Executive Team

Professor Nollent is The University of Law’s Vice-Chancellor & CEO, a position that she has held since 2016.

Andrea began her academic career at Sheffield Hallam University, where she rose rapidly to become Head of the Law School and then Assistant Dean of Faculty leading a wide range of professionally accredited academic schools. She then went on to become the Dean of Nottingham Law School at Nottingham Trent University, one of the largest full service law schools in Europe. She is Visiting Professor at the University of Paris Est.

Andrea’s career has focused on the development of innovative academic and professional courses, securing sustainable growth and expansion of the portfolio whilst consistently enhancing the experience and outcomes for students and client firms. She has extensive international experience of developing collaborative degree programmes and professional training across a range of jurisdictions.

Andrea has published widely in the fields of comparative legal education and the internationalisation of higher education policy, attracting extensive research funding for her work.

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Having read Philosophy as an undergraduate, Peter switched to law qualifying as a Barrister at the Chancery Bar specialising in property and land law. Peter began his career in legal education at BPP Law School in 1997 as a lecturer on the Graduate Diploma in Law and Bar programmes. He served as Dean and CEO of BPP Law School from 2003 to 2017 and was a co-founder of BPP University.

Peter is non-executive Chairman of the Support Through Court, a major legal charity which supports litigants in person through the civil and family courts.

Having started her career as a solicitor working in local government and private practice, Joanna joined the College of Law in York in 1989 as a lecturer specialising in civil litigation, employment and public law. She joined the York management team in 2002, becoming Deputy Director Academic, with particular responsibility for the delivery of the Graduate Diploma in Law programme at the Centre. She was also instrumental in the innovative design and delivery of the online programme.

Since then Joanna has managed a number of key programme development initiatives, including development of the LLB. Appointed as Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic Development in November 2018, Joanna now has responsibility for the overall development of our undergraduate and postgraduate academic and professional programmes.

After reading Economics at Queen’s University of Belfast and having gained blue-chip commercial and operational experience, Adelbert specialised in finance, qualifying as an ACCA accountant.

Adelbert brings a wealth of financial leadership experience from both educational and commercial sectors internationally. He has managed complex structures and highly performing finance teams in rapid change settings. His focus is on driving sustainable top and bottom line growth, through the provision of stable financial controls, highly engaged teams, insightful analysis and effective board-partnerships.

Stephen has held senior strategic leadership roles within higher education, with extensive experience in organisational change and service design. He has successfully led the implementation of student systems, authoring and presenting on the subject.

Alongside these roles he has been actively involved with the Academic Registrars' Council, serving on its national Executive for over five years. He also worked closely with UCAS, influencing national policy and has served as a member of the UCAS Council for three years. Additionally, he is an external reviewer for Aberystwyth University's senate examination boards.

Stephen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theology and a Master of Business Administration degree. As Registrar he leads academic administration within the University.

Patrick has responsibility to develop and embed EDI strategy at the University, ensuring that the EDI agenda is inherently considered and factors in everything that we do.

Previously, Patrick was Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Manchester for over 13 years. During this period, he was a member of numerous national committees in relation to diversity and inclusion. He is currently a commissioner with the Disabled Students’ Commission (DSC) and is Deputy Chair of the Equality and Diversity Advisory Panel for Research England’s Research Excellence Framework 2021.

Patrick also has over 16 years’ experience in the field of careers information, advice and guidance. This role included working with major graduate employers to develop ‘Positive Action’ initiatives such as mentoring and internships targeted at underrepresented groups, to help increase their employability.

Katy joined the College of Law in 2012, initially supporting a number of our Northern campuses in an operational HR Business Partner role. Since then she has been promoted into increasingly strategic and senior positions, including Head of Talent and Employee Relations and HR Director; in 2022 she joined the Executive Board as Chief People Officer (CPO).

As CPO, Katy has a team of over 20 people in the UK and a linked HR service in GUS Education India. Her focus within the Executive will be to advise on and ensure the alignment of our people strategy with the University’s 5 year plan, including people services, reward, benefits, recruitment, development and systems.

Katy has previously held HR positions in legal practice and the Department for Education.

Joining The College of Law in 1997 Lesley’s first role was that of Head of Operational Services for the London Bloomsbury Centre. Appointed Centre Director in 2012 she has been an integral member of the University’s senior management team throughout the transition from charitable status to privately owned University. Appointed Chief Operating Officer in July 2016, Lesley now assumes responsibility for the delivery of the University’s operational services.

Lesley has previous management experience in The University (NLS) and Law Firm (Jones Day) sectors.