1. Dean of Students: A vital advocate for student welfare, our Dean of Students ensures a supportive and enriching environment, guiding you through your academic journey and personal growth. 

  2. Faculty Dean: The Faculty Dean leads the academic faculty with excellence, fostering innovation in teaching and research, ensuring the highest standards in your learning experience. 

  3. Dean of Education: Our Dean of Education oversees the curriculum development and educational strategies, driving the vision for a modern, impactful education for all students.  

Each dean plays a crucial role in maintaining the exceptional quality of education and support that GBS is proud to offer. Explore their profiles to learn more about their contributions to our vibrant community. 

Dean of Students

Dr Melissa Willby

Melissa brings with her 30 years of experience in both the American Study Abroad and UK Higher Education sectors. She is accomplished at developing quality programmes that bring businesses and NGOs into the classroom to enhance learning. Dr Willby was formerly the Academic Director of the Mountbatten Program in London, Dean at Hult International Business School, and former Internship Director at Syracuse University’s London campus. In her current capacity as Dean at GBS, she is responsible for the school’s academic administration and external relations. She supports and promotes the highest quality educational programmes, research, and public service. 

Faculty Dean, Bath Spa University

Dr Alli Jones

Alli has held senior positions as a Chief Academic Officer, Executive Dean and Consultant across several private and public HE providers. With over 25 years’ experience within the HE sector, she has experience of developing and delivering on strategy and performance improvement. She is passionate about innovation in learning, teaching and assessments to deliver a high-quality experience for our students and increase their employability. She is passionate about GBS’s vision to change the lives of students through education and strives to support faculty to grow and continuously improve for the best student outcomes. 
 

Faculty Dean, Leeds Trinity University

Dr Odette Carew

During an extensive career working in further education and higher education institutions, Odette has held many roles including being a teacher, tutor, mentor, internal and external moderator, curriculum manager, head of school, director and principal. Whether operationally or strategically, her passion and focus has always been student-focussed. Odette seeks to be proactive in continually improving the quality, accessibility and relevance of education and training to raise aspirations and increase student success within the remit of diversity and widening participation. Having joined GBS in September 2023 for a new challenge of working exclusively in an HE institution, her experience within the Leeds Trinity University partnership has been busy, exciting and rewarding as Odette strives towards excellence with her new team. 

Dean of CCCU

Jovana Perzic

Before joining GBS, Jovana worked for a private higher education institution as Principal, Business Lecturer and Programme Leader for undergraduate and postgraduate business studies, overseeing several HND programmes. Jovana started her education as an HND in Business student, proceeded to postgraduate study in Strategic Management and Leadership, before being awarded MA in Leadership and Management. Her experience inspired her to research the management of quality in higher education as her PhD topic and later become a QAA Assessor. In her previous role, as Head of Academic Enterprise and Innovation at the UK Council for Psychotherapy, her role was to further develop standards of education and she contributed to the creation of QAA Subject Benchmark Statements for this field. 

Dean of OBU

Colin Bladen Kopacz

Colin Bladen-Kopacz joined GBS in 2022 as Dean of the University of Suffolk provision, responsible for the undergraduate degree programmes validated by the University of Suffolk. He is personally responsible for more than one hundred staff both academic and non-academic over five campuses, and 5000 students. Colin was previously Dean of Higher Education Participation and Skills at the University Centre South Essex where he served for a period of five years. His other roles have included those of Head of Undergraduate Programmes at The University of Northampton Business School, Course Manager (Accounting and Finance Division) at London Metropolitan University Business School, and Transition Tsar, also at the London Metropolitan Business School. Colin has a Master of Philosophy in Economics. 
 

Dean of UoS

Tracy Maule

Tracy Maule joined GBS in 2022 as an Associate Dean (Assessment) for the University of Suffolk partnership, becoming Dean of the partnership in 2024. She is responsible for the undergraduate degree programmes validated by the University of Suffolk, and accountable for more than one hundred staff over five campuses, and 5000 students. Tracy has studied at the universities of Reading, Royal Holloway, UCL and Greenwich and has worked in UK higher education for more than 20 years. Beginning her career as a lecturer at the University of Chichester, her most recent role prior to starting at GBS was Programme Partnership Manager for undergraduate programmes validated by UEA at the University Centre South Essex. 

Dean of Education

Dr Matthew Carlile

Dr Matthew Carlile was a teacher educator, a Head of Department and then a Head of School at Goldsmiths, University of London, leading six departments offering programmes in management, economics, entrepreneurship, education, computing, psychology and social work through a comprehensive curriculum review and an administrative restructure. His 20-year background as a teacher and researcher in inclusive education underpins his work at GBS. He is passionate about developing teaching and research strategies and practices that focus on achieving the very best outcomes for our students, and developing a knowledgeable and confident cohort of lecturers.

Dean  of CCCU

Diane Bray

Diane is the Dean of the CCCU partnership at GBS, taking up this role in 2023. She has previously held other leadership roles in two other universities, building a legacy of targeted development towards establishing successful academic communities. The foundation of these successful departments and faculties has been centred on the educational experience of students. Diane is committed to her students and their journeys, working to ensure that their university education is as transformative as it was for her. 

Diane has gained undergraduate and postgraduate honours in the field of psychology and has taught all areas of her discipline throughout her career in higher education. Psychology is a rich discipline that builds a better understanding, on many levels, of why people do what they do.  As head of a psychology department, she was fortunate to teach research methods and statistics, positive psychology, and criminal and forensic psychology. It is a real privilege to have Diana here at GBS. Her resume and personal values resonate strongly with who we are, and we look forward to benefiting from her vast range of skills and experiences. 

Dean of Pearson

Sunita Kotta

Mrs Sunita Kotta (M com, MPhil, PGCHE) has three decades of academic operations experience at various higher education institutions. Her experience has been working with international partnerships, QAA and Pearson reviews, and delivering successful academic outcomes for various universities.