Barry Keates became a governor of St Mary's in 1999 and was Vice-Chairman of the Board between 2000 and 2005. He served as Acting Chairman during the interval between Bishop O'Donoghue's resignation following his translation to the diocese of Lancaster and the appointment of the current Chairman, Bishop Stack. As Vice-Chairman of the Board, with an extensive business background in personnel management, Barry Keates was enormously influential in the development of the College.
Barry Keates was awarded the CBE in 1994 for "services to industrial relations". In 2005 he received the Papal Knighthood of St Gregory. In 2006 he will receive the honorary degree of Master of the University of the University of Surrey.