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• Association Officers
• President
• Deputy President
• Vice President Communications
• Vice President Constitutions
• Vice President Education
• Vice President Equal Opportunities
• Vice President Finance
• Vice President Representation
• Vice President Student Support

Association Officers

All Central Executive Committee Members are ex-officio members of their own region's Regional Consultative Committee (R C C). Meet the team: (Up to date resumes will be available shortly.)

President

Marianne Cantieri
The President is the head of the Students Association and is, therefore, personally responsible to the Conference for the conduct of the Association's affairs between Conferences. In this sense the President carries the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the corporate responsibilities of the Executive Committee, as defined above, are met.

I live in North East Spain and in 2003 my grown up children decided to leave home. With my main source of English conversation threatening to disappear and unoccupied time looming, I looked to the O U for a solution. I started studying for a Diploma, once I had that, I decided to aim for an Open Degree, I graduated last year and am now starting another. The first thing I looked for when I got access to StudentHome was the Students Association, where I found new friends and got involved at local and then central level. For the past three and a half years I’ve been OUSA Vice President Education and this year was elected President of the Association. Outside of OUSA, I am an avid reader who loves her Kindle which has opened a whole new world of books, previously unobtainable without a visit to the UK and I love exploring the secret corners of the Costa Brava, which are really beautiful between September and June. They’re still beautiful in the heat of July and August, but they tend to hide behind a wall of tourists.

Deputy President

Ruth Tudor
The Deputy President is elected by Conference and assists the President and automatically becomes President if that office becomes vacant between meetings and the Conference. The Deputy President is also Chair of the Staffing Sub-Committee, whose terms of reference are approved by the Executive Committee.

Vice President Communications

Hazel Pegg
The V P Communications will be promoting the identity of OUSA internally and externally. They will liaise with the Officers of the Association to provide assistance where needed to ensure the communication of matters within their areas of responsibility to their intended audiences. The V P Communications will also act as editor to O U Student publication.

Vice President Constitutions

David Humble
The V P Constitutions is responsible for constitutional matters and chairs Conference Steering Committee. The role also involves giving guidance on the interpretation of the Constittion and Standing Orders.

I joined the OU in 2004 and after studying various Humanities modules gained a BA (Hons) Literature in 2009. I intend to add a History degree next year and am wondering about having a go at Social Sciences.
Having spent two years as Executive Committee Member for London I thought I would take a break from the difficult task of trying to explain the ways of the Executive to London Region whilst also getting the Executive to understand London.
I obviously deserved a rest so on the back of my distinguished record as a barrack room lawyer and obvious trouble-maker I stood this year for Vice President Constitutions. Conference saw fit to elect me by a whole three votes so here I am.
My main aim this year is to place before the Executive Bye-Laws which inflict as little bureaucracy on members as possible, try to prevent well-meaning fellow members of the Central Executive from getting too bossy and allow local Nations and Regions to get on with doing what their members want. Those Bye-Laws must also be consistent with the new Constitution passed in April 2011 and, more problematically, various motions previously passed by Conference. Please wish me luck - I will need it.

Vice President Education

Tania Rogers
The V P for Education is responsible for consideration of the university's educational programmes and related matters. The role is also responsible for the conduct of research into factors which promote or inhibit study within the University and oversees progress of Association policies through student representation. The V P will also be responsible for initiation of election and appointment procedures for representatives on Boards and Committees.

Experience
Lecturer in Communications: Colchester Institute 1988-1991, Chelmsford College 1991-2000
Governor Services Officer: Essex County Council 2000-2006
Health &Safety Rep: NATHFE 1996 - 2000 Unison 2001 - 2006

Education & Qualifications
Certificate in Education FE: Huddersfield Polytechnic: 1991
BA Hons Open University 1994
DMS: Anglia Polytechnic University 1998
Certificate in Education Studies: Teaching English as a Foreign Language 2006

Current Studies
BA Hons Modern Language studies: 2008 -

OUSA Experience 2008
Secretary Southern Europe Regional Forum:
Conference delegate SW France:
Executive Committee Member for Southern Europe:
EC Communications & Student Support Standing Committees:
OUSA (Services) Ltd Board:
CAP:

Vice President Equal Opportunities

Roz Evans
Apart from having responsibility for development and implementation of a programme of action to achieve the objectives of the Association's Equal Opportunities policy, the V P for Equal Opportunities provides support and guidance to the Disabled Students Group in conjunction with V P Student Support. The post also involves providing support and guidance to the Ethnic Minorities Group and supporting V P Student Support in providing training and support for Disabled Student Links.

Vice President Finance

Carole Radcliffe
The V P Finance is responsible for the financial control of the Association's assets and the financial accounts of the Association and financial reports to the Executive Committee. The V P Finance also controls payment of Branch and other grants from the Association's funds and has reponsibility for the Association's annual budget. The V P Finance also has responsibility for production and maintenance of finance sections in various publications such as the branch, regional forum and Executive Committee Manuals within the OUSA Handbook.

"I began studying with the Open University in 1994 and the qualifications that I have gained are Diploma in European Humanities and B.A. (Hons). I am now studying for my second degree. This year I am studying Renaissance Art Reconsidered. I have been involved with OUSA since 2002 at various levels culminating in serving as E C M for the South for two years from 2006. I am the Manager of an office and part of my duties is to oversee all financial aspects including budgets. In my spare time I like to visit art galleries and shopping."

Vice President Representation

Nik Morris
The V P Representation is responsible for the provision of support and assistance to E C Members for Geographical Areas and for support to OUSA forums in carrying out their role of supporting branches. The V P Representation also co-ordinates training of regional and national activists and heads up the Association's provision of a service at Residential Schools.

My name is Nik Morris; I have been studying with the Open University since 2004 and have been involved in OUSA since my first year studying. I am working towards a History degree but have been sidetracked several times towards maths and science courses. I am aiming to complete my degree in 2012, I suspect that this won't be the end of my studying as it appears to have become something of an addiction; like many students there always seems to be just that one more module that looks really really interesting!

I currently work for myself, as part of a consultancy with several associates, in the heritage area of the construction industry. I have 2 grown up children studying at college as well as a younger child still at senior school.

If you would like to contact me please use ousa-vp-representation@open.ac.uk.

Vice President Student Support

Alison Kingan
The V P Student Support is responsible for the provision of central assistance and services to students, where required, to enable them to overcome problems seriously affecting their ability to study with the Open University. This also involves the encouragement, co-ordination and oversight of similar services at regional and branch levels. The V P Student Support also offers support to the Disabled Student Group in conjunction with the V P Equal Opportunities and also provides support for Student Support Links and Disabled Student Links.

Studying history:
I started with the O U in 2001 intending to leave in 2002 but as you can see I missed that deadline. It is not because I have failed the same course for the last decade but I got hooked on studying. I gained a BSc (Hons) Psychology but have dabbled in history and statistics too, helping me to also acquire a BA (Open). I have completed 2 postgraduate Psychology courses.

O U S A involvement:
It took me 2 years to find First Class and another 3 to realise O U S A did more than run First Class. I became a branch delegate at Conference which was where I first heard of the Executive Committee and later learnt more about its roles. Various O U S A posts followed, culminating in initially being elected the region's Executive Committee Member and now Vice President Student Support. I have had help in overcoming a few barriers to study and am looking forward to helping others achieve their goals.

Personal:
Quite a bit of my time is taken up watching cricket. Shaun the Sheep, the Sheep's representative and South West mascot lives here too. He used to attend Regional Forum and Executive Committee Meetings but Lambo now stands in for Shaun at the face to face meetings.