Trustees

“Trustees have and must accept ultimate responsibility for directing the affairs of a charity, and ensuring it is solvent, well-run, and delivering the charitable outcomes for the benefit of the public for which it has been set up.” – Charity Commission

In short, the Board of Trustees accept ultimate liability for the affairs and the operations of Christ Church Students’ Union and, as such, must ensure that their level of influence and control is appropriate and sufficient to ensure that this duty is discharged. The Board is made up of 4 different types of Trustee:

Sabbatical Trustee – the three full-time elected officers.
Student Trustee – up to six volunteer student trustees.
Community Trustee – up to six trustees who have been selected by the Union to sit on the Board due to their skills, experience and knowledge.
University Trustee – a trustee recommended to the Union by the University to sit on the Board.

Ali Ghega, Students' Union President - Sabbatical Trustee

Ali Ghega is an international student and leader at Canterbury Christ Church University. He is on a break from his Business Management degree to serve as Union President. With experience in both the UK and Pakistan, he brings a global perspective to his role. Ali is dedicated to supporting student voices and creating a more inclusive community. Ali is focused on improving student well-being, ensuring a safe environment around campus, and enhancing safety during late nights. With a background in leadership and a strong connection to the student community, he brings a diverse perspective and a commitment to making CCCU a welcoming place for all.

Molly Davies, President (Student Life) - Sabbatical Trustee and Chair

Molly is the newly elected President of Student Life for 2024/25. Molly has been at CCCU since 2021 and has now completed her BSc Psychology undergraduate. During her time at CCCU, Molly was a part of the Christ Church Lions and became President of the Netball Club in 2023/24. Molly is super passionate about sports and recognises the importance of sports clubs and societies at CCCU. Molly is looking to run campaigns throughout this next year that are shaped to help students directly. Molly is particularly interested in focusing on wellbeing and student engagement in sports and societies.

Sadia Haleema, President (Academic Life) - Sabbatical Trustee

Sadia Haleema is originally from Lahore Pakistan. She has been at CCCU Since 2023 and has now completed her MSC International business postgraduate. Passionate about bridging the gap between education and employment, Sadia is dedicated to empowering students for academic and career success. She aims to enhance academic societies, linking them directly to employability. A strong student advocate, Sadia is committed to listening to concerns, amplifying student voices, and addressing academic needs. Her key priorities include employability campaigns, promoting academic society engagement, and fostering greater academic engagement. She is also focused on preparing students for life after university.

Kirsty McDonnell - Student Trustee

Kirsty is currently studying for her Master’s degree in Media and Communications, after having attained a first in her undergraduate degree at Canterbury Christ Church University, that she began studying for in 2021.

She has gained enriched industry experience throughout her time studying at the University, including working as a Student Ambassador, completing a placement with the internal and external communications teams at Havering Council, and working with a local home care franchise, Home Instead, as a Networking and Community Engagement Officer to reach more referrals and clientele.

This year, she has undertaken the CCCU Business Society President role. This new society originally began in 2023 and strives to support all in their personal and academic goals.

Rudra Banerjee - Student Trustee

Rudra P Banerjee is an ambitious MBA International Business student originally from Kolkata, India. Currently serving as an International Student Ambassador and Course Representative, Rudra actively supports the University’s diverse student community, promoting inclusivity and engagement. He was also the University Representative of International Student Christmas Conference at Cumberland Lodge 2024. Rudra plays a key role in fostering effective communication between students and faculty. Passionate about creating meaningful impact, he aims to leverage his MBA education and professional skills to drive innovation and growth in global business landscapes.

Samuel Newman - Student Trustee

Samuel is a driven International Relations student with a passion for diplomacy and global governance. Having completed a year abroad in Germany, he broadened his cultural and academic horizons, furthering his interest in international cooperation. Samuel is deeply involved in university life, serving as an International Student Ambassador, Careers & Enterprise Ambassador, and Student Trustee. In these roles, he supports students with their academic and professional development, whilst promoting global mobility and employability opportunities. He recently attended the Transatlantic Formal 2025 in Brussels with Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP), where he expanded his network with diplomatic representatives. With aspirations to pursue a career in diplomacy, Samuel is committed to fostering positive change through international engagement and public service.

Simran Thapa - Student Trustee

Simran is a current student undertaking a Human Resource Management degree. She started with a foundation year in September 2022, and the very same year joined the Union Council as the Student Representative for the faculty of Science, Engineering & Social Sciences.

Being an international student, Simran has actively raised voices on behalf of other international students to support their student experience. Simran has also worked as Student Ambassador, Content Creator within the University, and was also awarded with Student Representative of the year: Change Maker Champion 2023. Simran also volunteers as the Peer Mentor to provide support to new students as much as she can.

Simran aims to bring all her international friends together in one singular platform so that it would be easy to understand them and navigate change for the betterment of the International Students' experience alongside promoting the sense of belonging in global communities."

Joe Cooper - Community Trustee

Joe Cooper

Joe Cooper is the Deputy Director (HR and Service Transformation) at Imperial College London. He was previously Managing Director of Imperial College Union and worked in the Students Union sector for 15 years, in a number of elected and appointed roles. He has also undertaken a number of voluntary roles, including as a Trustee of a local mental health charity and community centre, and as a founding Director of Canterbury Youth and Student Media Limited.

Joe originally studied Film, Radio and Television at Canterbury Christ Church University and served as its Students’ Union President in 2001/02. Joe lives in Canterbury with his wife Caroline and two daughters, Annabelle and Emmeline.

Michael Wigg - Community Trustee and Deputy Chair

Michael is the current CEO at the University of Westminster Students’ Union and has worked in the Students’ Union sector for over 16 years in a variety of different Unions alongside working on a national level through the National Union Of Students (NUS). He is an alumnus of Canterbury Christ Church University having studied Sports Science and Geography and was Vice President Welfare and Education of the Students’ Union for two years from 2004 to 2006. Michael has a particular interest in developing student communities, leadership development and the development and the implementation of digital engagement strategies. Michael helped develop the current governance code for Students’ Union boards which has been adapted from the National Charity Governance Code developed by a cross-sector collaboration project.

Graham Briscoe - Community Trustee

Graham is a Chartered Engineer, a Chartered Information Technology Professional, a Certified Management Consultant, a Fellow of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management and the Institute of Administrative Management, and a medallist of the World Productivity Congress.

Following an Industrial Engineering apprenticeship in the Midlands he began his initial career in Work Study and Organisation & Methods. He has worked in many management services roles throughout his thirty-five year career with Royal Sun Alliance in Bristol, London, Horsham, and Liverpool, along with positions in the USA, Mexico and South Africa, encompassing many roles – project and change management, information technology, quality and customer service management, HR and Talent Management, facilities management, continuous improvement, transformational change, due diligence and office relocations associated with company mergers and acquisitions.

Since retirement he has built up a portfolio of University, Further Education, Multi Academy Trusts and Awarding Body governance roles along with NED and Trustee roles with Housing Associations, University Students' Unions and various Charities. Graham also covers Change Management and Facilities Management pro-bono support to Charity, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations in South-West England and South-East Wales.

Hannah Sketchley - Community Trustee

Sketch leads Public Affairs work and manages national campaigns for the National Union of Students UK. She has spent her career in students' unions, finding her way from student media through to sabbatical officer at SU UCL, running residential access projects at Cambridge SU, and entering NUS as a Policy Officer in 2017. She's particularly interested in how we share power across campuses - and within students' unions - and democratic education. She studied German Studies & Eastern European History at UCL, and spent a year in Berlin working in a primary school.

Tom Wren-Lowry - Community Trustee

Bio coming soon!

Raymond Shuai - Community Trustee

Raymond is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of experience in financial leadership, strategic planning, and corporate governance, having worked with both multinational firms and startups in London and Hong Kong. After returning to the UK in 2023, he now leads a CFO advisory practice specialising in supporting fast-growing technology businesses.

He lives in Canterbury with his wife Amy, their three children, and a golden retriever. Outside of work, Raymond enjoys exploring the Kent countryside with his family and is passionate about engaging with the local community and its initiatives.

Professor Niamh Downing, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education & Student Experience) - University Trustee