Alumni Association

The Standing Committee is a channel of communication between the University and the Alumni Association (which is formally known in the University's Constitution as Convocation). It also offers advice and support to the Development and Alumni Relations Office on the Alumni Relations programme. Members take an active part in helping to arrange and host events.

The Committee, which generally meets quarterly, also deals with all the formal business relating to Convocation. Following recent changes in the University's governance, the Committee (rather than the membership as a whole) will be consulted on any future proposed amendments to the University's Charter and Statutes.

The Annual General Meeting, which is open to all members, elects new members of the Standing Committee, including the Chairman, receives a report on the activities of the year, approves the annual accounts of the Association's own funds, and provides an opportunity for members to ask questions and make suggestions. The AGM is usually held as part of the Homecoming event in June.

The Standing Committee is made up of a Chairman, the immediate past Chairman (if they so wish) and up to ten other members, all of whom also serve on the University Court. There may also be up to five co-opted members.

All University of Leicester graduates, including those holding a Diploma or postgraduate qualification, are eligible to stand for election to the Committee.

The Standing Committee for 2012-2013 is listed below. Figures in square brackets denote the year in which a term of office expires. Membership is normally for three years, but may be renewed.

• Secretary of the Alumni Association: Rosemary Faint, rlf9@le.ac.uk.

If you are interested in serving on the Committee or could help with the work of the Association in other ways, please contact us on 0116 252 2153 or email alumni.relations@le.ac.uk

Chairman

Mr Patrick Mulvihill (BA Economics 1987, MBA 2002) [2012]
Patrick is a former resident of College Hall who graduated in Economics in 1987 and has since returned to the University to complete an MBA between 2000 and 2002. Patrick is currently Development Director of Uppingham School dealing with all aspects of alumni relations, having previously spent the majority of his career in the charity sector with the National Trust, RNIB and Relate. Patrick lives in Newtown Linford, Leicestershire.

Committee Members

Mr Aatin Anadkat (Economics and Law (with a year in Europe) BA 2003) [Co-opted, 2013]

Mr Martin Cullen (LLB Law 2006) [2013]
Martin is a Law Graduate who was the President of The Students' Union from 2005 - 2007. He is now an Entrepreneur working in the Midlands, with his main role being that of Managing Director of Rockstar Promotions Ltd, an events and marketing company he started in 2007. He is also a Director of several other businesses in areas such as on-line marketing and business support, as well as being involved at board level with a number of Midlands based charities. Martin currently lives in Leicester.

Dan Flatt (BA Modern Languages with Management with a year abroad 2012) [Co-opted, 2013]
Dan Flatt graduated in BA Modern Languages with Management from the University in July 2012. He was elected as the last ever Academic Affairs Officer of the Students’ Union for the Academic Year 2012/2013.

Mr John Flynn (BSc Physics with Astrophysics 1982) [2013]
John is a past-president of Beaumont Hall JCR (1982) and held various positions in the Union RAG committee from 1979 to 1982. After Leicester, in parallel with working as a systems engineer in the space industry he continued postgraduate studies and in 1986 was awarded an MSc in Astrophysics by Queen Mary College, University of London.

In 1994 he established his own company and has since been working as an engineering consultant for client aerospace companies in Europe and North America. For recreation he flies his own Tiger Moth vintage biplane which he displays at summer airshows throughout England.

Dr Julia Gibbs (Psychology BSc (Hons) 1972 PGCE (1973)) [Co-opted, 2013]

After graduating Leicester Julia first worked as a teacher and then undertook a PhD in Social Psychology at Durham University. Subsequently she qualified as an educational psychologist and worked as a clinician and manager within local government for many years. She now works freelance in London as a psychologist and educational psychotherapist with a special interest in children whose anxieties interfere with their learning. She is a frequent visitor to Leicester.

Mr David Parry (LLB Law with French 1985) [2015]
David is a partner with Darbys Solicitors LLP of Oxford. He is Head of the Employment Law Team. He advises a wide range of businesses on all areas of employment law but has a particular focus on educational institutions, notably the Oxford Colleges and independent schools.  He is also a qualified Workplace Mediator and is legal adviser to the Professional Mediators' Association.  He lives in Witney, is married and has two children.

Mr Alex Smith (Economics BA 2009) [2013]
Former Academic Affairs Officer, Students' Union.

Mr Steve Swanton (LLB Law 1973) [2013]
Steve graduated in Law in 1973. He is the senior partner at Astills Solicitors of 1 De Montfort Square, Leicester where he deals with residential and commercial property matters, Wills, Probate, family disputes and divorce. 

Steve plays a part in the wider legal life in Leicester as a Committee Member of the Leicestershire Law Society where he chairs the Education and Training Sub-Committee.  He is also a Trustee of a number of Charitable Trusts in Leicester and Leicestershire.

Ms Clare F Taylor (BA Economic & Social History 1987) [Co-opted, 2013]
Clare is Senior Welfare Officer at the University. She manages the Welfare Service which provides practical advice, support and guidance for students; in particular financial advice, assistance for international students, information on childcare, and health promotion issues. The Service is also responsible for the recruitment and selection of Sub-Wardens, and for the pastoral care of students living in self-catering accommodation.

Clare serves on several University Committees and is an elected member of the Chaplaincy Council. Outside the University, Clare is Chairman of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Sub-Committee for Ashby and Market Bosworth, this committee is responsible for conducting recruitment activities, selection interviews, and making recommendations for appointment of Magistrates for this area.

Mr Luke Trotman (BA Politics 1999) [2014]
Luke was Vice President of the Students Union (Finance and Services) after graduating with a BA (Hons) in Politics in 1999. He is a founding partner of the graphic design and branding agency Thomas and Trotman Design.
He lives in Brighton with his wife, also a Leicester graduate and two young children. 

Mr Richard Watts (BA History and Politics 1987) [2015]
Richard is a Publishing Director for Haymarket Publishing, producing magazines in the public & voluntary sectors. In 2001 he was a Labour candidate in the general election.

Mr Stephen Wright (BSc Physics with Microelectronics and Computing 1984) [2014]
Stephen is currently the Managing Director of Cool Milk Projects Ltd, a specialised business incubator. After graduating from Leicester he obtained a Phd. from Nottingham University and went on to pursue a career in manufacturing with Coates Viyella that took him to America for 16 years where he also had senior and executive roles with Deloitte, Nordisk Aviation Products and latterly started his own consulting firm. He returned to the UK in 2009.