About the university

University Governing Body

The Governing Body is the main decision making body of the University. It has the ultimate responsibility for the strategic plans of the University, and for the deployment of resources.

The Governing Body is the main decision making body of the University.  It has the ultimate responsibility for setting and monitoring the strategy of the University.

The Governing Body agrees the strategy of the University in conjunction with the executive and monitors its implementation.

There are a minimum of 12 members of the Governing Body. Governors include the Vice-Chancellor and three members of staff, including one drawn from the Academic Council.  The representative of the student body is normally the President of the Students' Union. The remaining Independent Governors are selected from outside the University for their experience and background. Appointments to the Governing Body are overseen by the Nominations, Staffing and Governance Committee.

The University of Greenwich is a company limited by guarantee and an exempt charity under the Charities Act 2011.  The Governing Body acts as the University's Board of Directors and charity trustees.

The University Secretary acts as Clerk to the Governing Body.

The Chair of the Governing Body is Bronwyn Hill CBE.  The Chair and the Vice-Chair (Craig McWilliam) must be Independent Governors.

The Governing Body conducts its business through a number of committees which consider in depth the matters under their remit. The Governing Body currently has the following committees:

Committee chairs include Denise Larnder (Audit and Risk Committee), Murray Orr (Finance Committee, Elizabeth Sideris (Nominations, Staffing and Governance Committee) and the Vice-Chancellor (the Academic Council).

The Governing Body has adopted a Statement of Primary Responsibilities which defines its principal responsibilities and functions.

The Handbook for Governors provides Governors with information on the operations and management of the University and the Governing Body.

The Governing Body regularly reviews its effectiveness.  A review by Halpin Partnership in 2022 concluded that the University complied with the governance codes issued by the Committee of University Chairs and the governance requirements of the Office for Students, and that Greenwich's governance was "'very good' with many areas of 'leading edge' practice".  Further details are provided in Halpin's summary.

Minutes of meetings

Governing Body / University Court minutes

Archive of all minutes

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