University of London Board of Trustees welcomes new chair and independent members 

Incoming chair Sir Mark Lowcock will be joined by new members Paul Boursican, Paul Greenwood, Katie Kopec, Paul Madden, and Leo Schlesinger.

“Each of these distinguished leaders brings a wealth of experience, expertise, and a commitment to advancing the University’s mission, and we’re thrilled to welcome them”, says Vice-Chancellor Professor Wendy Thomson CBE. "Their collective wisdom, diverse perspectives, and dedication to excellence will be instrumental in guiding the University of London towards even greater success."

The term of office for the new chair begins on 1 August 2024 and runs through 31 July 2028. Four of the five new members also begin their terms of office on 1 August (Katie Kopec’s term of office began on 1 May.) The terms of the new members run through 31 July 2027, when they may be extended for up to two further consecutive terms of up to three years.

Sir Mark replaces Sir Richard Dearlove KCMG OBE, who is stepping down as Chair of the Board after serving ten years in that position.

Incoming Chair

Sir Mark Lowcock KCB had a career spanning 32 years in the UK civil service, including more than six years as Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Development. From 2017 to 2021 he was Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs at the United Nations. He is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Development, a Visiting Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics, and a Fellow of Birkbeck College. He also serves in a variety of other board roles in the UK and internationally. 

Sir Mark says: "The University of London has a fantastic history spanning nearly 200 years in expanding access to higher education, including in recent times a pioneering role in distance learning across the globe. I am delighted to be joining the Board at a moment of exciting new opportunities to extend the University's contribution even further". 

New Members 

Paul Boursican is International Partner Capital Markets at Cushman & Wakefield. He advises sovereign funds, institutions, and corporations on their real estate strategy and disposals. Paul is a former international expert for UNIDO (United Nations for Industrial Development) and foreign trade advisor to the French Ministry of Trade. He graduated from ISG Business School, MIM New York, IMUA Tokyo, and management programs at INSEAD and Harvard Business School. Paul is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Paul Greenwood is the Chief Technology Officer for Clifford Chance LLP, where he is responsible for all internal and client-facing technology globally. Clifford Chance is a single global partnership operating across 34 offices in 23 countries. Until recently Paul was a member of the Governing Council of The Open University and has been a non-executive director at several technology-based businesses. Before joining Clifford Chance, he worked for McKinsey & Company, the strategy consultancy.

Katie Kopec has more than 40 years of experience at JLL and is one of the most sought-after international real estate consultants in the industry, with experience in a range of complex developments, including the transformation of King’s Cross and Canada Water in London. In 2023 Katie received an Honorary MBA from UCEM for services to the built environment. She is an Ambassador for Opportunity London, working on bringing international investment to London, and a Patron of Real Estate Balance.

Paul Madden CMG was British Ambassador to Japan and High Commissioner to Australia and Singapore. He also served in Washington DC and was Managing Director at UK Trade & Investment. He advises companies in Japan, the UK, and Australia, and is a Visiting Professor of International Relations at Keio University, Tokyo. He is a Trustee of UK/Japan 21st Century Group and Northcote Trust. He was educated at Cambridge, Durham University, and SOAS, and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Leo Schlesinger is an accomplished CEO with a diverse background in banking, private equity, and higher education institutions. His international expertise spans six countries. Most recently, he led the acquisition of 16 universities and developed Aliat Universidades into one of Mexico's largest private higher education institutions and hybrid edtech platforms, boasting more than 250,000 alumni. Leo sits on a variety of for-profit and non-profit boards. He is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and has chaired the Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Natural Resources and Biodiversity. He is also an author of books on personal development, including My Best Self. He holds an MBA from London Business School. 

The new members will join several continuing members. The full Board for 2024-25 will be:

Independent Members

• Sir Mark Lowcock KCB (Chair)
• Kavita Reddi
• Andrew Ratcliffe
• Craig Hassall
• Christopher Rossbach 
• Pawan Dhir
• Katie Kopec
• Paul Madden CMG
• Leo Schlesinger
• Paul Boursican
• Paul Greenwood

Ex Officio Members

• Professor Wendy Thomson CBE
• Professor David Latchman CBE

Heads of Federation Members

• Professor Colin Bailey CBE
• Professor Frances Corner OBE
• Josette Bushell-Mingo OBE
• Dr Michael Spence

Student Member

• Ilsa Tariq

The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the University and exercises guardianship over assets and resources, ensuring their effective management, control, and use. The primary responsibilities of the Board of Trustees are outlined here. 

For more information about the University of London’s Board of Trustees, please visit https://www.london.ac.uk/about/governance/board-trustees.