Elections by Congregation: Curators of the University Parks
Information on elections to this constituency
Vacancy
One person elected by Congregation, to serve until the start of MT 2027 [vice The Revd Dr Elizabeth Macfarlane]
The following nominations have been received:
General Information about this constituency
This constituency is comprised of two persons elected by Congregation.
The Curators of the University Parks have charge of the Parks, including the Fishery in the Cherwell, and of any other land the care of which may be entrusted to them from time to time by the Buildings and Estates Subcommittee. Curators normally meet on a termly basis on Tuesdays of Week 5, and at a fourth meeting in the long vacation when the principal item of business is to inspect the various areas of the Parks. Meetings last about 2 hours and papers are circulated in advance. Curators are not expected to serve on additional subcommittees/groups. The curators would welcome candidates with an interest in the Parks. Elections to this constituency restrict candidates to persons, as defined in Statute I. This means that all members of Congregation are eligible to nominate a candidate or to vote, but prospective candidates who want to stand for election must be a resident holder of a teaching, research, or administrative post in the University or in any college, society, or Permanent Private Hall.
The terms of reference for the Curators are set out in Part 10 of Council Regulations 2 of 2004. The memberships set out at www.parks.ox.ac.uk/curators.
For further information, please contact the Secretary (aristea.gkontra@admin.ox.ac.uk).
General Notes
The elections on 8 June 2023 will be conducted electronically.
Nominations
Hard copies of nomination forms will not be processed. Nominations must be made on an official nomination form. Completed nomination forms must be sent as an email attachment to the Elections Office by 4pm on Thursday, 11 May. Please ensure that the nominators listed in section D are also copied into the email when the nomination form is submitted, as this will act as verification of the nomination in lieu of supplying original signatures.
General requirements and eligibility
All candidates are asked to note the general requirements which apply to all committee members, as set out in Council Regulations 14 of 2002 (General Regulations of Council for Committees). Current members seeking re-election are also asked to check for specific restrictions on consecutive service. For further information, please see the eligibility and amendments to nominations sections within the Information about University elections pages of the Elections website.
Candidate’s statement
Candidates are invited to include with their nomination forms a written statement of no more than 250 words, setting out their reasons for standing and qualifications for the office being sought. In the event of a contested election, these statements will be published both online and in the Gazette.
Contested elections
In the event of a contested election, the successful candidates will be determined by an electronic ballot. An email with further instructions will be sent to eligible voters on Wednesday 24 May, using the email addresses provided in the electronic register of Congregation (NB with few exceptions, notably clinical staff, this will be the work address ending ‘ox. ac.uk’). Candidates’ statements will also be published in the Gazette dated 25 May. Voters may wish to read these statements before completing their electronic vote. The voting period will close at 4pm on 8 June.
Uncontested elections
If the number of nominations received by the closing date is no more than sufficient to fill the vacancies, the candidates nominated shall be deemed to be duly elected as of the close of the nomination period on Thursday, 11 May. When required, places will be allocated according to academic standing, as defined in Council Regulations 22 of 2002, Part 2: Academic Precedence and Standing. If the number of nominations received by the closing date is less than sufficient to fill the vacancies, those candidates nominated will be deemed elected unopposed, and the remaining vacancies will lapse, in which case, in accordance with the regulations, the places must remain vacant until appointments are made jointly by the Vice-Chancellor and Proctors.
Period of office
All vacancies are from the beginning of MT 2023 unless otherwise stated. In accordance with Congregation Regulations 2 of 2002, in any election where vacancies are to be filled for periods of different length, the elected candidates shall hold office so that the tenure of those who receive more votes shall be longer than that of those who receive fewer votes; but if the election is uncontested or if two candidates receive the same number of votes, the candidate senior in academic standing shall hold office for the longer period.
Further information
For further information, please contact the Elections Office (elections.office@ admin.ox.ac.uk).
Nominations
Nominations for elections to this constituency are published weekly in the Gazette and on this website as they are received and processed. The details of any nominations received can be seen by clicking on the candidate's surname in any adjacent tabs.
Mrs Emmanuelle Denis, BSc Concordia, MSc McGill, DEC Dawson College, Pandemic Sciences Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine
Nominated by:
Professor Proochista Ariana, Mansfield, Nuffield Department of Medicine
Dr Xin Hui Chan, Nuffield Department of Medicine
Mr Jo Harris, Nuffield Department of Medicine
Professor Richard Haynes, Nuffield Department of Population Health
Professor Sir Peter Horby, Brasenose, Nuffield Department of Medicine
Ms Laura Merson, Nuffield Department of Medicine
Dr Leon Peto, Nuffield Department of Population Health
The Revd Dr Elizabeth Macfarlane, MA DPhil Oxf, St John’s, Faculty of History
Nominated by:
Professor Jeremias Adams-Prassl, Magdalen, Faculty of Law
Professor Julia Bray, St John’s, Faculty of Asian and Middle Easter Studies
Professor Philip Ross Bullock, Wadham, Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages
Professor Theresa Burt de Perera, St John’s, Department of Biology
Professor David Dwan, Hertford, Faculty of English
Professor Stefano Evangelista, Trinity, Faculty of English
Professor Cecile Fabre, All Souls, Faculty of Philosophy
Dr Tristan Franklinos, Wolfson, Faculty of Classics
Dr Rosalind Harding, St John’s, Department of Biology
The Revd Professor William Whyte, St John’s, Faculty of History
C J Noble, MEng Sheff, Atomic and Laser Physics
Nominated by:
Dr D Blakey, Research Services
Dr J F Goodwin, Department of Physics
Professor D M Lucas, Balliol, Department of Physics
Professor D C O’Brien, Balliol, Department of Engineering Science
Contested elections
In the event of a contested election, candidate statements will be published in the Gazette and on this website. The details of any candidate's statements received can be seen by clicking on the candidate's surname in any adjacent tabs.
I moved from Montreal to Oxford in 2005 to take up my first post with the University, in the Clinical Trials Service Unit (CTSU). At that time CTSU was based in the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter and my commute to work changed from a dreary suburban car journey to a glorious walk through Mesopotamia and the University Parks. My instant affection and appreciation for the parks has deepened further in the intervening years.
The University Parks are one of the greatest treasures of our city. They beautifully complement our magnificent built environment and, most importantly, provide a freely-accessible green haven to everyone, University members, residents and visitors alike. It’s a joyful experience to see individuals, teams, families and groups of friends engaging in a huge range of activities, and I’d love to play a part in maintaining them for park users now and into the future.
If I am elected to become a Curator of the University Parks I would bring to the role almost twenty years of experience as a senior University Administrator. I have practical expertise in managing multimillion-pound research budgets and working closely with academics, professional services and external collaborators. I also have experience as a Leader for the Oxford Conservation Volunteers, a voluntary organisation that undertakes a wide variety of nature conservation work in the Oxford area. Most importantly, I have a great love of nature and an eagerness to help ensure the stewardship of our precious parks.
I walk in Parks with my dog every day - you may well have seen me with a very bouncy spaniel - and I would be keen to serve as a curator, both to learn about the strategy for this part of the University estate, and to be a voice for those who participate in our green spaces. I am particularly keen on wildlife initiatives like the hibernaculum, and I would like to advocate for better quality (informational and aesthetic) signage and minimising of vehicular activity. I am chaplain and fellow at St John’s, where I’ve been for twelve years, and a member of the History Faculty. I served as a pro-Proctor for three successive Junior Proctors from 2017-2020, and I now serve on the Appeals Panel, as well as undertaking occasional case reviews for the Proctors’ Office.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my election as a Curator of the University Parks. I am lucky enough to find myself typing this from my office in the Beecroft Building, about as close as one can get to the Parks without being in them, and I have gained a huge appreciation of just how special the space is. A veritable oasis in the city, and one that is open to all – be they staff, student, resident or tourist. A typical walk through the Parks (and I take many) may see you encounter birdwatchers, cricketers (or quidditch players!), or those simply looking for a few moments of respite and tranquillity in their day. My interest and priority as a Curator would be in the sustainable management of the Parks to ensure their continued place in Oxford for the enjoyment of generations to come, and to help deliver the vision of the Superintendent and the Parks team to make the site more biodiverse, improve the quality of the greens, and reduce the environmental impact of management activities.
Contact the Elections Officer
For further information, please email the Elections Office.
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