Westminster’s Court of Governors appoints six new independent governors

The Court of Governors is the University’s governing body, which approves the University’s long-term objectives and strategies as well as providing overall financial and organisational control. The Court is made up of 12 independent governors, three colleague governors, two student governors, Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Bonfield and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Education Dr Sal Jarvis. Governors are also directors of the University in its status as a company and trustees of the University in its status as a charity.

One of the newly appointed independent governors is Andrea Bertone, a business leader with expertise in scaling startups, business turnarounds and digital marketplaces across digital media, EdTech and healthcare. He serves as a Non-Executive Director on the boards of Oviva, a leader in digital health, and StudySmarter, a top learning platform. He also runs an advisory business focused on startup growth and optimisation.

About his appointment Bertone said: “I am thrilled to join the Court of Governors at the University of Westminster. I am looking forward to being an active participant in shaping the future of the University and its commitment to supporting students from all backgrounds to fulfil their potential.”

Westminster Law LLB Honours alumna and barrister Caron Bradshaw has also joined the Court of Governors. She is currently the Chief Executive of Charity Finance Group, a non-executive director of the Lending Standards Board, trustee of the Wollstonecraft Society and member of the Finance and Risk Committee of the British Asian Trust. Bradshaw has received a number of awards, including Charity Principal of the Year at the Charity Times Awards and Woman of the Year (non-CCAB) at the Women in Finance and Accountancy Awards. She was also awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List 2021 for her services to charity.  

Bradshaw commented: “As an alumna of the University, I am so thrilled to be joining the Court of Governors.  I've been getting increasingly involved over the last few years and have been blown away by the ethos, culture and dynamism present in the students, colleagues and volunteers. I can't wait to put my skills and experiences to work in driving forward Westminster's vision.”

Joining Bertone and Bradshaw is Jessica Figueras, a strategist working with government and regulated industries on cyber security, digital trust and the role of technology in civil society. She has published extensive research on the application of emerging technologies across government, telecoms, media and other regulated industries, including informing ground-breaking new online safety legislation in the UK. She is the co-founder of Cyber Governance for Boards (CxB), a non-profit network that supports boards and non-executive directors to strengthen oversight of cyber security.

Figueras said about her appointment: "I'm delighted to have been appointed. I come from a family of London educators with roots in three continents, so already feel quite at home in the wonderful Westminster community and am looking forward to learning more."

Also joining the Court is Westminster Transport Planning and Management MSc graduate John Ball. Since graduating in 2001, Ball held various senior executive roles with London Underground focusing on strategy and asset management.  Following a stint as a charity CEO, in 2018 John took up his present position as Chief Executive at the Church of England Pensions Board. In this role he is responsible for leading the stewardship of more than £3 billion of assets on behalf of 44,000 pension scheme members and overseeing the Board’s charitable activities which include housing for 2,400 retirees.  

About returning to Westminster as an independent governor he said: “I am deeply honoured to be returning to the University as an independent governor and looking forward to playing a part in realising the University’s exciting vision.”

Also joining the team is strategic HR thought leader Naleena Gururani.  In her current role as Chief People Officer at the telecommunications company Hyperoptic, Gururani is scaling the HR division as the company reaches new heights in its growth journey by establishing best practice across culture transformation, talent acquisition, organisational capability review, organisational culture and talent management. She is also a board member for Vivid Housing and Connect HR, a global network of people professionals.

Gururani said: "I am honoured to join the University of Westminster as a governor, bringing my passion for education and people to an institution that champions diversity and opportunity. As the daughter of two teachers, I’ve seen firsthand how education transforms lives, including my own. We often forget that education isn’t just powerful—it’s fun, inspiring and full of possibility. I look forward to helping Westminster continue to empower future leaders and changemakers."

The final new independent governor is Chartered Engineer and Senior Executive Terrance James. James has over 30 years of experience in the built environment across higher education, housing, health and local government. As Managing Director of Buxton Development Partnership Ltd, he has led major development, regeneration and housing programmes, combining strategic planning with a strong commitment to community-led outcomes. A co-founder of three housing associations, he has contributed to delivering over 35,000 homes across London and shaping long-term neighbourhood renewal strategies. Currently, he leads work on construction education and skills development in higher education, focusing on curriculum innovation and industry engagement. He is passionate about sustainability, inclusive education and strategic resource planning, and brings these focuses to his role in shaping the University’s infrastructure strategy and its engagement with local communities and industry.

James said: “It’s an honour to join the Court of Governors at the University of Westminster. I’m passionate about the role education plays in transforming lives and supporting the long-term development of people and communities. My experience has centred on creating inclusive opportunities through strong partnerships, helping individuals realise their potential and contribute meaningfully to the world around them. I believe education should empower people to shape their futures, strengthen their communities and find their voice. I’m proud to support the University’s mission and look forward to contributing to a learning environment where everyone can thrive.”

Westminster’s Court of Governors directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4: Quality Education and 10: Partnerships for the Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.

Learn more about the University of Westminster’s Court of Governors.