SCC members

George Gaskell: professor of social psychology and was head of the Methodology Institute. He is a member of the Court of Governors and the Council. As pro-director his main areas of responsibility will be for academic policy and resources, estates and relations with the departments. His research focuses on social, legal and ethical implications of the life sciences with a particular emphasis on 'public ethics'. He is a member of the ESRC Evaluation Committee and is a participant in an EC research programme on biobanks.

Mark Atkinson, head of facilities: I have worked in the Estates Division for about five years during which time I was employed initially as the division's systems administrator and IT project manager and more recently as the division's head of facilities.

I have a down to earth approach and feel that I can make a useful contribution to this body that is looking to give staff at the LSE a real voice for the first time. I would like to be part of the mechanism that has the aim of ensuring that staff opinions and views are heard and considered seriously.

Liz Ellis, Careers Service: My role is externally facing, working with recruiters and professional bodies to help our students get the job they want. To be successful I have to have excellent understanding of students needs. Therefore, I have good internal and external barometers, being aware of outside organisations' perceptions of LSE and of student expectations. I am part of a team that won IiP accreditation. We regularly ask for feedback from our 'clients': students and employers. The important thing is to act upon this feedback. I would like to contribute to the direction of LSE strategy and the working environment at LSE.

Gabi Lombardo, Academic Partnerships: My name is Gabi Lombardo and I work in the Academic Partnerships team. I have a PhD from LSE (2000) and I have previously worked as executive officer to the former LSE Director, Tony Giddens. In my years at the LSE and through different roles I have learnt about the institution's functions and dysfunctions and I have worked with many members of staff in academic and administrative departments. Liaison and networking inside and outside the School is an essential part of my work in an effort to develop research and teaching collaborative activities with the best academic institutions around the world.

Matt Lingard, Centre for Learning Technology:
Matt is a learning technologist in the Centre for Learning Technology, advising staff on both the pedagogic and technical issues of using online technologies in teaching. In addition to working with staff across LSE, Matt brings experience from London Business School, City University and London Metropolitan University, where he was the elected non-academic staff member of academic board.

Nat Holtham, Office of Development and Alumni Relations: I've worked at LSE since 2001, in a variety of roles within the Alumni Relations team. I enjoy liaising with many colleagues in departments around the School, both academic and administrative, and find LSE a fascinating (and occasionally frustrating) place to work. My current role, deputy head of alumni relations, includes responsibility for fostering ongoing links between alumni and the School, primarily via SU societies and academic departments.

Mike Bragg, IT Services: I have worked in the School for over a decade, joining MIS and later being seconded to IT Services. I have held different posts and responsibilities in that time, dealing with staff across the School, from staffing a help desk to supporting the email system, through consultation, to system development. I feel that I have a good grasp of how the School operates and where many of its strengths and weaknesses lie. I would like to use that knowledge to help inform critical decisions and in turn better understand why some things are as they are.

Fran Ward: I have worked at the LSE in the Library for 20 years now, doing various roles, including being very active in trade union work for UNISON (Branch Chair and Secretary). All this has obviously given me a wealth of experience of the culture and knowledge of the LSE. I really welcome being a member of the SCC because I strongly believe in the valuable forum it will provide staff in giving them a platform to help influence the LSE of the future.

I will endeavour to fully represent the views of staff with common sense, clarity, and enthusiasm.

Astrid Küllmann-Lee, Language Centre: I was appointed as an 'academic related member of staff' with the title “Instructor in German” in 1992 and was made coordinator for German, Chinese and Japanese (and for a period of time other languages, too) in 2001. As a senior member of the management team, I have a number of administrative duties as well as teaching 10 hours per week. My contract specifies that I do not engage in research. Thus, my position is with one foot in each camp (academia and administration).

Cheryl Edwardes, DM Information Systems: I am the manager of the Information Systems and Innovation Group. I have worked in the School for six years, starting my career in the Information Systems Department as the MSc coordinator. After a couple of years I moved to the position of manager (Operations and Personnel) within the Economics Department and was then invited to take the position of Information Systems Group manager in December 2006.

I am currently a chair of the AUMF (Academic Unit Managers Forum) and was instrumental in establishing this body, and believe that this has placed me in good stead to serve on the School Council. My experience in this role means that I will be a good representative of the departmental managers in the School. I have also worked closely with centre managers in my time with the Economics Department.

I believe this group will make a difference as it provides a valuable link between staff members and Council and the membership represents all elements of staff working at the School. I welcome the opportunity to participate in this ground-breaking venture and help make it a success.

Dr Ayona Datta, Sociology: was appointed lecturer in the Cities programme, Department of Sociology in 2005, having previously held a lectureship in Queen's University, Belfast. As a new member of staff, I would like to be the voice on the ground for junior academic staff, especially for those on pre-interim / major review stage. As a young academic, I am also interested in raising with the Governing Council, issues of family-friendly policies and work-life balance, which are faced by junior faculty. I will strive to ensure better working environments for academic staff.

Professor Hugh Collins, Law: Hugh's expertise lies in employment law, with particular reference to dismissal and civil liberties in the workplace, and to contract law, with particular reference to European Union law. Hugh has been a School governor, a member of Council, and a member of the APRC.
 

Dr John Kent, International Relations: 'I have been at LSE since 1987 and a warden since January 2002 and have experience of the advantages LSE offers staff. I would hope to promote greater integration between residences and LSE as a whole. As departmental tutor and a former APRC member, I am aware of academic issues and the need to balance them with limited resources and the expectations of high fee students.'

Anna Silver, graduate teaching assistant: Anna Silver graduated from the LSE twice (LLB and LLM) and currently teaches law part-time. Anna firstly taught employment law on a part-time basis whilst training to be a barrister. She then taught employment law and EU law part-time before moving to the General Council of the Bar for a five-year stint. During that time Anna was involved in representing staff in respect of changes to the pension scheme.

Anna returned to teaching last September and has since been teaching jurisprudence. Anna has also worked as a researcher at the Law Commission and is a QAA Subject Reviewer. In her spare time Anna is a Beaver Scout Leader for 8th Holborn Scout Group.

Conrad Heilman, graduate teaching assistant: Like other GTAs, Conrad is also a PhD student at the School and will bring his experience as a member of both the student body and part time academic staff to the SCC.

Vhon Barrett, TGW: Vhon joined the School about seven and a half years ago. Previously he was a telephone engineer for BT for 10 years. He was a union representative within BT and has continued union involvement with LSE and is presently secretary of the T&G.

Alexandra Smith, Ally works in the Student Recruitment Office as part of the LSE Widening Participation team. Her work involves co-ordinating a number of different programmes offered to Schools across London. Ally is also a union representative and is currently Chair of Unison LSE Branch.

Joanne Taplin-Green, UCU:  Bio & photo to follow.