Board members

Emily Reed

Senior Independent Governor

Chair of Governance and Nominations Committee

Emily is a barrister specialising in all aspects of family law and the Court of Protection. As a barrister, she has developed the ability to analyse and assimilate vast amounts of information quickly and act as an impassioned advocate, putting forward the case for her client whether they be a CCG, local authority, parent or child. She converted to law after gaining a first class degree in English at the University of Cambridge. 

Her background in law enables her to assist the Board with respect to any legal issues that from time to time arise. In her career and past work in pupillage recruitment, Emily has undertaken equality and diversity training, which provides her with a depth of knowledge when issues with respect to diversity surface.

Emily is a practicing Catholic and is invested in the Catholic ethos and foundation of LTU. LTU's approach to ensuring that each student is supported and treated as an individual, a name not a number, also motivates her to contribute in whatever way she is able to the progress of the University and its students. 

She is the Pro Bono Champion at her Chambers, Park Square Barristers.

Emily has two young children aged 3 and 1. She is a keen allotmenteer and foodie, a good eater rather than cook! She also enjoys getting into the fresh air as much as possible.

Martin Holden

Independent Governor

Chair of Audit Committee

Martin is a Certified Accountant with over 35 years’ experience, and before retiring, was a partner at Saffery Champness in Harrogate. 

He specialises in advising complex ownership businesses and AIM Companies. The nature of advice given ranges from strategic commercial advice to structural and financial planning, in addition to providing audit assurance.

Martin is passionate about education and the benefits it can bring to all. He believes that if all parties contribute, then this can be life-changing, enhancing and great fun at the same time.

He is a trustee of a local charity and works with a number of Boards of Companies.

Martin lives in the Yorkshire Dales with his wife, Angela and two dogs, Basil and Billy.  He is an enthusiastic but inadequate golfer. He is also a keen runner, who has completed four of the six Abbot World Marathon Majors as well as a number of others in the UK.

Fr Paul Grogan

Independent Governor

Father Paul is the Episcopal Vicar for Education of the Diocese of Leeds.

A life-long learner, himself, particularly in the field of modern languages and as a speaker of French, German and Italian, Fr Paul attributes his own love of continuing intellectual engagement to his university studies, in Cambridge, Rome and more recently at Leeds Beckett University. He loves the fact that universities like Leeds Trinity provide spaces for enquiry and reflection, affording students the opportunity both to collaborate and to compete with one another in the shared task of articulating that which is true. As a parish priest in a poor area of Bradford and one who has spent many years in youth ministry, he is mindful of the transformative effect of higher education on the life chances of young people from deprived backgrounds.

Through his work as a governor, Fr Paul wishes to foster the common good of society, especially that part of it which is located in West Yorkshire. Possessed of a wide vision of the value of Catholic education, he wishes so to influence the university so that it affords as many local people as possible the opportunity for academic advancement, that most liberating of threshold experiences. He is convinced that the more assiduous the university is in ministering to students' key "outer" desires - intellectual achievement, authentic companionship and the securing of lucrative and meaningful employment - the more successful it will be in signposting students, respectfully, intentionally and non-judgmentally, towards discovering and acting upon their yet more important "inner" desires: communion with God; virtuous living; and friendship based on self-sacrificial love.

He is a member of the Old Brotherhood of the English Secular Clergy, a group which was set up in the sixteenth century to help oversee the Catholic Church in this country during the Reformation and which continues to have an honorific function to this day.

Fr Paul is Parish Priest of the Parish of Mary, Mother of God, Bradford and a Governor of St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College, Bradford. He has a degree in English Literature from the University of Cambridge, a Licence in Moral Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and a degree in French from Leeds Beckett University. He teaches ecclesiology, sacramentology and moral theology for the Catholic Certificate of Religious Studies, gives occasional lectures and spiritual conferences, co-edited The New Evangelisation (T&T Clark, 2015), following a conference at Leeds Trinity he co-organised, and he has written a couple of pamphlets for the Catholic Truth Society.

Roland Maposa

Independent Governor 

Member of Finance & Resources Committee

Roland is a PhD Candidate at Leeds University Business School, researching International Business Policy, Inclusive Economic Growth and Sustainable Development. He serves as an independent Governor on the Board of Leeds Trinity University and as a Finance and Resources Committee member.

Roland’s previous board experience includes being a Trustee on the board of Leeds University Union and co-founding InLeeds, an initiative that works toward retaining student talent from the Universities in the City of Leeds for the Leeds City Region. He brings experience in the Charity sector and an international student experience and perspective. He is inspired by Leeds Trinity University’s values of dignity and care, particularly respect and inclusivity. In his role on the board, Roland approaches his duty and responsibilities inclusively and professionally. This is guided by a people-centred and purpose-led solution focus.

With a keen interest in social inclusion through education, Roland strongly desires to empower individuals and communities, informed by his aspiration to serve and give both forward and back. He also volunteers as a learning champion with the Lifelong Learning Centre, University of Leeds. This role empowers non-traditional students considering a return to Higher Education. He also volunteers as a job coach and mentor for young people through SPEAR Leeds. He currently also serves as a member of the Finance Subcommittee at Leeds University Union.

He aspires to contribute positively to Leeds Trinity University's values of social justice and enhancing opportunity and to the University’s ambition to be an enterprising anchor institution in Leeds. Roland lives in Leeds with his wife Helen and his three sons. A keen sports watcher, follower, and Pilates enthusiast. He enjoys culinary exploration and travel.

Stuart McLeod

Stuart, in his role as a Senior Energy and Sustainability Manager at Balfour Beatty, assumes responsibility for overseeing efforts to minimize energy consumption and develop net zero strategies across all operations in the UK, encompassing construction sites and the permanent property portfolio. Engaging with some of the nation's most significant infrastructure projects, he spearheads initiatives aimed at enhancing sustainability outcomes for governmental bodies, private enterprises, and broader societal interests.

A pivotal aspect of Stuart's role involves offering guidance on energy and sustainability policies to empower colleagues throughout the organization to effect positive change at project levels. Additionally, he provides oversight on sustainability proposals originating from Balfour Beatty's supply chain to ensure alignment with the company's sustainability goals and overarching values.

Having achieved Chartered status from the Energy Institute and serving as an ESOS Lead Assessor, Stuart brings a wealth of experience from diverse professional environments, spanning both large and small organizations across the public and private sectors. With a background that includes military service, retail, and construction, he possesses a versatile skill set that can be harnessed to benefit the University and its stakeholders. While his current focus lies primarily on energy and sustainability, his professional journey has involved close collaboration with estate management teams, encompassing areas such as biodiversity, waste management, and community engagement strategy.

Committed to promoting inclusive education opportunities, regardless of background or educational path, Stuart pursued higher education as a mature student at Lancaster University following his service in the RAF and completion of courses with the Open University. His academic journey continued with a part-time MA program at Durham University while participating in a graduate scheme with Morrisons supermarkets. Subsequently, he conducted independent research in energy economics and pursued further training in energy management through the Energy Institute. He views a position on the board of governors as an opportunity to contribute to shaping Net Zero strategies within an institution dedicated to providing diverse educational pathways, particularly given the University's emphasis on both traditional academic and vocational courses.

In line with his commitment to widening access to education, Stuart established a bursary scheme at Lancaster University in 2016, which presently awards up to three separate £1,000 bursaries annually to mature students, particularly those facing financial barriers to returning to education.

Active participation extends beyond professional realms, as evidenced by his membership in the Climate Action Group for the Diocese of Leeds, a sub-committee of the Justice & Peace Commission chaired by Sir John Battle. Additionally, he contributes to the Energy Institute's Professional Development Committee.

Residing in Farsley with his wife and six-month-old son, Stuart is an active member of Pudsey parish and enjoys pursuits such as walking, running, swimming, and cycling.

Susan Hogston

Susan Hogston, Independent Governor

Member of Academic Assurance & Student Experience Committee

Susan is Head of Nursing and Quality for Marie Curie, overseeing the Yorkshire region. With over 36 years of experience in nursing, Susan has held diverse roles in both community and acute settings, including practice educator, operational manager, and clinical governance lead.

Transitioning from the National Health Service (NHS) to the third sector in 2011, Susan served as a national executive director for a prominent palliative care charity until 2018. During her tenure, she led a national education program focusing on Human Rights at the end of life. In 2018, she established her healthcare consultancy business, offering professional mentorship and coaching services.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Susan was the Director of Care for a charitable organisation, overseeing care homes, supportive living, and services for individuals with learning disabilities. She then returned to palliative care, driven by her passion for service development and nurturing the nursing and care workforce.

Susan brings a wealth of knowledge and skills in healthcare delivery, nursing development, and charity sector leadership, having served as a director in three separate charities since 2011.

Following her nursing and specialist nursing qualifications, Susan completed a politics degree, handing her dissertation in on a Friday and then giving birth to her second child on the Monday. Committed to lifelong learning, she has achieved additional qualifications in patient safety, risk management, mentorship, and coaching. 

As a dedicated volunteer throughout her adult life, Susan has held various roles ranging from Brown Owl to school governor, demonstrating her commitment to community engagement and appreciative inquiry. Beyond her professional endeavours, Susan enjoys walking her two spaniels and cherishes time spent with her granddaughters. Her Catholic faith holds significance, particularly in her involvement with the nursing team during the Leeds diocese pilgrimage to Lourdes.

Tara Smith

Independent Governor

Tara is an experienced finance leader who brings support, challenge and advice for the executive as the University delivers on its ambitious strategy.

Tara has been a Chartered Accountant for over 25 years and started her career with PwC, working in Ireland, Canada and the UK for more than 10 years focusing on food manufacturing and financial services clients. She then worked for five years in the financial services sector.

Tara joined the civil service in 2006, holding numerous senior finance roles across the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health, where she has led across financial control and financial strategy and planning. Since June 2022, she has been the Director of People and Resources at the Food Standards Agency, where she is responsible for HR, Finance, Estates, Commercial and Planning. Tara is an active leader across the Government Finance Function and a member of the People Committee.

Tara is passionate about the value of supporting young people into brilliant fulfilling roles and careers. she started her career as an apprentice, combining college, study and work experience to become a qualified chartered accountant. She believes the challenges facing young people in the current climate are many and can see a fantastic opportunity for combining education with work placements and experiences.

Tara lives in Guiseley with her husband Dan and two teenage sons Conor and Aaron. She is a recent convert to the gym and also enjoys walking and attending live music.

Thelma FForde-Escobar

Independent Governor

Member of Audit Committee 

Thelma is a Head of School and an experienced academic manager with a multifaceted career in higher education, business consultancy and quality assurance. For over two decades she has strategically led creative learning, teaching and assessment initiatives and major curriculum improvements, on large-scale programs of delivery, directly targeted at the needs of students and academic staff.

As a specialist in the management discipline, she is a senior lecturer and regular speaker on leadership topics, including transformational leadership, diversity & inclusion, and employability.

Thelma served six years as Board Member at the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) as HE Partners Lead and as Women, Diversity and Inclusion Lead. She is an FHEA Mentor and Assessor, resulting from her Senior Fellow of Higher Education Award in 2021. She brings a broad range of knowledge in higher education policies and procedures, and academic quality, to the board.

Holding Roman Catholic values and faith, she is a firm believer that young people are at the heart of kindness and generosity of faith through their own shared interest in global development and change.  She believes Leeds Trinity is a unique higher education institution with a deeply caring community at the heart of matters with regard to its student and staff experiences and wellbeing. 

Interests

• Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy
• Chartered Fellow Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
• Member of British Academy of Management 

Vijay Sharma

Independent Governor

Vijay brings solid finance skills from the depth of his professional background as a Chartered Management Accountant. He also brings wide experience as a senior finance leader from one of the largest UK Government Departments which has been at the forefront of serving citizens. Additionally, Vijay has an excellent understanding of the demands faced by people in the Education sector from his time as a primary school Chair of Governors.

A Chartered Management Accountant by profession, Vijay trained in the private life insurance, pensions and consumer finance sectors before joining the Civil Service in 2003. Recently, he has been in the Finance Director role overseeing the Annual Report and Accounts as well shaping the direction of development of financial reporting and performance data systems. Beyond Finance, Vijay has participated in a senior leadership talent scheme over the last two years enabling him to find out about how a wide range of other organisations respond to strategic opportunities and leadership challenges facing their organisations.

Earlier in his career, Vijay was a Non-Executive Board member of a Leeds social housing company where he supported a diverse Board through key financial decisions to improve housing quality for tenants.

Vijay's experience as a past student from Loughborough University, particularly living away from home to study gave him a natural empathy with students at Leeds Trinity University as well as a passion for education. He has always lived in the local area around Leeds Trinity University and is delighted to use his skills to help students, the staff and stakeholders. Vijay has a past record of volunteering as both a chair of school governors and a housing board member. In both capacities, he developed strong listening abilities to supportively work with parents, teachers and pupils to grow a good school as a governor.

In housing, Vijay helped tenants, staff of the company and external suppliers to maximise wellbeing and housing outcomes. Coming from a diverse background, Vijay has roots from a Catholic background though his late mother and his wife were convent-educated in India.

Vijay is an active member of the Government Finance Function, a body which brings together financial professionals across Government Departments and agencies.

Vijay lives close to Leeds Trinity University in Cookridge, with his wife Madhu and his son Raj. He enjoys an active sports lifestyle, including walking, cycling and swimming.