Dr Richard Ward, Hon LLD (Chemistry, 1979; PhD Chemistry, 1983; Hon LLD, 2009)
Chief Executive Officer, Lloyd’s
ANG Role: Chair

Richard brings his considerable expertise and knowledge of the business world (and of Exeter, from which he has received three degrees) to help the University provide the best student experience and highest-quality research.

I have been CEO of Lloyd’s – the world’s leading specialist insurance market - since 2006. Lloyd’s provides insurance services to businesses in over 200 countries and territories across the globe. In 2009, as a member of the Insurance Industry Working Group chaired by UK Chancellor Alistair Darling, I contributed to the report looking at the future of the sector. Read full profile...

Sarah Turvill (Law, 1975)
Chairman, Willis International
ANG Role: Chair of Council

Sarah has been a generous host for several of our events, as well as serving on the Alumni Network Group in support of alumni activities in general. We are delighted that Sarah will now be leading the University’s overall strategic direction as Chair of Council.

In 2006 I became Chairman of Willis International, where I’m responsible for the Willis Group’s 44 subsidiary companies worldwide. I’m also a member of the Willis Group’s Executive Committee, the senior management team setting and executing Willis’ global strategy.

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Nicholas Bull (Chemistry, 1973)
Chairman, De Vere Group
ANG Role: Council Member

Nicholas’s commitment to the University is unparalleled. We could not have achieved success in our recent campaign without his strong leadership.

I am chairman of hotel Group, De Vere; a director of investment trust, Fidelity China Special Situations; chairman of the Advisory Board of City stockbroker, Westhouse Securities and a trustee of the Design Museum and of the Conran Foundation. After graduation I qualified as a chartered accountant and then spent 30 years in banking, working in London, Sydney, Singapore and Hong Kong.  Read full profile...

Lucy Studholme (nee Deans-Chrystall) (English with American and Commonwealth Arts, 1985)
ANG Role: Alumnae Group

Lucy has provided strategic advice to the University for many years, not least as a member of Council. She is a passionate advocate and supporter of the University, with a special interest in developing strong and effective alumni relations, and the Arts and Culture offer.

I greatly enjoy my involvement with the University. From 1995-2009, I was a Trustee of the University of Exeter Foundation. I served on the University’s Bill Douglas Centre Advisory Board and was a Privy Council member of the University Court for over 16 years. I have served on the University’s Council from 2006-2012. Read full profile...

Ben Norris (Psychology, 1999)
Assistant Director, Numeritas Ltd
ANG Role: Life and Environmental Sciences

Ben’s help advising the College of Life and Environmental Sciences has been instrumental in inspiring cross-discipline involvement with alumni.

I joined the Alumni Network Group in 2008 with responsibility for recent alumni activity, helping to establish Exetra – the University’s group for recent alumni. I am now co-lead for Life and Environmental Sciences, with fellow alumnus Jon O’Sullivan.

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Galib Virani (MA Finance and Investment, 1996)
Associate Director, Afren plc
ANG Role: Business School

Galib’s thoughtful advice and counsel have helped the Business School Alumni Association grow and flourish since its inception in 2008.

Upon leaving Exeter I pursued a career in the City of London in Corporate Finance and Mergers & Acquisitions. In 2005 I joined the founding team at Afren plc, now a leading FTSE 250 independent oil exploration and production company with a portfolio currently spanning 12 countries across Africa and the Middle East.

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Jeremy Budd (Geography, 1985)
Vice-President, IBM UK & Ireland
ANG Role: Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences

Jeremy’s understanding of the University as a whole, as a result of his links with numerous departments and projects both personally and for IBM, allows him to give advice which addresses the complex issues faced by the University today.

I joined IBM in 1985 as a graduate hire and pursued a sales career focusing on IBM’s newly established Services division before leading the management of the IT Services business in 1998 across UK, Ireland and Africa. I have been Vice-President, IBM UK & Ireland since 2009. Read full profile...

Melody Dougan (History, 1958)
Retired from career in state education- teaching; education administration; education consultancy; school governance.
ANG Role:

Melody’s lifelong commitment to the University is a remarkable example of the ways in which alumni can remain involved with their University.

Having had, through my professional career, an unusually wide experience of education, through teaching (Senior Teacher), education administration (LEA Senior Education Officer), education consultancy and school governance, I have a deep commitmentto all aspects of education.

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Dr John Allwood (Economics & Statistics, 1973; Hon LLD, 2005)
Non-Exec Director, Talk Talk & Carphone Warehouse, Trustee, The Pepper Foundation. Member, University of Exeter Council
ANG Role: Council Member

John brings his considerable expertise in the business world to help the University and our alumni programme remain strategic and focussed.

Having trained as a chartered accountant, I spent eleven years at News International , and after a couple of years at Microtel, the forerunner of Orange, joined the Mirror Group in 1992 as Finance Director.

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Dr Stephen Edge, Hon LLD (Law, 1972; Hon LLD, 2012)
Corporate Tax Partner – Slaughter and May
ANG Role: College of Social Sciences and International Studies

Steve’s unstinting commitment to Exeter over the years has been fantastic. He naturally takes an interest in the School of Law, and also provides a keen strategic view of the University’s activities overall.

I joined Slaughter and May in 1973. After qualifying as a solicitor I pursued a career in corporate tax and have been a partner in the firm since 1982.

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Kasia (Katerina) Giannini (History with European Studies, 2007)
Assistant Brand Manager, Unilever PLC
ANG Role: Recent alumni ()

Kasia brings a fresh perspective to the Alumni Network Group, representing recent alumni, and her thoughtful and insightful feedback helps the Group provide support for Exeter alumni from the moment they graduate.

I joined Unilever UK & Ireland after graduating from Exeter, initially as a Channel Marketing Executive, later moving to a Customer Marketing Executive role. In December 2010 I moved to Unilever PLC Global Head Office and currently work in the Global Brand Development team for Toni & Guy. Read full profile...

John Gilbert (Economics 1972)
Chief Executive, John Gilbert Financial Research
ANG Role: Events

John Gilbert has been active in organising several popular golf events which give alumni the opportunity to engage with fellow alumni and current students.

I enjoy supporting the University, and helped establish the Annual Alumni Golf Days, which over the past seven years have raised significant amounts of money for sport at Exeter. Having been heavily involved in sport when I was a student, including organizing the first University US soccer tour, sport has continued to play a major part in my life and this seemed like a great way to give something back. Read full profile...