WMG Academy for Young Engineers is overseen by the WMG Academy Trust. The Trust is made up members from industry and the University of Warwick who have led the development of WMG Academy and oversee its running from a strategic perspective.
The Trust Board is chaired by Mike Wright.
Mike Wright, Chair of the Trust Board
Mike Wright was previously an Executive Director with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in December 2010 until his retirement in 2016, and was a member of the JLR Executive Committee since 2003. His focus was on developing corporate strategies to deliver the company’s growth ambitions. His direct responsibilities include global JLR leadership of Corporate and Product Strategy; Special Operations; Financial Services; Government Affairs and Corporate & Social Responsibility.
After graduating from his BSc in Communication, Science and Linguistics at Aston in 1975, he began his career in the automotive industry at Rover Triumph. He has held a variety of senior sales and marketing positions in a number of international markets – including four years in Germany – working at different times for Rover, Land Rover, Jaguar and Jaguar Land Rover under the ownership of BAe, BMW, Ford and now Tata.
Jose Lopes, Head of Business Engagement, West Midlands Combined Authority
Jose is charged with the effective delivery of WMCA’s key productivity, skills and employment objectives, by securing regional employer buy-in. This will drive an ever more prosperous West Midlands for those who live and work in the region.
A Chartered Engineer, Fellow of both the Institution of Engineering & Technology and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and Companion of the Chartered Management Institute, Jose was appointed Industrial Fellow for WMG University of Warwick by Professor Lord Bhattacharyya. He is a non-executive director of the engineering skills organisation SEMTA and industrial training champion for the Faraday Institute, the UK’s independent institute for electrochemical energy storage science & technology.
Stuart Baker, BEng (Hons), FRAeS, Operations Executive – Control Systems, Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace
Stuart joined Lucas Aerospace in Birmingham after graduating from Leicester University in 1991 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering with Computing. He has held a variety of management roles in engineering, programme management, manufacturing and quality, prior to the company’s recent acquisition by Rolls-Royce. Stuart’s most recent role was to manage a £75m investment to create a state of the art manufacturing and engineering facility in Solihull which will be home to 1,200 Rolls-Royce employees.
Stuart has been a trustee director of the Rolls-Royce Engine Control Systems pension scheme since 2009, he is the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP’s skills champion for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, he was a member of Birmingham City Council’s Green Bridge Supply Chain investment board, and is also a Vice President of Solihull Chamber of Commerce.
Outside of work, Stuart is a UKCC level 2 qualified Badminton coach, and works on a voluntary basis for Hartshill Hayes Junior Badminton Club. He is married, with two teenage children, and in any remaining spare time he loves to repair all things mechanical, particularly old clocks and watches.
Sally Lucas, BA (Hons), CIPD – Executive Director of Coventry & Warwickshire Chambers of Commerce Training
Sally joined Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber Training after graduating from Coventry University with an honours degree in Psychology, followed by a post graduate diploma in Personnel Management. She has held a number of management positions within the organisation, prior to taking up the post of Executive Director in 2001.
Key responsibilities include setting the strategic vision and leading one of the largest vocational training and development organisations in Coventry and Warwickshire, providing Apprenticeships and other training for over a thousand young people and adults, alongside an extensive range of business to business courses.
As head of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber Training, a wholly owned subsidiary of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, Sally is responsible for delivering high quality workforce development solutions which support businesses and individuals to grow. This includes developing strategic partnerships, including membership of local, regional and national skills bodies, including the British Chambers of Commerce Skills Forum and the Jobs and Skills Business Group of Coventry and Warwickshire LEP, where her role is to champion Apprenticeships, particularly for young people.
Glenda Kershaw, BSc, PGCE, ACA, ATII
Having graduated from Warwick University with a BSc in Mathematics, and a PGCE from Cambridge, Glenda Kershaw’s initial career was in teaching. A change of direction subsequently led her to qualify as a chartered accountant with a Birmingham firm, now part of Grant Thornton, where she worked on a wide portfolio of audit clients around the country. On qualifying as a chartered tax advisor she continued her career working in the corporate tax department, before taking a role with the central finance team at the University of Warwick. Having worked in various areas of the University, Glenda took on the WMG Finance Director role, where she has now been for nearly twenty years, working with the Chairman to help bring his strategic vision to realisation.
Rosie Drinkwater
Rosie leads the finance function at Warwick, with a particular focus on the commercial areas and strategic projects. She is responsible for overseeing all financial arrangements of the University, reporting to the Vice-Chancellor and President. She is supported by her senior finance management team to whom routine management and operational matters are delegated. Rosie is a member of the Senior Management Team and is extensively involved in the University’s strategy and implementation.
Rosie first came to Warwick in October 1993 when she was appointed as Senior Assistant Finance Officer with specific responsibility for the University’s Earned Income Group. Before that she worked at senior manager level at the accountancy firms Grant Thornton and Price Waterhouse, specialising in advising family-owned businesses, SMEs and professional partnerships.
She is a graduate of St Mary’s College, Durham (Mathematics and Economics) and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.
Ben Story
Ben joined Rolls-Royce as Strategic Marketing Director and as member of the Executive Leadership Team in October 2016.
Ben has over 25 years of investment banking experience, working with clients around the world on privatisations, M&A, restructurings, equity raisings and financings. Throughout most of his career, Ben has focused on the industrials sector, including aerospace & defence and transportation.
Prior to joining Rolls-Royce, Ben was Head of UK Investment Banking & Broking at Citi from 2013. Previously, he worked at Deutsche Bank from 2005 to 2012, where he was Head of Industrials EMEA & Asia Pacific, and at Morgan Stanley from 1997, where he led the Transportation & Business Services EMEA & Asia-Pacific team.
Ben has a BSc in Management Sciences from Warwick University. He is a Board Member of Transport for London.
Charlotte Horobin
Charlotte is responsible for managing and developing relationships with EEF member companies in Midlands & East to advance manufacturing within the region. By working with partner organisations and regional media, Charlotte is able to raise the profile of EEF member companies locally and nationally. She’s also responsible for designing and delivering a programme of regional events which enable members to network, share best practice and learn from experts. Another key part of her role is to engage with regional stakeholders ensuring manufacturers’ interests are represented to LEPs, the West Midlands Combined Authority and Midlands Engine.
Charlotte gained her undergraduate degree from The University of Leeds in Biomedical Science before completing her Masters at The University of Nottingham. Before joining EEF 5 years ago, Charlotte worked in food manufacturing where she focused on business development and food safety management.
Graham Thompsett
Graham Thompsett is currently working as People Capability Director for Jaguar Land Rover based in Whitley in the United Kingdom, this is a new role from March 2015.In his new role Graham is responsible for Future Talent (Grads/Under Grads & Apprentices), and all experienced hiring as well as Learning and Development for everything up to Leadership Level 4.
Prior to this he spent 9 years in China carrying out three distinct projects for both Jaguar Land Rover and Ford Motor Company.
In 2006 he was responsible for developing the Ford Purchasing and Engineering Centre in Nanjing, China. The business grew from a staff of 40 to circa 400 in a two year period and delivered significant returns to Ford Motor Company. He came back to JLR China when Ford sold Jaguar Land Rover to TATA Motors.
In 2009 Graham became Head of HR for Jaguar Land Rover in China and watched the business grow from selling 700 cars a year to well over 100,000 cars today – this was a key factor in the company’s growth and success in the past six years.
Graham has held numerous senior Human Resources positions since joining Land Rover in 2001, including Head of Recruitment for JLR and also Head of Ford’s external training in Europe.
Kate Tague – Executive Principal
Diane Campton – Director of Finance
Declarations Of Interest
Trust Board Declarations of Interests 2017-2018
Trust Board Declarations of Interests 2018-2019