Council profiles

Philip Stott – Chair

Philip has a long history of administration and teaching in Tertiary education, having been both a Head of Department and a Dean at SOAS (University of London). He is a passionate supporter of the ethos of U3AC, and presents lectures to adult education organisations and societies more widely. He has particular interests in classical music and natural history (Gilbert White, Darwin, and Henslow), and is married with two grown-up daughters.

Michael Gibbs – Vice Chair

Graduate of “the other place” I have lived in Cambridge for the past 30 years following 15 years in the energy industry in Europe and Latin America (fluent in French and Spanish), before migrating to consulting. I initially joined the U3AC Africa Forum due to my interest in the continent from African parents and have been a member of the Council since 2021. I lead the Strategic Review Sustainability work stream, am on the Finance committee, edit the zoom lecture recordings, and have recently run a course on genealogy.

Kevin Holmes – Treasurer

Kevin has lived and worked in a variety of industries and countries with roles in France, Belgium and Singapore.He has been a member of U3AC since 2017 and continues to enjoy the wide range of courses and activities on offer. He has been on the Council since 2022 and is currently the treasurer of the Council.

Secretary – Vacant

Susan Honeyford – Director of Studies (Courses)

I have been a member of U3AC for over 10 years, either as an ‘ordinary’ member, as a volunteer, or as member of Council and as Chair. In fact, I’m a second generation U3AC member: my mother (now deceased) was a member for many years.
When I joined U3AC I volunteered – very tentatively – to help with reception. The ink was hardly dry on my email – as it were – before Gemma had signed me up.
I was elected to Council in 2016 and worked on the Courses Committee and as Vice Chair.
I was Chair from 2019 -2021; the Covid period.
Before I retired, I worked for the WEA Eastern Region organising adult learning in Cambridgeshire. I also worked on digital inclusion projects across the East of England. I have a background in television research and production and in audience and market research.
In my view the job of the Director of Studies (Courses) together with Courses Committee members and office staff, is to ensure, that there is a wide range of excellent courses for members to enjoy and that our volunteer member tutors are encouraged and supported to provide those courses.

Suzan Griffiths – Joint Director of Studies (Lectures)

I first joined U3AC in 2010, when I left full-time work as St Catharine’s College Librarian, and I was a founder member of the Camsail Group that year. In subsequent years, I undertook various short-term projects and maternity-leave cover in College, Department, and Faculty Libraries, and l let my membership lapse for a while. During lockdown, however, Alastair Breward, the then Director of Studies (Lectures), approached me to become a Zoom Moderator for the Wednesday Lecture Series, and I have shared this role with Nicholas Russell ever since. I also attend a number of U3AC courses.

Nicholas Russell – Joint Director of Studies (Lectures)

I first became aware of the U3AC in 1989 when I was the printer for the U3AC Programme, a booklet of 32 pages, A5 size; compare this to what we have now!  I started as a member of the ‘Walking for Pleasure’ group, and, with others, took over the running of the group. I was a member of Chris Holt’s current affairs group, and, as the demand for such groups increased, found myself chairing a new hybrid current affairs group. I also attend various other U3AC classes. In addition, I have been a regular helper at U3AC’s Open Days, and act as a Zoom Moderator for the Wednesday Lecture Programme.

Patricia Fara

I am an Emeritus Fellow of Clare College, where I was Senior Tutor for ten years; in that role, I chaired and served on many committees at both College and University levels. I am currently the President of the Antiquarian Horological Society, and was previously the Chair of the British Society for the History of Science. As an academic historian of science, I have many years experience of lecturing, writing popular books, and interviewing for TV/radio. By becoming a Trustee, I hope I can contribute to maintaining current excellence as well as enhancing what the organisation offers its members.

Jonathan Gillis

Although relatively new to U3AC in Cambridge, I have been a member of the U3A in Australia and I am currently involved, to my great interest and delight, in several courses in U3AC in Cambridge. My professional career, prior to retirement in Cambridge, was primarily as a paediatric intensive care physician and I was the Director of the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit in Sydney for many years. I also practised as a paediatric palliative care physician. Following my clinical career, I served for several years as National Medical Director of the Australian Organ and Tissue Authority. I believe that I can draw upon these developed governance and organisational skills to make a contribution to the growth and development of U3A Cambridge.

Rachel Meller

I came to Cambridge in 1974, to do research on hormones and behaviour. I then joined a communication consultancy, writing training materials,for pharmaceutical companies and other businesses. On retiring in 2015, I joined the U3AC, starting with a course on creative writing. In 2019 I helped run Focus Groups on members’ opinions of U3AC communication channels. My first book (a family memoir) was published in 2023, on which I gave a Wednesday Lecture. I really enjoy U3AC ballet classes, proving it’s never too late to learn something new! proving it’s never to late to gain new skills! My belief in the U3AC’s ability to help its members make new friendships as well as learn something new has led me to focus as a Trustee on the social benefits of joining the organisation.

Jeremy Newton

After studying French and German at St John’s College, Cambridge, I trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant. I then developed a career in the arts and higher education, serving as National Lottery Director at Arts Council England and Chief Executive of NESTA, and then as Principal & Managing Director at RADA and Vice Principal at Guildhall School of Music & Drama. I have been an active U3AC member for the past 3 years. I have served as a non-executive director with several organisations and, within Cambridge University, was a Teaching Fellow at Judge Business School over a ten year period and am currently a member of the Finance & Investment Board at Lucy Cavendish College.

Tony Pooley

I have been a member of U3AC since August 2024. I completed the course Climate Change – What to Think and What to Do just before Christmas and I am currently also participating in two other courses, The Thinking Life: An introduction to Philosophy (now in its second term) and Magical Thinking (which has only just started). I have joined the Wednesday Lunch club and attended several one-off lectures.

At the end of February 2020, I retired from a career in banking that had spanned over 45 years and during which I held senior positions at four international and British banks. I spent the latter part of my career at one of the UK’s oldest private banks, R Raphael & Sons, where I was an Executive Board Director and a member of various committees. During this time, I specialised in Governance, Risk and Compliance and held several FCA and PRA Controlled Functions under the Senior Management & Certification Regime (SMCR). This included responsibility for all aspects of the bank’s compliance with a burgeoning regulatory environment.

I have a proven track record of being able to think strategically and of implementing practical operational changes to adapt to external threats to a business and/or take advantage of potential opportunities to expand in existing markets or move into new business areas. In my last banking role, I was the Chair of a Committee established to introduce major changes to the risk management structure of a key operating division. In this capacity I championed the introduction of a range of risk management tools, including Key Performance Indicator and Key Risk Indicator dashboards, and I was the lead author of several new policies and associated operating procedures.

I was a trustee and Company Secretary of Uttlesford Citizens Advice Bureau (UCA) for three years until October 2024. In terms of income, UCA is a similar sized charity to U3AC, although of course operationally the two are quite different. During my time at UCA I introduced various initiatives aimed at strengthening the charity’s governance and actively took part in developing its medium term strategy. I was also the principal contact between UCA and the Charity Commission. Should I be elected as a trustee of U3AC I will therefore bring not only the experience I have from my career in banking, but also recent and directly relevant experience of the issues involved in running a charity.

Since the start of 2022 I have also been treasurer of a small charity called Sophie’s Fund Uttlesford. I have a degree in Economics and Sociology. I enjoy going to the gym, reading, gardening, eating out and going to the theatre. I am married with three grown-up children.

Sue Rhodes

The U3AC is a very well-run organisation, highly valued by the Cambridge community and it would be a privilege to be more involved as a Trustee and help in any way I can. We became members in 2017. We both very much enjoyed the Thursday walking group which was an ideal way to meet other members. Since then, I have belonged to a Book Group continuously and have recently become joint Tutor for Book Group 1. I have thoroughly enjoyed various courses over the years ranging from Cryptic Crosswords, Biographies, English Literature and Art History.

This year I joined the Memoir Writing Class, Barbara Pym literature and a Short stories study group. I have enjoyed a varied career which included secretarial work, teaching in Further Education and, eventually, joined Cambridge University in the Research Services Division. During my time there, I studied for an Art History degree with the Open University, before working for ten years at The Fitzwilliam Museum as their Development Officer. What an exciting time I enjoyed there!

That role involved working as Clerk for the Fitzwilliam Trust, their fundraising arm, so I became familiar with the workings of the Charity Commission. For the last 10 years I have also been a Trustee for a family charity supporting vulnerable children in Tanzania, which is also a UK Registered Charity.

Mark Sanderson

Mark was a GP in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, for 17 years and has 12 years’ experience as a NHS Medical Director. He was Medical Director for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group until January 2020. He is currently a non-executive director of North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, and a trustee of their charity. He has been a school governor and trained GPs when he was a GP. Mark joined U3AC in September 2022.

Jane Williams

I joined U3AC in 2023 and my experience of its programme and facilities has been entirely positive. This year I am enjoying dance, drawing, a book group and the weekly recitals at West Road. My professional background is in Further and Adult Education where I was a teacher and later the Principal of a large Further Education College in the Midlands. Subsequently I was the Director of Teaching and Learning in Whitehall and eventually ran my own business as a consultant on Governance and Standards in Further and Adult Education.

I have served as a volunteer on a number of boards of Third Sector organisations and as Vice Chair of a large FE College. I have also been a patient reviewer and quality committee chair for an NHS quality improvement service. Currently I am a volunteer telephone befriender for a Carers Trust and the Vice Chair of a Conservatoire Association which raises money for disadvantaged music students. My leisure interests include painting, music, reading, walking and travel so the U3AC offer is a great match for my enthusiasms. It would be a privilege to contribute my experience of trusteeship to this fine organisation.