Our WEA charity trustees page

The Board of Trustees is WEA’s governing body. It has ultimate responsibility for the strategic direction of WEA. Trustees are also the Directors and Members of the Company.

The Board must have at least four and not more than fifteen Trustees.

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John Widdowson

Chair of Trustees, Nominations Committee Member

John began his career as a lawyer but worked in Further and Higher Education for nearly forty years, the last twenty-two of which were as Principal and Chief Executive of New College Durham.

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Geoff Layer

Vice Chair of Trustees, Education Committee Member, Nominations Committee Chair

Geoff Layer recently retired as Vice Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, having worked for over 40 years in post compulsory education. He is now working on strategic development for Coventry University.

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Matthew Pointon

President & National Officer, Nominations Committee Member, People Committee Member

Matt is a full-time trade unionist working for the TUC and WEA President.

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Ron Marks

Deputy President & National Officer, People Committee Member

Ron has been a member of the WEA and a tutor since 2005, in addition to being a secondary school teacher and tutor for a total of sixty years.

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Kevin Doyle

Treasurer & National Officer, Finance & Capital Resources Committee Chair

On his retirement in 2016, Kevin got involved in his local WEA branch and was branch chair for five years. Before taking his current role, he was a member of a regional committee and of the Finance and Capital Resources Committee.

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Robin Cook

WEA English Regional Representative, Audit & Risk Committee Member, Scotland Board Member, WEA Council Member

Robin has  spent his whole career within the Public Service, retiring from Senior Management. As a Civil Servant he had many and varied duties from which he gained a great deal of administrative, operational and strategic experience.

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Malcolm Grady

WEA English Regional Representative, Education Committee Chair

Malcolm has spent his professional career in the world of education. He qualified as a teacher after graduating from York University and taught history and politics for a number of years before moving into educational administration.

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Abda Khan

Externally Co-opted Trustee, Education Committee Member

Abda is a lawyer turned writer, creative practitioner and tutor. She joined the Board of Trustees in November 2023.

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Cathy Armor

Externally Co-opted Trustee, Safeguarding Lead, People Committee Chair, Education Committee Member

Cathy had a 30+ year career in Human Resources at a variety of organisations - private, public and not for profit. She joined the Board of Trustees in November 2023.

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Christine Grant

Externally Co-opted Trustee, Audit & Risk Committee Chair, Nominations Committee Member

Christine joined the Board of Trustees as an external co-opted trustee in July 2022. She chairs the Audit and Risk Committee and is a member of the Nominations Committee.

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