Student leadership

Central Executive Committee (CEC)

At the Students Association we have a Central Executive Committee who are elected every two years to represent students, and to influence all levels of decision-making within The Open University. They exist to promote your interests and to ensure the OU is more than just a place of learning – it’s a student community. 

The Central Executive Committee lead the Association’s strategic direction, run events and activities and talk to The Open University on your behalf about decisions that affect students. They represent the collective rather than individual needs of the student body. It meets at least four times a year with some members of the Committee meeting more frequently. Any student can stand for election to be a member of the Central Executive Committee, and every student has the opportunity to vote for who they believe will best represent them.
 

Ways that the CEC represent you:

University level 

The Central Executive Committee take part in (and in some cases are full members of) committees and working groups, to ensure that the student voice has an input into the decisions made at the OU. 

Student community 

The Central Executive Committee meet with students at events, local activities and national meet-ups, to understand the student experience.  

Nationally 

Members of the Central Executive Committee speak to parliament and MPs about the part-time/distance learning student experience, and contribute to government led consultations to ensure that OU students’ perspectives are part of a narrative or campaign.
 

Our CEC members:

President

Our President, Margaret Greenaway, leads the Central Executive Committee and is a member of the Board of Trustees. 

Deputy President

The Deputy President, Gareth Jones, supports the President and is a member of the Board of Trustees. 

Student Member of Council

The Student Member of Council (vacant) joins the President as one of our two representatives on the OU Council. 

Vice Presidents 

Our Vice Presidents have wide ranging remits and responsibilities and are also involved in a number of ongoing projects and initiatives. 

• Oakley Monk-Owen – Vice President Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
• Nicola Boffee – Vice President Student Support
• Laura Marulanda-Carter – Vice President Education
• Michael Bryan – Vice President Administration 
• Cazzandra Flowers – Vice President Community
• Lou Robinson – Vice President Engagement

Faculty Association Representatives  

There are five Faculty Association Representatives (one per faculty and one for Open and Access) and these elected students play a vital role in making sure learners within their faculty have a voice in central decision making and in turn, get information about what is happening within individual faculties. 

• Nichola Connolly – WELS (Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies) 
• Benjamen Mansell – Business and Law
• Vacant – Open and Access 
• Vacant – Arts and Social Sciences 
• Yasmin Fay – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Area Association Representatives 

Area Association Representatives play a vital role in making sure students from across the four UK nations, the Republic of Ireland and Continental Europe, get a voice in all central decision-making and, in turn, get direct information back on what's going on in the Students Association centrally. 

• Raed Townsend – Wales
• Mohai Eddine Hadit – International
• Elizabeth Scully – England
• Stephen Hughes – Ireland
• Paul Reid – Scotland