations supported by the signatures of at least 10 members 

FE North West Casual Vacancy  (1 seat) 

Dr Andrew Oldham (Hopwood Hall College)  

Nina Doran (FE Central Group)  

Nominations supported by the signatures of at least 10 members 

Relevant documents:

Election rules [139kb]

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]