University Council and Committee members

Professor Bob Cryan CBE DL CMgr CCMI FREng, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive

Professor Bob Cryan CBE became the UK’s youngest Professor of Engineering at 30 and the youngest Vice-Chancellor when he joined the University of Huddersfield in 2007. A proud Huddersfield graduate, he holds two first-class honours degrees (Engineering and Mathematics), an MBA, and two doctorates (PhD and DSc). Bob’s academic leadership spans several universities, including senior roles at Manchester Metropolitan, Northumbria, and Swansea. He has published over 200 research papers and believes strongly in research-led teaching.

His achievements include being named a Deputy Lieutenant for West Yorkshire, receiving a CBE in 2014, and being elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2015. He served as President of the IET in 2022–23.

Under his leadership, the University of Huddersfield has grown to over 22,000 students from 120+ countries and earned major accolades, including TEF Gold (2023), Ofsted Outstanding (2022), and multiple Queen’s Awards and Anniversary Prizes.

Bob is passionate about transforming lives through education and is driving the University’s strategy around research, postgraduate growth, and global engagement.

Mr Jonathan Thornton

Jonathan Thornton currently advises businesses in Yorkshire and is Chair of a small pharmaceutical development company. He is also a Trustee of several charities. Previously he has been Chair of Thornton & Ross, a Healthcare Manufacturing Group, and was Vice-President of Euralliance Pharma. He was appointed to the University Council in July 2006 and was Chair of the Audit Committee from August 2012 to May 2018. Jonathan Thornton became Vice-Chair of Council in August 2018 and subsequently was appointed as Chair of Council with effect from August 2019. Jonathan also Chairs the Governance and Membership Committee and serves on the Estates and Finance Committee, Remuneration Committees and the Honorary Awards Committee.

Mr Bernard Ainsworth OBE

A leading figure in the construction industry, Bernard Ainsworth is regarded as the 'ultimate' project manager and has been responsible for leading teams in the construction of many famous buildings, including the iconic London Shard and the Millennium Dome, and it was for this latter project that he was awarded his OBE. He then held a number of non-executive director and advisory roles on a series of national projects including HS2, Hinckley Point Nuclear station and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.  Bernard Ainsworth was appointed to the University’s Estates and Finance Committee in August 2017 and became a member of University Council with effect from August 2019.

Mr Robert Cox

Robert Cox is a retired Chartered Accountant and former Finance Director of AQA Education. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and has held a number of Finance Director roles across a range of industries. He was appointed to University Council with effect from August 2018 and has been a member of the Audit and Committee since March 2013, and was made Chair of the Committee in February 2021.  Robert Cox also serves on the Governance and Membership Committee and the Remuneration Committees. 

Mr Rhys Davies

Rhys Davies is a non-executive director of several organisations, primarily in West Yorkshire. He has also recently become a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Woolmen. His director roles are at Immersify Education (Chair of Advisory Board); the British Wool Marketing Board; and a governor of Bradford Grammar School. He has recently served full terms as a non-executive director at Airedale NHS Hospital Trust, and Sovereign Health Care, he also is a founder member of the Ilkley Clean River Group.  Rhys Davies has extensive experience of leading IT functions and transformational change programmes having held the roles of Chief Information Officer, IT Director, and Chair across a range of business sectors. 

He was appointed to University Council with effect from February 2019 and is also a member of the Audit and Risk Committee. Rhys Davies was appointed as Vice Chair of Council in July 2025.

Bishop Smitha Prasadam

Smitha Prasadam was appointed as Bishop of Huddersfield in March 2023 having relocated from Copenhagen where had served in the Anglican Church since 2018.

Born into the Church of South India, Smitha and her family then moved to the Anglican Church in Wales. Both her parents were pioneer mission partners with the Church Missionary Society, and her mother was the first Indian woman ordained in the UK. 

She has served as Bishop's Racial Justice Adviser, Vocations Adviser and Chair of the House of Clergy in the Diocese in Europe, and as a member of the General Synod, St John's College Council Durham, and FGPSC.  She is Chair of the Anglican Minority Ethnic Network (AMEN) and Vice-Chair of the Liturgical Commission.

Bishop Smitha was appointed to the University Council in March 2024 and serves on the Governance and Membership Committee.

Ms Isobel Pollock-Hulf OBE

Isobel Pollock-Hulf continues to be an active volunteer member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and is currently Chairing the Nominations Committee and the Pension Board. She became  the 127th President of the Institution in 2012. In June 2014, Isobel Pollock-Hulf was awarded an OBE for services to mechanical engineering. She was appointed to the University Council in March 2015 and Chair of the Estates and Finance Committee in September 2024.  Isobel Pollock-Hulf also serves on the Governance and Membership Committee.

Mr Ajaz Ahmed BEM

Ajaz Ahmed is an entrepreneur best known for founding Freeserve, the UK's first big internet company, which was launched in 1998 in Leeds. Freeserve entered the FTSE 100 in 2000 and was acquired by France Telecom for £1.65bn in 2001.

Ajaz Ahmed was Chair of the digital agency, Quba for 23 years until its sale in July 2025. He was listed in the Yorkshire Business Power 100 and Internet Magazine's top 50 movers and shakers.

The Queen awarded him a 'British Empire Medal' BEM.

Ajaz Ahmed was appointed to the University Council in August 2021 and has served on the Estates and Finance Committee and now Audit and Risk Committee.

Mrs Clare Morrow

Clare Morrow is the Chair of the Board at the Bettys and Taylors Group in Harrogate, which makes Yorkshire Tea, Taylors of Harrogate tea and coffee, and has five iconic cafe tea rooms across Yorkshire.

Clare Morrow is also the Chair of Hollybank Trust, a charity based in Mirfield, which provides residential care and education for children and adults with multiple and profound learning disabilities;  and is the Chair of the Yorkshire and North East Film Archive, a small charity which preserves and makes available to the public moving images captured by film makers across the two regions over the past century. Clare Morrow had a 25 year career as a journalist, executive producer and senior manager, working in newspapers, radio and television for both the BBC and ITV.

Previous non-executive roles include the Chair of Welcome to Yorkshire, a Director of the Rugby Football League and a Director of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. She was also a Trustee at both the Leeds Playhouse and Sheffield Theatres.

Clare Morrow was appointed to the University Council in August 2022 and serves on the Estates and Finance Committee and the Honorary Awards Committee.

Ms Sally Baines

Sally Baines is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and worked in human resources and organisational development roles within the NHS for over 30 years. Sally Baines is an accredited Senior Practitioner with the European Coaching and Mentoring Council and provides executive coaching for senior leaders in the NHS and also works independently to provide a range of transformation, human resource and leadership development interventions primarily in the NHS. 

She was previously the Chair and Trustee of Mental Health Matters, a national mental health charity providing a range of psychological and social support services to those with mental health conditions.

Sally Baines was appointed to the University Council in August 2023 and serves on the Audit and Risk Committee and the Remuneration Committees.

Professor Mark Radford CBE PhD RN

Professor Mark Radford is currently National Director of Long-Term Workforce Plan for Delivery, Director of Education and Training and Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for England and was formerly the Chief Nurse of Health Education England.  

As Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for England, Mark supports the Chief Nursing Officer in ensuring the NHS workforce is fit for the future. This includes recruitment and retention, skills development, maintaining the quality of management and leadership, tackling inequality and breaking down barriers, ensuring places of work are rewarding, positive and filled with opportunity, and enabling more volunteers to support front-line staff. 

He is a Professor of Nursing at Birmingham City University and Coventry University, with research covering emergency care models, advanced practice, staffing, risk modelling, clinical decision-making, expertise and sociological issues in healthcare.

Mark Radford was honoured with a CBE in The Queen’s New Year Honours 2022 list.

He was appointed to University Council in July 2025 and serves on the Estates and Finance Committee.

Dr Sara Eastburn

Sara Eastburn is the Acting Head of Department of Allied Health Professions, Sport and Exercise in the School of Human and Health Sciences. She joined the University of Huddersfield in November 2006 and her former roles at the University have included School Director of Academic Quality and Professional Governance. 

She is a physiotherapist and a Chartered Manager (FCMI). Between 2015 and 2023, she held a Fitness to Practise partner role with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and she is an Appointed Governor on behalf of the University on the Council of Governors at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust. Dr Eastburn is also a co-opted Governor and Vice Chair of Governors at Rowley Lane Junior, Infant and Nursery School and Newsome Junior School, both in Huddersfield. 

Sara Eastburn was nominated by Senate to join the University Council in November 2024.  She also serves on the Governance and Nominations Committee and the Honorary Awards Committee.

 

Ms Freya Askwith-Martin – SU President 

Freya Askwith-Martin graduated with a degree in Sociology and Psychology during which she completed her placement as a volunteer at Fresh Futures. In addition, whilst she was at University she also undertook the role of student ambassador and then senior student ambassador. Following graduation, she was elected to the role of Equity Officer where she worked to promote equality, diversity and inclusion within the University and to help others by providing better opportunities. 

Currently, Freya Askwith-Martin serves as the President of Huddersfield Students’ Union representing the student body and advocating for their voice to be heard. Furthermore, she also has key leadership positions as she is a Trustee for both HudLets and Huddersfield Students’ Union as well as chairing the meetings for both. She is deeply passionate about learning about different people and their backgrounds and helping them so that they can have the best student experience here at Huddersfield.  

Freya Askwith-Martin joined the University Council in July 2025 and serves on the Estates and Finance Committee, Governance and Membership Committee and the Honorary Awards Committee.

Ms Sally Crosland

Sally Crossland is a current PhD researcher in Psychology, focusing on female perpetrators of violent crime. After completing her BSc, she spent a number of years working in retail management, before returning to the University to complete an MSc in Investigative Psychology. Combining her previous experience with her doctoral research has allowed Sally Crossland to undertake project work, run events and develop opportunities for postgraduates. 

Sally Crossland was appointed to the University Council in November 2023.

Ms Alison Jones

Alison Jones joined the University in January 2020 having worked in professional higher education administration, leadership and management for over 25 years. Reporting to the Vice-Chancellor, she has executive accountability for governance, legal and regulatory compliance and health and safety service provision.

Reporting to the Chair of Council, she is the independent source of advice and guidance to University Council and ensures the effective, efficient and compliant management of University Council and Committee decision making.

Mr Paul Leigh

Paul Leigh is a Chartered Accountant and has over 25 years senior financial leadership experience in the Education sector, including Chief Financial Officer roles in single and multi-academy trusts. He qualified in public practice and is passionate about how the role of finance can support leaders in delivering high quality education.

Paul Leigh was appointed to Audit and Risk Committee in August 2022.