Introducing the voluntary governance

Volunteers are elected by our members to make key decisions about plans and policies which staff and branches put into action.

The Regional Committee

Four Area Councils each elect two representatives to the Regional Committee. The Areas are:

• Humberside
• North Yorkshire
• South Yorkshire
• West Yorkshire

These representatives join members of the Regional Executive Committee, two members of staff and up to four co-opted members to form the Regional Committee.

The Regional Executive Committee

Members of the Regional Executive Committee are elected democratically by secret ballot at the Annual General Meeting, following nominations from members across the region.

The members currently are:

Chair, Lindy Gresswell

Lindy says that she has been involved in education one way or another for her entire life. She is a primary school teacher in Grimsby and carries out WEA duties in her spare time. She describes the WEA as a 'unique family' and is a regular speaker at WEA national conferences. Lindy has a long track record as a voluntary officer, having been a Regional Vice Chair until before election to her current role.

Treasurer, Kenneth Wilson

A former school teacher with a specialism in English Literature, Kenneth is an active branch worker in the Upper Calder Valley in West Yorkshire. Kenneth has been the hard working Chair of the Regional Finance Committee since the Yorkshire and Humber Region was formed in August 2004. Apparently equally proficient with letters and numbers, his attention to detail is a great asset to the region.

As well as his close and constructive working relationship with the Regional Secretary and Regional Finance Manager, Kenneth meets with other Regional Treasurers and the Association's Finance Director from time to time.

Vice Chair, Charlie Goddard

Charlie first joined the WEA in 1956 as a student joining a WEA class to get the education that school had not provided him with. He came to his first evening course straight after a hard day at work, arriving with his workman's bag over his shoulder. He says that he found a family. A keen trade unionist, Charlie has worked with the WEA on many levels since then. He is a longstanding member of the Scunthorpe Branch and has served at a national level as a representative on the former National Executive Committee (now replaced by the Association Committee) as an NEC Representative.  

Vice Chair, Cyril Snell

Cyril is well-known within the national Association as a long-standing and active WEA member. Previously an academic with a university teaching background, Cyril has been an Officer of the Leeds Branch for many years. Cyril is passionate and unwavering in his support of the WEA and is unafraid to be constructively critical when required. He and his wife are active in voluntary activities in Leeds and Cyril also has experience as a school governor.

Vice Chair, Emma Snell

Emma is not related to Cyril! She works in primary education and is the mother of four young children. She is a very active member of the WEA's Keelby Branch near Grimsby and of the Humber Area Council. She is also active in the WEA at a national level, with a particular interest in envirnmental issues and sustainabilty.

Association Committee Representative, Elisabeth Dunnett

Elisabeth took on this role in Novemeber 2007. She is the Secretary of the Easingwold Branch and was the North Yorkshire Area Council representative on the Regional Committee during the previous year. She acts as the link between the Yorkshire & Humber Regional Committee and the Association Committee which meets at a national level.

Mark Gamsu

Mark Gamsu who lives in Sheffield and works in Leeds is co-opted to the Committee. Mark is an Assistant Regional Director of Public Health in the region and has previously been involved in the WEA in London.

Regional Director, Ann Walker

As the most senior member of staff, the Regional Director is a non-voting member of the Regional Executive Committee.

Up to three more members can be co-opted to the Regional Executive Committee.

Mark Gamsu who lives in Sheffield and works in Leeds is co-opted to the Committee. Mark is an Assistant Regional Director of Public Health in the region and has previously been involved in the WEA in London.