Trustee Board

Stephen graduated from BCU (when it was UCE) and is a former Student Union President. Since graduating, he has had a highly successful career that saw him develop into a broader leadership role through a Human Resources career path. In 2006 Stephen moved to the Middle East, where he has worked across the region. He has been with RCSI since 2013 and has played a fundamental role in growing RCSI Bahrain into the premier Healthcare Education University in the region. Before this, he worked for the international consultancy firm KPMG in a regional position.

In addition to his professional qualifications (CIPD), Stephen has taken his academic qualifications further, graduating from Said Business School, The University of Oxford, with a Post Graduate Diploma in Organisational Leadership. He is currently studying towards a Doctorate in Management, where his area of research is the development of indigenous populations in overseas operations of multinational organisations.

Stephen is married to Lucy, who he met at BCU in 1999, and they have three children Maddie (20), Ben (19) and Elliott (13). He is passionate about Rugby League, having been a player and coach until he moved abroad. Stephen founded the RL team at BCU when he was there and continued his involvement with the game, being awarded the 2002 Stephen National Rugby League Conference Coach of the year.

I studied for BA Hons in Government at BCU between 1992-1995 and then enjoyed a sabbatical year working as Deputy President of the Student Union in the days when the institution was called UCE and based in Perry Barr.

I have spent the past 25+ years working across the retail and healthcare sectors in a variety of leadership roles for ASDA, Boots, Sainsburys, McKesson UK and the Midcounties Cooperative, with the last 10 years at Board level. My passion has always been helping others develop as leaders and be the best they can be at whatever they choose to do. So, I have recently set up my own business, Stronger Humans Coaching and Consulting, which delivers executive coaching, leadership development programmes and works with organisations to help deliver change.

As well as being a Trustee of BCUSU I sit on the Board of a charity called the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM Roadsmart) which is a leading road safety charity that works to create safer and more efficient drivers. I am also a volunteer Bloodbiker in the Midlands in my spare time.

I am married to Karen and have two sons. Max who is 19 and has just headed off to university, and Felix who is currently studying for his A Levels. In my spare time I enjoy touring the UK and Europe on my motorbike, keeping fit & going to concerts.

The reason I chose to get involved in BCUSU is that in my time spent studying there I had some great formative experiences being part of the SU community through sport, running the welfare & advice centre and being a social member of societies. I believe the Students’ Union is a critical part of the student experience and plays an important role in ensuring the views and needs of students are represented and delivered.

Bringing my experiences gained & with a passion for the city I hope to help BCUSU build on the great work done to date and develop into a great place to work, volunteer or just get involved.

Chantelle is a proud mother of 3, and is striving for excellence in caregiving to qualify as an adult field nurse in 2027.

Her current studies consist of lectures (of course), assignments, exams, and clinical placements throughout the year, and so far have been proven to be a welcome challenge to her focus and determination.

Chantelle is happy to be a new member of BCUSU’s Board of Trustees, she hopes to see plenty of inclusion and practice diplomacy in the role.

Her hobbies are gardening, loving growing food, cooking, hiking, swimming, interior design, and spending time with family.

Gia enters her second year at BCU in September 2025 and has involvement with BCUSU as a Course Rep and Outreach Assistant, even being awarded Course Rep of the Year at The Roaries.

At University, she has spent the last year as Vice-President of the League of Justice & has been elected as President for 2025/26. The League of Justice is a student-led team overseen by BCU’s Law Clinic - which competes yearly in the Law School Challenge to see which Law School can raise the most funds for LawWorks and Advocate.

Gia helped BCU into second place last year after raising £2,618.94, resulting in a highly commended at the I AM BCU Awards 2025. LawWorks and Advocate provide free legal aid to those who cannot afford it. As Vice-President, Gia plan and organise weekly bake sales, and two university-wide events focussed on showing student pathways after their degrees (including a panel talk and networking event with Dino Dullabh from Law Training Centre and Laura Hartigan from Shoosmiths, and a Charity Moot with Matt O'Brian, Vice-President of Birmingham Law Society).

Outside of my studies, I am passionate about sports, reading manga, and watching anime. These hobbies not only help me unwind but also inspire creativity and offer fresh perspectives, which I find beneficial in both my personal and academic life.

Outside of uni, she works as a Student Ambassador for the Sikhs in Law Association and believes in destroying negative stereotypes around the Sikh Community, and also serves as an ambassador for Law Training Centre, which offers courses and pathways after your law degree.

As a volunteer at Coffin Works Museum, Gia expresses her passion for history and she spends time exploring horror, steampunk and gothic looks as a SFX make-up artist.

Gia would like to see would be more events during Black History and South Asian Heritage Month alongside more support offered to students in terms of finding graduate roles such as more networking events.

Hassan’s interests are in the field of corporate governance, financial reporting and strategic financial management, topics which help advance his analytical thinking and strong financial decision-making.

As an international student, Hassan has had an evolving and enriching experience, settling into a multicultural society has given him unlimited ways of advancing both academically and personally.

As a Course Rep, he actively listens to student concerns and transmitting them to the academic staff to be addressed. The role has made him learn more about the needs of the students and has reinforced his passion for student advocacy, especially by taking part in feedback forums.

Outside of studies, Hassan has diverse experience in the field of finance, auditing, likes poetry, trekking, content creation, and discovering new cities. Hassan has even hiked to Ansoo Lake at 14 000 ft!

Hassan would really like to witness more financial literacy programs in the student body, particularly for international students. Seminars on technical analysis on stock exchange and crypto currency, budget planning, student finances, and employment rights may enable the students to feel stronger about taking control of their lives. He is also in favour of decreasing the process time for student issues.

Using his education in financial analysis and risk management, Mohammed aims to ensure every pound used at BCUSU creates measurable student value. He aims to bring an analytical mindset, strategic thinking, and a strong sense of accountability to the board, grounded in academic training and personal values.

As an international student he knows first-hand how important it is to feel represented, especially when adjusting to a new academic and cultural environment.

As a Course Rep, he actively listens to student concerns and transmitting them to the academic staff to be addressed. The role has made him learn more about the needs of the students and has reinforced his passion for student advocacy, especially by taking part in feedback forums.

At BCUSU, Mohammed has worked on Scrutiny Panel, helping ensure elected Officers delivered on their commitments. A key outcome was co-developing new accountability frameworks that improved Officer and student communication significantly during subsequent engagement campaigns.

Beyond BCU, Mohammed volunteered with the Idmaj Cultural Center in Casablanca, leading community workshops, supporting English language learning, and co-organising environmental awareness events. Experiences which sharpened his leadership, teamwork, and cross-cultural communication skills directly transferable to working in student governance.

Mohammed speaks 3 language (Arabic, French, English) which help him bridge different communities at BCU, and has interest in football, community volunteering, exploring new cultures, advocating for sustainability.

One strategic change Mohammed is championing is an ongoing peer-led Welcome Circle, developed in partnership with International Services, designed to provide continuous cultural orientation, mentoring, and support for international students beyond Welcome Week.

Beyond international student support, he is advocating for data-driven decisions across BCUSU operations, transparent budget reporting, and cross-demographic representation in all major policy decisions to ensure equitable outcomes for the entire student body.

As a Student Trustee, he is committed to championing transparency, equity, and student-led progress within BCUSU and will measure impact through: student satisfaction scores, engagement rates across different demographics, financial efficiency ratios, and policy implementation timelines.

Mohammed’s goal is to ensure BCUSU operates with high professional standards, and is genuinely representative of every students’ voice, ensuring no one feels invisible in the decisions that shape their university journey.