Communicator, Issue 28 (Winter 2009) - University of Portsmouth

12
Staff news
David Ferguson awarded
honorary degree
In October 2009 the University awarded
an Honorary Doctorate of Laws to David
Ferguson. David stepped down from
his position as Chairman of the Board
of Governors in the spring of this year
because he had been diagnosed with
Motor Neurone Disease and felt that he
no longer had the energy to carry out the
role. The degree was presented by our
Chancellor, Sheila Hancock, at a ceremony
attended by David’s family and friends and
by a number of University representatives.
In his speech outlining the reasons for
making the award, the Vice-Chancellor
highlighted the major roles that David
played during his period as Chairman,
both in ensuring that we are governed
effectively and in greatly increasing the
contact and confidence between governors
and University staff. Before chairing the
New governors
Communicator | Winter 2009
Board, David had chaired the Estates and
IT Committee and made very significant
inputs in steering IT projects, based on
his experience in his previous senior roles
in industry. We are delighted that David
continues to a make a valuable contribution
as a member of the Board.
The Board of Governors has been joined this year by several new faces, all of whom
have a great deal to contribute.
Dr Graham Floater is Deputy Director at the Department of Energy and Climate Change
(DECC) where he has overseen the strategy for moving to a low carbon Britain and a
review for the Prime Minister on global carbon trading. Graham is a member of the Finance
Committee.
Joy Okwuadigbo is Head of Service ‘Regeneration’ and a member of the Executive
Management Team at Havant Borough Council, working on a new regeneration plan for
Havant. Joy is a member of the Human Resources Committee.
Deborah Owen-Ellis Clark is a strategic marketing consultant, working across a broad
portfolio from retail and property, to business services and arts organisations. Deborah is a
member of the Students’ Academic and General Affairs Committee.
Michael Staunton is Executive Development and Succession Planning Director, VT
Group, building a robust talent management process including the VT Group graduate
management programme. Michael is a member of the Human Resources Committee.
Steve Topazio is the President of the Students’ Union, which makes him a Governor
ex-officio. Steve is a member of the Estate and Information Technology Committee,
Students’ Academic and General Affairs Committee and Nominations Committee, and is in
attendance at the Finance Committee.
Dr John Molyneux is a Senior Lecturer, School of Art Design and Media. John joins
the Board as the elected Academic Staff Governor and is a member of the Estate and
Information Technology Committee.
Further information on all our governors can be found at www.port.ac.uk/governors.
New Heads of Department
Dr Sherria Hoskins has been appointed as Head of Psychology, taking over the role
vacated by Professor Vasu Reddy.
Dr Richard Thelwell has taken over from Alun Rees as Head of Sport and
Exercise Science.
Dr Vince Hughes has been appointed as Head of Mechanical and Design Engineering
after Amir Alani vacated the role.
Sherria, Richard and Vince have taken on their new roles at an exciting time for their
departments and all are keen to build on the excellent work of their predecessors.
New chaplain:
Andy Marshall
Andy Marshall joined the University
on 12 October. He joins the other two
chaplains, Jordan and Karen, bringing
the team of chaplains back up to three.
Andy’s background is varied,
multicultural and ecumenical... he’s on
his third country and his 36th address
in almost as many years. He was born
in Zimbabwe, raised in South Africa, in
city, suburb and farming environments.
He was schooled almost entirely in
Afrikaans schools in the wine and
wheat-farming communities in the
Swartland in the Western Cape, and
finished his schooling at an English
School in the Eastern Cape. He studied
theology by distance learning through
the University of Southern Africa and
was ordained in 2000.
His career in the Church began
immediately after school, with a
volunteer year of missionary work
to young people in impoverished
communities in the Limpopo and
Mpumalanga Provinces of South
Africa, followed by six years as a
full-time youth pastor and two years
as a parish priest, before moving to
the UK in 2002. He spent a year in
Mirfield in West Yorkshire, followed
by three years as Associate Priest in
Easthampstead in Bracknell. He began
his career in chaplaincy in 2006, when
he was appointed as Senior Chaplain
to Southampton Solent University,
before taking up the post as Anglican
Chaplain here.
His passions are inclusivity, ethics,
equality and diversity, which are
interestingly balanced by a love of
the transport industry – particularly
aircraft and airports, and a good
soya cappuccino. He enjoys the odd
computer game, travelling and
reading sci-fi.