How we work

Our democratic structures

Students' Unions are all about being student led. There are a few key ways that we ensure that this is how we work:

Our Trustee Board

Trustees are essential to the organisational wellbeing and effectiveness of JMSU. Trustees have the ultimate legal responsibility for keeping the organisation focused on its purpose and directing the strategy via the CEO. They provide key support and mentoring to Elected Student Officers and Student Trustees and support for JMSU Staff where appropriate. They also have financial oversight, are responsible for resources, and are expected to ensure the organisation stays within the law as well as maximising the relationship with the University for the benefit of the Charity and its beneficiaries. 

We are an organisation that employs around 50 individuals in a variety of roles, with a turnover of around c.£2.5m. Trustees ensure that the organisation is operating properly and in the best interest of students and meets between four to six times a year.

Responsibility for day-to-day operations are delegated to the Students’ Union Chief Executive Officer and staff team.

The Board is serviced by Paul Chapman, Chief Executive Officer, and you can find out more about or contact the Board by emailing studentsunion@ljmu.ac.uk

Our Trustees

Daniel [Brenin] Firsht - President and Chair of Trustee Board

As Chair of the Board, Brenin heads each meeting and goes through the agenda facilitating the discussions at the meetings as well as helping to decide what needs to be discussed at each meeting. Brenin ensures that the decisions we make are in the best interests of all students, and considers how they will impact on all the different types of students here at LJMU.  

Lottie Tudge - Elected Officer Trustee and Vice President Activities

Seren Hutchinson- Elected Officer Trustee and Vice President Education

Alexandria Jones - Elected Officer Trustee and Vice President Community & Wellbeing

The Elected Sabbatical Trustees are supported by a number of Student and Community (External) Trustees:

Joeb Hasty-Fowler - Student Trustee

Sophie Platt - Student Trustee 

Heather Akehurst - External Trustee

Kofi Ohene-Djan - External Trustee

Mark Humphreys - External Trustee and Vice-Chair of the Trustee Board

If you are interested in finding out more about governance and the role of trustees then there is lots of information on the following websites:

Charity Commission

NCVO

Our policies

Consitution & Byelaws

Union Wide:

Opportunities & Development: