Birmingham City University appoint four new members to its Board of Governors

Birmingham City University (BCU) is an institution with a rich heritage and an ambitious vision for the future. Established in 1843 to meet the evolving needs of industry, BCU is now actively shaping the society and economy of tomorrow. As an anchor institution in Birmingham, it is committed to delivering a transformative, practice-led education that emphasises professional relevance, broadens participation, and engages deeply with local communities.

Society was tasked with conducting a nationwide search to identify candidates for BCU’s Board from a Finance and Cyber Security background, seeking individuals whose experience and insight can support the University in achieving its strategic goals. The ideal candidates were to bring valuable external networks that could benefit both the institution and its students. The field of candidates was organised by Society into the two categories corresponding to each of the Governor seats BCU seeks to fill. These categories are Finance and Cyber Security.

Roza Dar is a highly accomplished qualified accountant with over 20 years of international experience, having held senior financial leadership roles including Finance director, head of finance, corporate controller and financial controller roles across diverse sectors including housing, hospitality, retail, audit, consulting and corporate finance. Proven expertise in statutory and management reporting, IFRS compliance, SOX controls, business launch, ERP implementations, risk assessment, transactional finance, and strategic financial planning. This will be Roza’s first formal board role. She sees this as an opportunity to use her expertise to make a meaningful contribution to the public good, particularly in a sector that shapes lives and communities.  

Roza said "I’m very grateful to Kayley at Society for their guidance and support in helping me secure Finance Committee membership at BCU (NED). They provided valuable insights and guided me seamlessly through every stage, from submitting my application to the final interview. Their expertise and practical advice were instrumental in helping me achieve this significant career milestone. I would highly recommend their support to anyone aspiring to board-level positions."

Bhupendra Pattni is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Fellow of the Institute since 2000, with a longstanding and diverse career in further education and finance. His background is deeply embedded in the local education landscape, including seven years as a management accountant and 15 years at Birmingham Metropolitan College. In January 2024, he launched his own consultancy, specialising in supporting further education colleges facing financial difficulties. Bhupendra’s work focuses on helping institutions become financially viable, sustainable, and aligned with strategic objectives. Bhupendra was drawn to this opportunity due to his strong ties to the West Midlands and a personal desire to "give back."

Justin Mccarthy spent 10 years at Atos in a technical architecture role, gaining deep experience in complex systems. He then joined Capgemini, a large French organisation, where he broadened his perspective on client needs and market demands. His current work keeps him at the forefront of rapid developments in cybersecurity. Justin values opportunities to share real-world insights with senior stakeholders and enjoys helping boards engage meaningfully with cyber topics. Born and raised in Birmingham, Justin described this opportunity of being inbolved with BCU as a real point of pride. He finds great satisfaction in educating others about cybersecurity and enjoys the engaging, forward-looking conversations that come with that. He wants to contribute by making cyber topics accessible and relevant, particularly at the governance level.

When asked for comment Justin said “Thrilled to join Birmingham City University’s Board of Governors, I want to recognise how Society made this journey both enjoyable and smooth. Kayley’s attentive communication, awareness of BCU and the recruitment process made each step feel very considered. From our first conversation through to the final appointment, Society demonstrated real care, insight and professionalism. I am appreciative of their support and would gladly recommend the team to others exploring senior leadership roles."

Mandeep Baidwan is an alumnus of Birmingham City University having studied Sound & Multimedia Technology from 2005 to 2009. He deeply values the guidance and supports he received from the lecturers and wider community at BCU. This experience played a pivotal role in shaping his career, and Mandeep is humbled to give back by supporting the next generation of graduates. For over a decade, he has lead information security and data protection at Dignity plc, where he built and matured the security function, advised multiple executive teams on risk and compliance, and navigated the regulatory landscape. Mandeep has deep expertise in ISO 27001, GDPR, and cyber risk management, alongside a hands-on technical background that spans security architecture, penetration testing, and incident response.

We congratulate all newly appointed Governors and wish them every success as they begin their impactful work supporting Birmingham City University’s mission and future direction.