Senate elections

Elections to Senate are held annually, usually in the spring term. The number of vacancies and eligibility requirements will depend on number and make-up of those members coming to the end of their term of office. A call for nominations with full details provided will be issued at the relevant time.

The process involves completion of a nomination form signed by the nominee and by two electors, one of whom must be from a department/school different from that of the nominee. Nominees will be asked for a brief biography and statement in support of their nomination. Should the number of nominees exceed the number of vacancies, an election will be held.

Senate is committed to ensuring its membership reflects our diverse University community. Anonymised EDI membership data is reviewed to inform the taking of positive action during the Senate election process. Such action may include the use of positive statements to encourage nominees from particular groups, targeted communications through particular EDI networks, the organisation of information events, some of which may be open to the whole University community, and others that may targeted particular groups. To ensure our data sets are as complete as possible in support of this work, all Senate members are encouraged to complete and maintain their staff profile through HR Organiser.

Further detail on the role of a Senate member can be found in our Standards for Senate members.

Opportunities are also available for Senate members to serve on Committees of Senate. Details of the nominations and elections process will be communicated at the relevant time.

Election to Senate 2026-27 to 2029-30

Nominations are sought for four members of permanent academic staff to stand for Senate. We encourage nominations from academic staff at all stages of their careers and from each of our faculties, and in particular from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic staff, and women.

Ten of the current elected members of Senate will remain in office in 2026-27; six non-professorial posts, four in a Professorship.  Therefore at least two of those elected must hold a non-professional post at the time of election (Ordinance 13).

Electors must, at the date of the election, be permanent members of the academic staff, have a contract of employment commencing at least 20 working days prior to the call for electoral nominations and whose contract extends to at least 31 July 2027 (Ordinance 18). Should a ballot be necessary, ballot information will be sent by email on Friday 14 August 2026 to all those who are eligible to vote.

The vacancies

The vacancies arise as a result of six currently elected members of staff ceasing office.  As reported to Senate at its 24 June meeting, and as a result of the changes to the University’s academic shape, the size of Senate’s ex officio membership has reduced which in turn has reduced the elected membership from 16 to 14. This reduction retains the careful balance between ex officio and appointed members, and elected members. The number of vacancies in the current election is therefore four.

Nominations

A nomination form (.docx) must be signed by the nominee and by two electors, one of whom must be from a department/school different from that of the nominee. Nominees are requested to give a brief biography and statement in support of their nomination, in not more than 350 words, on the pro forma on the second page of the nomination form. Nominees for election to the Senate must be full or part-time members of the permanent academic staff.

Deadline

The closing date for nominations is Thursday 13 August 2026.  Nominations must reach elections@essex.ac.uk by 5pm on that date.

Date of election

Should a ballot be necessary, ballot information will be sent by email on Friday 14 August to those who are eligible to vote.

The date of election shall be Tuesday 1 September 2026.

2022-2026

• Professor Hannah Gibson - Department of Language and Linguistics
• Dr Laurie James-Hawkins - Department of Sociology and Criminology ⁽¹⁾
• Dr Georgi Grahovski - School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science ⁽²⁾
• Dr Brandon Reeder - School of Life Sciences ⁽³⁾

2023-2027

• Professor Fabian Freyenhagen - School of Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies
• Professor Timo Jütten - School of Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies
• Dr Olayinka Lewis - Essex Law School 
• Dr Alastair Litterick, School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science ⁽⁴⁾
• Dr Christoph Siemroth - Department of Economics
• Professor Ting Xu - Essex Law School

2024-2028

• Dr Stevphen Shukaitis - Essex Business School ⁽⁵⁾
• Professor Martin Reed - School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering
• Dr ZhiMin Xiao - School of Health and Social Care ⁽⁶⁾

2025-2029

• Professor Peter Bloom - Essex Business School
• Professor Neli Demireva - Department of Sociology and Criminology
• Dr Tom Flynn - Essex Law School
• Dr Ebba Lekvall - Essex Law School ⁽⁷⁾

⁽¹⁾ Until 31 December 2025
⁽²⁾ From 1 January 2023
⁽³⁾ From 1 April 2023
⁽⁴⁾ From 1 January 2024
⁽⁵⁾ From 30 September 2024
⁽⁶⁾ From 1 February 2025
⁽⁷⁾ From 1 January 2026