Dr Geoffrey Copland - President

Geoffrey has been the Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the University of Westminster since 1996. He studied Physics at Oxford University and has a doctorate in Solid State Physics. Two years as a post-doctoral researcher at Yale University in the USA were followed by eleven years researching and lecturing in physics at Queen Mary College and Queen Elizabeth College, both of the University of London. For six years from 1981, Dr Copland was Dean of Studies at Goldsmiths’ College. In 1987 he was appointed as Deputy Rector at the University of Westminster (then known as the Polytechnic of Central London). Dr Copland’s current affiliations include being Vice-President of UUK, Chairman of UCEA and a trustee of the Council for Industry and Higher Education (CIHE).

Dr John Wilson - University of Central Lancashire - Chairman (jjwilson@uclan.ac.uk)

In 1988 John became a lecturer at Lancashire Polytechnic – now the University of Central Lancashire, in Preston. He first became involved with ASET in the early 1990s, through the UCSC committee [Universities’ Committee for Sandwich Courses] and in due course became Chair of that group. During this period he was instrumental in editing and helping to launch the ASET Code of Good Practice on the operation of Sandwich Placements [2001]. John is deeply involved in all aspects not only of sandwich placement but of work-related learning in general, and in 2000 was invited by CIHE [Council for Industry and Higher Education] to contribute to the work of a DfES-commissioned group, preparing a report which ultimately surfaced in February 2002 as the “Work Related Learning Report” .

Eur-Ing David Tattersall - Institution of Civil Engineers - Secretary

David is a Chartered Engineer and Regional Manager for the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) in the Yorkshire and Humber Region. He practised as a civil engineer, mostly working for a consulting engineer, until he accepted the post of Senior Lecturer/Training Officer at Nottingham Polytechnic (now Nottingham Trent) in 1991. In this capacity, he was responsible for overseeing over 100 placements a year and it was then that he first participated in ASET events and conferences. He became a member of the Executive and steered the restructuring of ASET before becoming its Secretary in 2002. He joined ICE (as an employee) in 1997.

Mr Mike Canter - Anglia Ruskin University - Treasurer

Mike is a Principal Lecturer in Department of the Built Environment in the Faculty of Science and Technology at Anglia Ruskin University. He first became involved with ASET in the mid 1990s and took over as its Treasurer in 2002.

Ms Carrie de Silva - Harper Adams University College

Carrie de Silva lectures in law and taxation at Harper Adams University College, having spent a number of years as a tax practitioner with Arthur Andersen & Co. and in industry. She is a member of the Association of Law Teachers, the Animal and Equine Lawyers Association, the Agricultural History Society and is on the Taxation Committee of the Agricultural Law Association and the Executive Board of ASET (Association for Sandwich Education and Training). She has a particular interest in equine law, occupiers' liability and health and safety in equine, agricultural and forestry contexts, farm diversification and business start-up. Carrie is also on the Governing Board of Reaseheath College in Nantwich, Cheshire.

Ms Sarah Flynn - University of Hertfordshire - Chair of Conferences and Staff Development sub group

Sarah works as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire in the Learning & Teaching Institute's curriculum design team. Her primary role is to support the academic staff of the institutions to develop curricula that includes both work based learning and employability for all undergraduate students. Sarah also teaches on the PgCert / PgDip / MA in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. She has experience of working on Foundation Degree programme including compulsory placements, work based learning projects, career management skills and employability modules. Prior to joining the University of Hertfordshire she worked in the Employability Unit at London Metropolitan University which supported students on STEP, summer placements and sandwich years.  She is a long standing member of the ASET Executive and currently chairs the Staff Development sub group which organises the Annual Conference and staff development workshops throughout the year.

Ms Sandra Griffiths - University of Bath

I am the European Placements Coordinator for the ‘International Management & Modern Languages’ Degree at the University of Bath where I have been employed part-time, since 1996. My background is in languages, education and commerce in the U.K. and France. Before joining Bath, I taught languages for fifteen years in state comprehensives and in Further Education institutions (including prisons). For six years I was a Head of Modern Languages in a local comprehensive before resigning to spend more time with my family. I obtained a Masters Degree in 1996 from Bath in ‘Politics & Culture of Contemporary Europe’. I regard myself as being fortunate to work for a University that has always had close links with industry and where a majority of its courses have a compulsory placement.

Mr Philip Houston - University of Ulster

Philip has a total of thirty years experience in industry and academia, including management experience spanning the industrial sectors of manufacturing, wholesale/distribution and retail. Philip has an academic research profile in computer science and experience of managing collaborative research projects between industrial organisations and partner universities. He has been responsible for placement policy and operation in both large industrial organisations and at university faculty level and is currently co-ordinating a project aimed at promoting work-based learning with SMEs at University of Ulster.

Ms Amanda Monteiro - London South Bank University

Amanda works at London South Bank University in the Centre for Learning Support and Development as the Placements and Work Experience Manager. Her role is to promote the placement service to students, academics and employers, as well as developing and promoting a wide range of employability initiatives to increase employment and placement opportunities.

Ms Angela Peers - Manchester Metropolitan University

Angela is a Principal Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University, Department of Clothing Design and Technology. As a member of the Faculty Senior Management Group she heads the International Fashion Business and Technology Centre which is also the Centre for placement learning. Angela is Chair of the MMU Placement Learning Group, Chair of the Faculty Academic Enterprise Committee, and a member of the University Academic Board, Learning and Teaching Committee and the Academic Enterprise Committee. Externally Angela is a member of the Executive Committee of the ASET, Chair of the International Apparel Federation Education Committee, Vice Chair of the Textile Institute Design Interest Group.

Miss Tamsin Pyne - University of Plymouth

Tamsin has been developing placement practices for one of the four University of Plymouth Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) since June 2005. Tamsin develops good practices for subject areas seeking to increase existing or create new Work-Based Learning provision. Tamsin was an ASET conference virgin last year but gained so much from the experience she wanted to become more closely involved with ASET on a regular basis, so joined the Executive Committee in November 2005.

Mr Tony Waite - Brunel University

Tony is a Work Placement Officer at Brunel University with responsibility for placing students on sandwich courses in Design Engineering, Multimedia Technology & Design and Biosciences. Within Biosciences he is involved in the Professional Skills Module which promotes work placements to all students and with that Department has developed the 'Diploma in Professional Development' as a separate award for those students who follow the sandwich course option. He also co-ordinates course-related vacation placements for full-time students in Biosciences and Sport Sciences. Tony has been a member of ASET for 20 years and involved in a number of sub groups.

Dr Ray Wallace - Nottingham Trent University

Ray Wallace is Professional Placements Manager for the School of Biomedical & Natural Sciences at Nottingham Trent University. His interests range widely from good practice in industrial work placements, presentation skills through to icebreakers to enhance networking! In 1999 he was honoured by the Royal Society of Chemistry Education Division by the presentation of their Higher Education Teaching Award for, 'establishing the Diploma in Industrial Studies which gives formal recognition to the value of a period of sandwich training in industry and for subsequently promoting, at national level, the benefits of this aspect of learning.'

Mrs Colette White - Sheffield Hallam University

Senior Lecturer and Placement Coordinator at Sheffield Hallam University. I have been a member of ASET and involved in placement, in particular European placements, for 20 years. I have an input in French, Career Management and Work-Based Learning modules and I was also recently appointed International Student Support Officer. I have taken part in 2 European projects linked with learning from work and preparing students for the world of work in Europe: European Career Orientation Online module and Virtual Xchange. I have also been involved in some of the work which led to Sheffield Hallam University becoming a CETL in Employability.

Miss Rebecca Evans - University of Leeds

Rebecca has worked as a Work Placement Project Officer at the University of Leeds Careers Centre since October 2005. Her role is to promote and support work placement and work experience activity across the University. This involves supporting academic colleagues with the preparation and debriefing of placement students, working with students both one to one and in groups and working closely with employers who wish to develop their placement offerings. Over the past few years she has also been involved in managing the delivery of Shell Step and the Social Science Workplace Experience programme across North and West Yorkshire and the development of internal work experience programmes for undergraduates and graduates of the University of Leeds. Within the ASET Executive, Rebecca is a member of the Staff Development sub group which organises the Annual Conference and staff development workshops throughout the year.

Mrs Debbie Siva-Jothy - Company Administrator

Debbie runs the ASET office and manages the organisation's operations. She started working for ASET in 2009 having previously worked in recruitment.