The Board of WRL monitors progress of the realisation of the business plan through reporting by the Principal Investigators at the regular board meetings at which the trustees discuss and assess against objectives set in research plans consistent with the overall direction set in this business plan.

Operational management of Research Fellows and assistants is by designated Principal Investigators and Research Assistants are managed in combination between Principal Investigators and Research Fellows. Operational oversight by the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise (University of Lancashire) who is also a Trustee of WRL.

The Principal, who is currently also Principal Investigator of the public value governance activity, acts at the direction and discretion of the Trustees in his capacity as the Principal of WRL.

For each of the research areas the Principal Investigator will produce a research plan which must be consistent with the overarching charitable objects of WRL and the aims and objectives of this business plan. That plan is assessed and monitored (and perhaps modified) as trustees receive reports from Principal Investigators at the Boards regular meetings.

The governance structure of WRL is represented in the annex. It shows how the authority of funding decisions derives from the three independent trustees, and how the independent trustees draw upon the authority and expertise of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise, (and the Director of Research and Enterprise Service (RES) (University of Lancashire) who is the fifth Trustee) as required representing diagrammatically how a distinction is maintained between WRLs interests and those of the University of Lancashire.

The Charity Commission was consulted on the previous Business Plan and was content that this governance model, with funding decisions made by the three non-conflicted independent trustees, was in accordance with the proper governance of charities.

Trustees

The board of WRL, comprising currently five Trustees, sets the direction and commissions the research. Trustees who are employees of the University of Lancashire recuse themselves from decisions on funding and contracts with the university in accordance with WRL policy on the management of conflicts of interest.

Chairman

Professor John Fyfe CBE is an international strategic development specialist in socioeconomics and an influential speaker on partnership development and public value. Awarded the CBE for his services to West Cumbria in 2009, John pioneered local community partnership concept in West Cumbria setting up a partnership model in 1986 that was central to the regeneration of the Cumbria area by encouraging government agencies, stakeholders, and businesses to work together for the community’s common good.   A founding Father of the Westlakes Science Park and of University of Lancashire’s presence and contribution to that community in the wider regional and national context.

Willie Slavin MBE has a professional background in Primary education with 18 years’ experience as Headteacher of two schools in Whitehaven. Since retirement he has developed an extensive engagement in the Voluntary sector with a particular interest in working with organisations providing services to children, young people and families who experience poverty and disadvantage. He is a longstanding Trustee of Howgill Family Centre – a Sure Start Pilot Project, founding Chair of the West Cumbria Child Poverty Forum, Chair of The Whitehaven Foyer and Chair of Transforming West Cumbria Family Wellbeing Project funded by the nuclear industry.

Professor StJohn Crean, is Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at University of Central Lancashire, having previously been Executive Dean of College of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences.  He is an Honorary Consultant in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at East Lancs Hospital Trust and the Robert Bradlaw advisor at the Royal College of Surgeons of England and Editor in Chief of the Faculty Dental Journal (FDJ) and Examiner for MFDS (RCSP Glasgow).  He is also Chair of Lancashire LEP Health Sector Board, Council member of the NHSA, NW Innovation Agency, NW Health and Social Care Workforce Group, ICP and ICS Strategy Group, Lead for Preston Cyber Zone and Cyber Solutions Centre and Co-Chair Work force and skills NCF sub-group and NCF steering group member.

Dr. Alexis Holden BSc(Hons), MBA (Open), PhD is Director of the Research and Knowledge Exchange Service (RKES) at the University of Central Lancashire. RKES supports and facilitates the university in identifying, developing, and delivering opportunities focussing on research and knowledge exchange activities and projects and enables collaborations with external organisations from the public, private and charity sectors. Alexis has worked at the University in a range of academic, management and leadership roles. She is also Chair of Governors for a secondary school in Lancaster.