10/09/2026
We are writing with the extremely sad news that Professor Megan Povey died on Wednesday 9 September, after being taken ill last week.
As well as being a prolific, widely respected and cited scientist, Megan was a much loved and stalwart member of our UCU branch, and the AUT which preceded UCU’s formation.
Many of you will have stood on picket lines with Megan, observed her friendly persuasion for delivery drivers to turn around rather than cross a picket, and marched with her to raise awareness of union campaigns, human rights issues and international injustices. Megan was always proud to represent UCU, travelling with our banner to many a demonstration and gathering, and keen to support activists no matter how new or seasoned in the movement.
There were many strings to Megan’s trade union bow. We believe Megan first joined the AUT committee in the 1980s and served in many roles within AUT and UCU, from Press Officer for AUT, to Leeds UCU president from 2009-11. During her presidency, our branch fought and won in a significant dispute over compulsory redundancies in the Faculty of Biological Sciences.
Megan served three consecutive elected terms on UCU’s National Executive Committee from 2007-2013, and was elected as a UCU negotiator for the USS pension scheme JNC in 2012/13, and worked on pensions as an elected member of the (USS) UCU National Disputes Committee from 2019. She also undertook several terms doing very detailed democratic work as an elected member of the UCU Congress Business Committee.
More recently, Megan served as a joint Leeds UCU Equality Officer in 2021/22. She was elected to UCU’s UK LGBTQ+ members standing committee from 2018-2023, and UCU’s UK Women Members standing committee from 2018-21. Megan also represented UCU at the annual Women’s TUC conference in 2019 and 2020. Many colleagues have commented on how encouraging and welcoming Megan was, and she is remembered as a very active member, engaging with everything up for discussion, contributing wise insights and suggestions, and keen to listen.
Many members will have also come to know Megan through her involvement with the university’s LGBT+ Staff Network, where she was able to support others as a role model, and shared her experience for others on the Network’s website (link to her post in comments below), where her openness demonstrated her commitment to help others feel able to be themselves.
We truly believe we honour Megan by continuing to organise and support each other across our branch and movement.
We have opened a memorial post on our branch website for comments in case you wish to leave a message or memory (link also in comments under this post).
We will write again with information about arrangements for Megan’s funeral and plans to honour her legacy as a branch when we have them.
In sadness and solidarity,
Vicky, on behalf of the UCU University of Leeds branch committee
