Council

Council is the Governing Body of LSE. It has ultimate authority and accountability for exercising LSE’s powers in pursuit of advancing education, learning and research for the public benefit.

Council makes decisions in accordance with LSE’s constitutional and legal framework and Articles of Association, available in our Governance Resources. The Articles of Association are underpinned by a supporting governance architecture, key components of which are set out on these pages.

The Articles set out that Council is directly responsible for:

approving LSE’s strategy
approving annual estimates of income and expenditure
approving the annual audited accounts
appointing (and removing) the Director
appointing (and removing) the School Secretary
making, altering, amending, repealing or adding to any byelaws or regulations made under the Articles, unless otherwise specified.
Council may delegate other responsibilities where this is appropriate. See the Council scheme of delegation and the terms of reference of Council committees.

The articles provide for eighteen Council members, including independent, staff and student members. Each is a trustee, company director, and member of the School as well as a governor of LSE. Together they take collective responsibility for decision making.

Council members' Declaration of Interest

Independent Members (Up to 12 may be appointed)

Member	Status	Appointment End Date
Dr Susan Liautaud	Independent (Chair)	31 Jul 2023
Ali Nikpay	Independent (Vice Chair & Senior Independent Director)	31 Jul 2023
Sonali De Rycker	Independent	31 Dec 2025
Sir David Higgins	Independent and Chair of Finance and Estates Committee	31 Jul 2025
Johannes Huth	Independent and Chair of Audit Committee	31 Jul 2023
Dr Donald Kaberuka	Independent	31 Jul 2025
Dr Musimbi Kanyoro	Independent	31 Dec 2023
Gavin Patterson	Independent	31 July 2024
Stuart Roden	Independent and Chair of Remuneration Committee	25 Mar 2024
Dr Angela Spatharou	Independent	31 July 2025
Elisabeth Stheeman	Independent	31 Jul 2023

Internal Members (Up to 8 may be appointed)

Member	Status	Appointment End Date
Baroness Minouche Shafik	Director	Ex-officio
Tilly Mason	LSE Students’ Union General Secretary	Ex-officio
Sarah Gerwens	Students' Union nominee	30 June 2023
Professor Pauline Barrieu	Vice Chair of Academic Board	Ex-Officio
Professor David Kershaw	Academic Board Nominee	31 Jul 2025
Professor Niamh Moloney	Academic Board Nominee	31 Jul 2025
Professor Wim A Van der Stede	Academic Board Nominee	31 Jul 2024
Julia Biggane	Professional Services Staff	31 Jul 2025