2024
Jan Capper is the Executive Director of CUBO, and has worked with successive CUBO Boards to shape the strategic direction of the organisation, while supporting campus and commercial services through times of great transformation. During this time Jan has grown CUBO's membership significantly and developed the corporate partnership programme, as well as championing and inspiring members and colleagues in their careers and personal development.
After seven years Jan has decided to step down and will be relinquishing her post as Executive Director in November 2024, but will remain an honorary member as recognition of her years of dedication and impact.
2023
Richard Kington is the former Director of Accommodation, Catering and Hospitality Services at The University of Edinburgh. He served on the CUBO Board for more than a decade, during which he spearheaded international activities. Richard's belief in the power of residence life programmes to improve student wellbeing in university halls and ultimately academic outcomes led to the creation of a residence life workshop, now the annual CUBO Residence Life Conference.
On retiring from his role at Edinburgh, where he was responsible for housing more than 10,000 students and running the commercial accommodation, catering, event and festival services, Richard continued to serve CUBO as a non-executive director until 2023.
2023
Jane Donachy is the Associate Director of Catering, Retail and Accommodation Services at University of the Arts, London.
Part of the CUBO Executive since 2018, Jane became Vice Chair in 2021 and was instrumental in helping to guide the organisation through the pandemic, pioneering the online London Regional Group where colleagues could share concerns and experiences in an unprecedented and fast-developing crisis.
Jane is an innovator in the sector, having developed catering partnerships for UAL as well as creating Taboo Tuesdays, a safe space for students to discuss issues of concern. She is also a developer of talent, having encouraged members of her team to join the CUBO Board and lead CUBO special interest groups.
2022
Andrew Nightingale was Chair of the UUK Code Governance Board, which he led with distinction for many years. In 2005 he represented the higher education sector in a small group of industry professionals charged with drafting a fit-for-purpose Housing Code of Practice, which would satisfy the government and exempt university managed accommodation exemption from Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) accreditation.
Working closely with Governance Board colleagues and the Sector Advisory Group he made an exemplary contribution to the effective governance of the Code, including the oversight of a Universities UK review of administrative arrangements. Andrew was hugely supportive of CUBO, and the massive contribution it has made to the code over the years.
Director of Estate Management at Essex University until 2012, Andrew helped transform the Colchester Campus, providing students and staff with an inspiring environment in which to study and work. He established new campuses in Southend and Loughton, supported the development of University Campus Suffolk in partnership with the University of East Anglia, and championed links with surrounding communities.
A chartered building surveyor, Andrew trained and qualified with Hertfordshire County Council and then worked as Buildings Surveyor at the University of Kent for ten years before coming to Essex.
2022
Jon Greenwood was Director of Commercial Services at The University of York from 2004 until his retirement in 2021, overseeing a range of services including catering, conferences, retail, sports, design and marketing. In 2018 he was awarded an MBE for services to higher education.
Jon held the Sustainability and Commercial Portfolios on the CUBO Board, and was instrumental in developing CUBO’s current successful partnership approach to working with commercial organisations. The new corporate partnership programme created tiers which enabled organisations of different sizes to effectively work with and sponsor CUBO.
Jon has provided outstanding leadership to universities throughout the UK through his championship of environmental initiatives, using his position on the CUBO executive to encourage real change.
He holds an MBA from Sheffield Hallam University, and his early career was spent with high street retail giant C&A. Before joining the University of York he was Managing Director at Lost Boys Limited, a remote location retailer primarily trading in areas of the Highland & Islands, Scotland, Ireland and other communities. A talented entrepreneur, Jon has set up several successful businesses.
2022
David McKown is Training and Quality Manager, Accommodation and Commercial Services (ACS) at The University of Sheffield. In 2019 he was presented with an MBE for services to hospitality and catering, the latest in a long line of achievements in the sector.
After joining Sheffield in 1992, David guided his department to Investors in People accreditation in 1995 and the Customer First Standard in 2011. In 1998 he created the internationally-renowned Skills for Chefs Conference and in 2004 received a Cost Sector Catering Award for the university/college sector.
In 2011, David became a Director of University Hospitality Seminars Ltd., a company that designs, organises and delivers training for staff working in higher education. In 2012 he was awarded Honorary Membership of the Master Chefs of Great Britain (MCGB), having developed and supported the organisation. In the same year he created annual national competition UK Young Restaurant Team of the Year, a vehicle to help young people carve a career in the hospitality industry. In 2015 he received a Catey Award for Education and Training.
David served as a Director of CUBO from 2016-2021, advising the board on the strategic development and implementation of training programmes for the sector. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality, and also sits on the Craft Guild of Chefs, Committee of Management and chairs its Education and Training Committee.
