Districts 1 and 15 By-elections (for period June 2026 to 31 August 2027)
We have vacancies on the Executive for District 1 (City of Sunderland, City of York, Co Durham, Cumbria, Darlington, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, North Tyneside, North Yorkshire, Redcar & Cleveland, South Tyneside, Stockton) and guarded women’s seat in District 15 (Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Enfield, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kingston Upon Thames, Merton, Richmond on Thames, Sutton). The Executive has agreed the following timetable:
Election Timetable
30 January 2026 Publication of timetable/Nominations open
22 April 2026 Nominations close/deadline for Election material (midnight)
29 April 2026 Deadline for withdrawal of Nominations
13 May 2026 Election open
10 June 2026 Election close
Any queries to elections@neu.org.uk
Elections to the Executive and to the Officer body are held biennially in alternate years. Information about these elections, and any by-elections occurring when we have vacancies on the Executive, is circulated to district officers. If you wish to know more about how candidates in these elections are nominated, please contact your district
Deputy general secretary election result
The election for the position of deputy general secretary closed on 30 September. We are pleased to announce that Sarah Kilpatrick has been elected to the position.
Members who wish to obtain a copy of the full voting report may do so by sending a request to: elections@neu.org.uk.
Junior vice-president election (for period of 1 January 2026 to 31 August 2030)
The elections for the Junior Vice-President closed on Monday, 15 December 2025 and Debra Beale was elected. Ms Beale will take office on 1 January 2026.
Members who wish to obtain a copy of the full voting report may do so by sending a request to: elections@neu.org.uk.
2026 Officers Elections
Nominations for the national officer elections closed at midnight on Monday, 15 December. Our congratulations to Hazel Danson who was elected unopposed as national treasurer from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2028. The elections for the two vice-presidents and the Membership & Equalities Officer will run from 2 February to 2 March and the following candidates are standing:
Vice President (2 positions)
Paula Burgin
Emma Farthing
Joe Flynn
Susan Kent
Sam Makinde
Membership & Equalities Officer
Mairead Canavan
Louise Lewis
Voting packs will be sent to all members except associate and student members and should arrive within five working days of the opening date. Any queries should be sent to elections@neu.org.uk.
Executive election results (for the period of September 2025 to August 2027)
Voting in the above executive elections closed midday on Tuesday, 29 April 2025. Please see the results below:
District 1 – Guarded seats uncontested (reserved seats for women by Rule)
Nicola Hawkins
Sophie Houghton
Paul Welch
District 2
Debbie Kahler
Helen Bellamy
Louise Lewis
District 3
Anna Scott
Ian Walters
Louise Regan
District 4 – Guarded seats uncontested (reserved seats for women by Rule)
Debs Gwynn
Julie Copeland
Peter Glover
District 5
Dawn Taylor
Nick Wigmore
Sarah Vaughan
District 6
David Mingay
Emma Brady
Ivy Scott/Bex Bothwell-O’Hearn
District 7 - Uncontested
Christopher Denson
Jodie Mallier-Ridley
Kate Taylor
District 8 – Guarded seats uncontested (reserved seats for women by Rule)
Christopher Dutton
Leigh Seedhouse
Lucy Coleman
District 9
Ella Lister
Murray Sackwild
Phillipa Kearns
District 10 – Guarded seats uncontested (reserved seats for women by Rule)
Holly Williams
Liz Ritson
Warren Chambers
District 11 – Guarded seats uncontested (reserved seats for women by Rule)
Daniel Warrington
Helen Reeder
Susan Kent
District 12 - Uncontested
Jon Reddiford
Michaela Wilde
Sheila Caffrey
District 13
Claire Rickard
Elizabeth McLean
Hannah O’Neill
District 14 - Uncontested
Carly Slingsby
Eleanor Davies
Jess Edwards
District 15
Debra Beale
Lucy Cox
Matija Milovanovic
District 16 - Uncontested
Dominic Byrne
Louise Cuffaro
Mehreen Begg
District 17 - Uncontested
Edel McInerney
Black Member Seat
Denise Henry
Disabled Member Seat
Colleen Johnson
LGBT+ Member Seat
Kathryn Barnes
Support Staff Member Seat
Rachel Ferraby
Post-16 Member Seat
Duncan Blackie
Independent Member Seat
Brian Metcalf
Independent scrutineer
Civica (formerly ERBS) is the independent scrutineer appointed to oversee the elections. If you have any questions, please email elections@neu.org.uk.
The independent scrutineer reports on all elections. Reports can be requested via elections@neu.org.uk or by writing to:
Felicia Wright
Assistant General Secretary
Business Services
NEU
Hamilton House
Mabledon Place
London WC1H 9BD