Richard Jones is Professor of Materials Physics and Innovation Policy at the University of Manchester; he is an experimental soft matter physicist. His first degree and PhD in Physics both come from Cambridge University and following postdoctoral work at Cornell University, USA, he was a lecturer at the University of Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory.  He was a Professor of Physics at the University of Sheffield from 1998, moving to Manchester in 2020. 

In Greater Manchester, he is the Independent Science Advisor to Innovation GM, a public-private partnership bringing together business, the GM Combined Authority and GM’s universities with the goal of developing Greater Manchester’s innovation ecosystem to help level up communities, generate the solutions needed to achieve net zero, and create the conditions for more businesses in more places to benefit from global exporting and inward investment.  He chairs the Greater Manchester Civic University Board, bringing together all five GM Universities to support the economy, people and communities of Greater Manchester. 

Professor Richard Jones - Chair of the Board & University of Manchester Representative  

Vice-President, Regional Innovation and Civic Engagement and Professor of Materials Physics and Innovation Policy 

Jenny is responsible for learning and teaching across all junior, undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes of study, access and participation, the School of Popular Music and the Student Health and Wellbeing Hub. An internationally renowned expert in music pedagogy, Jennie has taught music in various contexts for over 26 years. Her experience spans instrumental teaching, ensemble direction, class teaching, and she continues to teach music education at the RNCM, from supervising postgraduate research, teaching undergraduate and postgraduate taught courses through to supporting Junior RNCM as a flute and wind coach. She has worked in teacher education and professional development since 2008, working with a wide range of class and instrumental teachers.

Covering diverse contexts spanning music education and community music, Jennie’s research is concerned with the relationship between pedagogy and inclusion, recently leading the AHRC funded research network MUSOC, exploring the concepts of excellence and inclusion in music programmes with a social agenda. She undertakes consultancy work, often involving national curriculum design and development for international governments.

Andy Dainty - Manchester Metropolitan University Representative

Pro Vice Chancellor for Education - Manchester Metropolitan University

Dr Julian Skyrme - University of Manchester Representative

Director of Social Responsibility - University of Manchester

Dr Julian Skyrme is the founding Director of Social Responsibility at The University of Manchester. Social responsibility is one of the University's three core goals and ensures that Manchester's learning, research, engagement and operational activities make a positive difference to society. He has first-class honours, master’s and doctoral degrees in political philosophy and social sciences from The University of Manchester and spent his early career as a teacher and Assistant Vice-Principal in a large urban sixth form college. Julian contributes to local, national and international policies, initiatives and networks to enhance the social engagement of higher education. He is a member of: Manchester City Council's Strategic Education Partnership Board; the Board of Manchester's Loreto Sixth Form College; the Board of Trustees at MACC – Manchester's voluntary, community and social enterprise support organisation; Business in the Community's (BITC) North-West Leadership Board; and the global University Social Responsibility network. He's also a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, guitarist, everyday cyclist, Manchester United and Wales fan, and father to two children.

Professor Janice Allan - University of Salford Representative 

Dean, Salford Business School

Janice is the Dean of Salford Business School. Accredited by the Small Business Charter, the School is proud to be supporting our region through the delivery of the BEIS funded Help to Grow programme, OpenSME and a range of other activities designed to enhance regional productivity. Janice’s commitment to the education and skills agenda includes contributing to PwC’s Northwest Tech Talent Pipeline Group; she also sits on the CBI’s Northwest Council and the Northern Consortium’s Board of Trustees. 

Martyn Shaw - University of Bolton Representative

Director of Business Development - University of Bolton

Dr Baroness Helen Newlove - University of Bolton Representative

Pro Vice Chancellor - University of Bolton

An Economics graduate, Martyn Shaw qualified as an accountant and subsequently specialised in corporate finance. He then worked in the  construction industry before joining the University’s Business School. After overseeing the development of the University’s Accountancy Degree and its Business Access programme, he later became Director of the University’s Marketing and Recruitment function, subsequently becoming Director of Bolton Business School. In 2015, Martyn was appointed as the University’s Director of Business Development.

Martyn’s Bolton Business Gateway team at the University of Bolton, part of the University’s Development Office, actively supports student start-ups, entrepreneurship development programmes and acts as a conduit for companies and investors looking to collaborate with the University. A significant element of Martyn’s work is now focused on the University’s commitment to the development of new initiatives in the Knowledge Exchange arena, and engagement with the Knowledge Exchange Framework. 

More recently, Martyn’s responsibilities have extended to cover a number of aspects of the University’s Local and Regional Engagement. These include involvement in a number of University links with Bolton Council, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, BEIS and the University’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, alongside membership of the GM Civic Universities Board.

Baroness Helen Newlove is the Deputy Speaker House of Lords, Former Victims Commissioner for UK and Wales 2012-2019. She is the Pro-Vice Chancellor University of Bolton.

John leads the public affairs activity for the University of Salford at a national, local, and regional level. As part of his role John supports with the senior leadership team with their engagement with civic and political stakeholders in both Salford and across the Greater Manchester region. He is passionate about the positive impact that the Civic University Board will have on communities in Salford and across the wider Greater Manchester region.

Prior to joining the University, John was the public affairs lead for a business membership group in London and has previously worked in the Civil Service and for Members of Parliament in Westminster.

Alex Byars – Manchester Metropolitan University Representative

Director of Business Engagement and Partnerships, Manchester Metropolitan University

Alex provides leadership for Manchester Metropolitan University’s Business Engagement and Partnerships, working with external organisations and employers across private and public sectors to deliver impactful activities that support the University’s education and research priorities, as well as helping the University  He is a Chartered Accountant and has previously held senior roles at Deloitte, Manchester City FC and Manchester International Festival. His contribution to the Civic University Board builds on his experience of strategic collaboration and partnerships in the city-region.

Leader of Manchester City Council & Labour Councillor for Burnage Ward

Bev became Leader of Manchester City Council on 1st December 2021. First elected in 2011 as a Burnage Councillor, she held a range of responsibilities on Manchester City Council, including serving for 4 years as Executive Member for Adult Social Care, Health and Wellbeing, then as Deputy Leader overseeing resources, capital programmes, social value and digital.

Born and raised on a council estate just outside of Belfast, she was the first in her family to go to university, moving to Manchester in 2003 to study and made it her home. After graduating from the University of Manchester she began her career in Local Government, before working in higher education and then a national trade union leading on social care. Alongside working full time Bev completed postgraduate degrees at Warwick Business School and the University of Manchester.As Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing she oversaw the integration of Manchester’s health and care services, led the city’s COVID health and community response, manging the crisis and focusing on a more equal recovery, and has championed the City’s work to become a Living Wage City.

Since becoming Leader her focus has been on Manchester’s ambitious COVID recovery, the importance of building a more inclusive and sustainable economy, children and young people, equalities, housing and zero carbon. She holds a range of responsibilities on behalf of the city including the GM Work and Skills Portfolio for the Combined Authority and the GM Local Enterprise Partnership.Outside of politics she enjoys sports and being outdoors, music, culture and enjoying all that Manchester has to offer.