The Governing Body comprises of four members (Company Directors). These are:
The Chair and Non-Executive Director
Professor Helen Higson
Helen is an external member, independent of NUKH, who acts as Chair to the Governing Body and provides necessary leadership and diplomacy skills and is capable and willing to hold the directors and executive team to account.
Until 1st March 2021 Helen was Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Aston University, a role she held for more than ten years. She is now Professor of Higher Education Learning and Management in Aston Business School. Helen is a Principal Fellow of Advance HE, and a National Teaching Fellow, and was awarded Fellowship of the Society of Research in HE (SRHE) in 2025. She is a trained Executive Coach, specialising in helping organisations align their workforce, structure, and systems with their strategy. Her recent research, policy and consultancy work includes intercultural training, employability, and skills development, facilitating a coaching culture, closing the degree attainment gap. Helen serves on a number of regional and national boards, including Winchester College Governing Body, and Chair of the Institute of Payroll Professionals Board.
Helen has been a Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands since 2017.
Non-Executive Director (Deputy Chair) and Independent Member
Christopher Wood
Chris is an external member, independent of NUKH, who provides independent insight, perspective and appropriate challenge to the Governing Body, and also acts as Chair to the Risk and Audit Committee.
Chris qualified as a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young in 1990 and has since worked in senior finance and leadership positions with a wide range of public, private, and not-for-profit organisations both in the UK and overseas. Most recently, as CEO and managing director, Chris led businesses operating in the education and business service sectors.
Chris is currently the Bursar, and a Fellow, of St Hilda’s College, Oxford. He also sits as a non-executive director and audit committee chairperson for the Publica Group, which provides public services on behalf of local authorities; HR Wallingford Group, which is a water engineering and environmental science consultancy; as a non-executive director of Forestry England; and as an independent member of the audit and risk committees of the House of Lords, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Alongside these roles, Chris is trustee director of the University of Oxford Staff Pension Scheme (through OSPS Trustee Limited). a chartered marketer, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Director and CEO, Navitas University Partnerships Europe (UPE), and COO, Navitas Global
Paul Lovegrove
Paul is CEO of Navitas UPE and is accountable officer for the NUKH provider level registration with the OfS. Paul leads on strategy and overall performance of the UPE Division.
Director and COO, Navitas University Partnerships Europe (UPE)
Rachel Wilkinson
Rachel is the COO providing operational management, financial diligence and relevant qualification to the Governing Body. Rachel also holds membership on the NUKH Risk and Audit Committee.