Hey. I’m Jordan Kenny, Policy and Projects Manager at the University of Roehampton and Vice-Chair of the Trustee Board at the SU Bath.

At Roehampton, I’m part of the senior team and oversee the development and delivery of our university strategy, implementation of policies and lead on elements of risk, communications, policy, public affairs, equality and diversity and the student experience. I also lead our relationship with the students’ union. Prior to this, I led on all major academic projects at Roehampton.

I’ve also worked for the Olympics and UK Sport in Zambia delivering sport for development and piece programmes and with the International University Sport Federation on the World University Games.

Between 2014 and 2016, I was the SU President at Bath. Which was arguably the best job in the world. Whilst President I secured funding for the Postgraduate Officer, launched our work around sexual violence against women and worked with the UK Government on hate crime policy and talked as much then as you do now. I had also been a FWEM, Chair of a Sport Club and the Sport Exec and managed the Paris Hitchhike.

Why did I want to get involved with The SU Bath

I’m incredibly passionate about the ability the SU Bath has to bring the student community together, to support them to achieve their best regardless of the background and to have a positive impact on the wider community. I wanted to get involved again because as a Trustee, your job is to support the organisation to reflect on what it is doing and work smarter in achieving its objectives and I believe I can help Bath do that.

The SU Bath has a wonderful group of staff and an ever outstanding network of student leaders to draw upon, and the opportunity to be a part of that was too good to pass over.

What I hope to achieve

I’d like our board to be move diverse and for the SU Bath to really work for every single student. I think that most students have an excellent experience, but that some really will not, and that we shouldn’t rest until that changes.

What I like to do outside of work

I’ve just bought a bike and I am very, very slowly chalking up the miles.

Find me onlineYou can find me on Linkedin

I am delighted to be a part of the trustee board at the SU. I have been the group chief executive of Selwood Housing, a local housing association, for the last 15 years. This has given me a wide-range of experience across all aspects of a business. Selwood is a charity, the same as the SU, so I also have a good understanding of the governance requirements of charities.

Before my current role my background was in finance. I am a qualified accountant and was the finance director of The Evening Standard and Metro newspapers so I bring that specialism to the board.

I also have previous experience as a trustee as I was previously a trustee of Julian House, the Bath based homelessness charity, for nine years, including being chair of the audit committee for some of that time. I am also now a trustee of Team Bath Athletics Club.

Why did I want to get involved with The SU Bath

I have great memories of my time at university (even if it was 30 years ago!) and I think the SU plays a vital role in supporting students to get the most out of their time at university. I hope that with my varied experience I will be able to contribute to the board of trustees and help support the work of the SU.

What I like to do outside of work

I spend most of my spare time with my wife and teenage daughter, we enjoy walking, films and trying a wide variety of food.

If I'm not with my family then you are most likely to find me training at the gym, I have recently competed in my first ever Olympic weightlifting competition. I am hoping to compete in the British and European Masters competitions next year.

I also look after an allotment but most of my crops end up feeding the local slugs, snails and birds rather than ending up in our kitchen!

I have the privilege to chair the SU Complaints and Disciplinary Appeals Committee and to work with Officers especially in the Arts and Community Liaison areas. I am a linguist , having studied at London and Heidelberg Universities. I began my career as a teacher at an Inner London Comprehensive school and went through the ranks to become the Modern Languages Inspector for Northamptonshire. Every job hugely challenging but also hugely rewarding with periods of time spent living in France and Germany.

A family move to Bath allowed me to take a teaching post at Bath University , first for German and then gradually for EFL – a world I absolutely love. This took me to Berlin , running the language programmes for a new aerospace collaboration between BMW and Rolls Royce based in the former East Germany. These were heady days and so exciting to be where economic and cultural growth was exploding all around me. My work also took me to Moscow State University and to Tomsk University in Siberia – unforgettable experiences. I will be forever grateful to my Russian colleagues for their warmth and friendship and for allowing me insights into very different cultures – a useful experience to transfer to my work with the SU.

Alongside all this – and being someone who can’t say No! – I got elected to B&NES Council where I represented a Bath ward for 16 years. I became Mayor of Bath and Chairman of the Council and was awarded the MBE by the Queen for "outstanding services to the city of Bath". I feel as though I have travelled a long road, always sustained by my beloved family – in 3 words : challenging, exciting, unpredictable. My advice to young people – calculate the risks but then be open to new adventures!

Why did I get involved with the SU?

I have a huge love for Bath University . I served on the Uni Council for 10 years and was awarded the Chancellor’s Medal for “ Outstanding service to the University of Bath “. I’m a life long member of Court. I seized the opportunity to be an Independent Trustee and continue to work with young people. This is my second term and I couldn’t be more impressed by the ability, the commitment and sheer joie de vivre of each of the SU Presidents and their Teams. It is an honour to support them in whatever way I can and a joy to see them develop a whole range of skills which will stand them in good stead for the rest of their lives.

What do I hope to achieve?

To be a sounding board and hopefully a wise and non judgemental friend and colleague especially in the delicate area of Complaints and Disciplinary Appeals. To share my experience and contacts in the world of Arts and the local community, hopefully in a useful and effective way.

 

My other interests

I’m a great believer in the healing power of gardens and green spaces and as a qualified garden designer, I usually design two gardens a year -- in 2020 it was a redesign for a disabled access garden and the second was a low maintenance garden for an 84 year old. The Arts – music, theatre, visual arts – are a life line and I was lucky to be a Trustee of the Holburne for 10 years and now of the Victoria Art Gallery as well as being Chair of a Bath Choir. I’m a passionate European and Chair the Bath – Aix Twinning Association.

I’m Matt- a third year PhD student studying single-enzyme motions by Whispering Gallery Mode biosensing, currently based in Exeter. I studied Biochemistry for my undergraduate degree here in Bath, where I graduated in 2020, and have continued with my studies in Bath alongside collaborations in Exeter. I have been involved heavily with the SU since starting university, having multiple roles in SU Sport, such as Chair of the Sports Executive Committee and Association Football and Futsal, respectfully.

Why did I want to get involved with The SU Bath
The SU has provides a fantastic opportunity for students to develop professional skills, be supported during their time at university, and provide resources for students to do new things and meet new people. It was and is central to much of my university life and it seems only fair to give back to an organisation that has allowed me to do so much!

What I hope to achieve
I hope to provide an additional perspective to the board of trustees as a postgraduate student, with the additional context of having also been an undergraduate student here in Bath. I hope to use my experience from my studies and multiple years of involvement in the SU to represent students as best I can and ensure the SU will fully recover from recent situations such as the covid-19 pandemic.

What I like to do outside of work
I am a keen sportsperson, taking part in cricket and football in my spare time for my local clubs. I also enjoy cycling into the countryside, walking my family dog (Ben), and watching movies in the evenings.

Find me online 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-houghton-01b35015a/

Webpage: https://physics-astronomy.exeter.ac.uk/staff/mh933?sm=mh933

I am a 3^rd Year studying Chemistry in Bath and I’m on placement this year, as a Data Scientist, in Loughborough. I have, previously, been an academic rep and peer mentor in my time at Bath and have really enjoyed my time here so far.

Outside of university, I am the Vice-Chair of the board for a local primary school and have been teaching & tutoring for the past few years.

Why did I want to get involved with The SU Bath

Having joined in 2020, I know what a key role the SU played in supporting the students both during and after the pandemic. As restrictions have lifted, there has been a huge effort to get clubs and societies up and running again. Through being a Trustee, I can support the vital work of the SU in offering the best possible services to students.

What I hope to achieve

I’d like to use my experiences throughout the education sector to be a ‘challenging friend’ within the Board and support the SU provide the best possible experiences to students. I am keen to use my data analysis skillset to make more robust decisions.

What I like to do outside of work

I enjoy heading out for walks and have been thoroughly enjoying exploring the area around Leicestershire whilst in Loughborough. I’m a big fan of mini-golf and love a bit of table tennis as well. I love cooking Indian food; anyone who knows me knows that I make a mean Saag Paneer. My goal this year is to explore the midlands and hopefully go travelling next summer.

Find me online

You can find me online via LinkedIn or on my website.