Meet our Governors and College Board Members

John Widdowson CBE has been Chair of the NCG Corporation Board since August 2023. John began his career as a lawyer but worked in Further and Higher Education for over forty years. He left his post as Principal and Chief Executive of New College Durham in July 2020 after twenty years in the post. 

In addition to his roles in colleges across the country, John has played a leading role in a number of national educational bodies including the Further Education National Consortium and the Mixed Economy Group of Colleges. He has been a Board member and President of the Association of Colleges and was a member of the Higher Education Funding Council for England for six years. He is Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Workers Educational Association, a national charity supporting adult education.

John has published papers and articles on a range of education subjects and has spoken regularly at national and international conferences.  He has a particular interest in the development of college-based Higher Education to provide alternatives to traditional approaches to university education.

John has been a member of the NCG Corporation Board since September 2020 and has served on the Appraisal and Remuneration, Estates and Higher Education Governance Committees during that time.

Shirley Atkinson OBE is the former Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Sunderland where she led the University through a period of sustained growth with the expansion of operations in Sunderland, London and overseas. This incorporated a new School of Nursing, a new Medical school, a University Technical College in Durham, a new Cultural partnership in Sunderland, and the early adoption of degree apprenticeships.

Throughout her career, Shirley has held senior executive roles both within and outside of the education sector. She has a wealth of experience in non-executive roles both at national and regional level. Her recent national roles have included Board membership of the University and Colleges Employers Association, the Social Mobility Advisory Group, and the Cultural Cities Inquiry Board. She is a Board Director and Chair of Audit and Risk Committee at the University of Cumbria. Shirley was awarded an OBE in the Queens 2019 Honours list for Education with a focus on widening participation and access to higher education.

Shirley joined the NCG Board in 2020 and is a member of the HE Quality & Students Committees.

Charlotte Croffie is a global executive with 20 plus years' experience working across complex, multi-cultural and often political environments.  She is an advocate for Equality, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and social justice. She is also an executive coach.

Charlotte is currently a Professor of Practice – Entrepreneurship at Loughborough University.  Her areas of interest are Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Intersectionality and decision making across multiple sectors.

She joined Loughborough University as the inaugural Pro Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.  Charlotte led the EDI portfolio, creating inclusive environments and sustainable outcomes with tangible impact. As a member of the executive, she also supports the Vice-Chancellor and executive team to deliver the University’s mandate and to address global challenges.

Prior to this, Charlotte held a range of positions including Director for Entrepreneurship and Director of Organisational Development at UCL; Director of Human Resources at Birkbeck University, Senior Consultant/Advisor for International Development and Regional Skills & Capacity Advisor for London.

Charlotte is a Trustee for The Centre for Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education (TASO) and the British Computer Society (BCS).

Charlotte joined the NCG Corporation Board in May 2024.

Darren Crossley is the Director of Place, Sustainable Growth and Transport for the newly formed Cumberland Council and has more than 30 years of experience in local government working for Metropolitan and District Councils in Preston, Sheffield, Bedford, Wigan, Lancashire and now Cumberland.

Darren has substantial experience of leading public sector organisations, the education sector and social enterprise.  He is skilled in place-based leadership, crisis management, major capital project delivery, regeneration and economic programme management, local government transformation, arts, culture and tourism development, community engagement, climate change policy and transport planning.  

Away from council duties, Darren has significant board experience in the further education sector as the Chair of the Carlisle College board, city health development and social enterprise as a Director of iSH (Industrial Solutions Hub). Darren was the Chair of the Carlisle College Board for four years and is a member of the NCG Search Committee. Darren joined the NCG Corporation Board in March 2024.

Lisa Gregg is the Director of Business Transformation at Aston University, Birmingham. Lisa is a senior management professional with extensive experience of successfully setting strategy and delivering transformation in Higher Education for almost 20 years. Most of Lisa’s career has been spent on leading and developing individuals to be the best they can be and enabling teams to achieve strategic goals.

Lisa is a member of the University group for Diversity and Inclusion and leads the Inspiring Women at Aston network of over 150 colleagues. Lisa has organised and led the activities for International Women’s Weeks in recent years and this has included bringing together external networks from other institutions, representatives from Aston Villa Football Club, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Trust, and also utilising in-house knowledge from Aston academic colleagues.

Lisa is actively engaged both within and outside of the Higher Education sector, in order to share and build best practice and share innovation and to develop her skills.

Outside of Lisa’s paid role, she has invested eleven years in supporting primary education through Governor, Vice-Chair, Chair, Trustee and more recently, Member roles. Lisa recognises the importance of building relationships locally, however also working with wider stakeholders and networks in order to achieve strategic aims.

Lisa is keen to explore how her skills, experiences, networks and passion for learning, can support NCG in its drive to create impactful and sustainable education with learner experiences at the heart.

Lisa was the Chair of Kidderminster College Board before joining the NCG Corporation Board in March 2024.

Rob Holt is Group Director – Strategic Services at Robertson Group. Rob is a strategy-oriented senior executive with 30 years’ industry recognised results in developing and implementing strategies to establish, transform and grow businesses within the construction and services sectors. This includes transferable expertise in the acquisition, integration and disposal of significant businesses to support and deliver organisational strategic objectives for both the businesses involved and respective partners.

Rob also has extensive experience in the management of significant construction and services businesses delivering a number of complex UK public sector programmes in the Education, Healthcare and Local Authority sectors.

Rob joined NCG in 2020 and is the Chair of the Estates Committee.

Louise Humpish is a Global Account Director at JLL and a key figure in JLL’s UK and EMEA Work Dynamics. With rich leadership experience, Louise utilises strategic thought to shape and deliver effective, measurable solutions. Specialising in commercial real estate, she aids clients in realising their strategic goals. Louise's notable focused experience with commercial real estate occupiers has cultivated a wealth of experiences, supporting clients in actualising their strategic objectives and ensuring that they are catered to the variations and increased pace of change in market maturity, cultures, and differing priorities.

She brings enviable strategic prowess, facilitating her clients' journey to unlocking their inherent potential and ensuring future-fit workplaces that deliver the best employee experience.

Louise is recognised for effectively managing complex stakeholder engagements across different cultural, maturity, and client business models, ensuring alignment with her clients’ strategic objectives.

As a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, her career has spanned the North East, London, and the Middle East. Today, while working in London, Louise once again calls the North East home.

Louise joined the NCG Corporation Board in May 2024.

Joanne Marshall is Chief Executive at JMM and Associates – PeopleMatters Ltd. Joanne is a high energy leader with over 25 years’ experience working with organisations in a variety of workforce roles in both the Higher Education sector and the NHS. She has 20 years’ experience as an Executive Director of People and OD, and has significant experience in leading organisational transformation, change programmes, developing organisational models, organisational turnaround, complex investigations, development of strategy and underpinning strategic engagement and communications strategies.

Joanne has significant experience in human resources, cultural change, organisational development, communications, engagement, leading a range of campus services, transformational change including large acquisitions, and the management of complex employee relation’s issues, including complex investigations / MHPS investigations in the NHS, and negotiating national pay awards for the HE Sector.

With her strong leadership skills and experience, Joanne is agile and passionate about supporting others to realise their full potential and inspire change. She is an experienced chair, coach and mentor to a broad range of stakeholders from board level to grassroots staff, at a national and regional level with the ability to build lasting effective relationships with key stakeholders, with a forward-thinking approach and a proven ability to translate strategy into action on the ground.

Joanne joined the NCG Corporation Board in May 2024.

Chris McCourt is an Investment Director at Mercia Ventures focused on early-stage and technology investments across the North East of England. Chris trained as a Chartered Accountant with a Big 4 firm in Newcastle and after a spell in London returned to the North East to work in regional accountancy firms, most recently Armstrong Watson LLP. 

Between 2012 and 2014 Chris was Chief Operating Officer at the North East England Chamber of Commerce during which time he had Board responsibility for the Chamber’s training company, an independent apprenticeship provider working with around 1,000 apprentices each year. This gave Chris a good understanding of the apprenticeship funding regime and Ofsted inspection process.

Chris joined the NCG Corporation Board in 2020. He is the Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee and a member of the Appraisal & Remuneration and Search, Nominations & Governance Committees.

Sally McMahon has more than 25 years of experience working in Adult Education, starting as an NVQ assessor working with Business Administration and Customer Service Apprentices and then moving into contract management of online learning at Ufi learndirect. Sally became Regional Partnership Manager at Ufi and then Regional Performance Director for the North East region.

Sally has worked at Newcastle college for over 10 years, starting as Operations Manager and then taking up the role of Head of Adult Education in 2016. This current role involves managing the overall performance of the ESOL and Adult Skills for Work departments.

Sally has extensive experience of decision making, stakeholder engagement and management, performance and people management.  She is passionate about continuous improvement and believes good communication is key to a productive workplace.

Vikki Smith is a seasoned executive leader, whose career spans both public and private sectors, and further and higher education. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Education Standards at the Education & Training Foundation, developing strategy and supporting initiatives in academic governance and professional development methodologies. Prior to this appointment Vikki was the Special Education Adviser at the British Medical Association, where she engineered increases in member engagement and strategic advancements; she also has a rich background in organisational development and change management from her time with Oxford University Press and City & Guilds Group.

Vikki holds a PGCE in Further Education and a Ph.D. in Education; she is a Fellow of the RSA and Senior Fellow of the Staff and Educational Development Association. Vikki is motivated by driving positive change and fostering impactful outcomes in further education and skills.

Vikki joined the NCG Corporation Board in March 2024.

Rachel Taylor is a successful Senior Executive and Non-Executive with extensive strategic and operational experience with a proven track record at a senior level in the social housing sector.

Rachel is a passionate believer in the importance of investment in communities to support and enable to bring about demonstrable and sustained improvement.

Rachel is a well-connected financial professional with strong business acumen who has exceled at influencing at organisational, local, and regional levels.

Rachel has a strong belief in everyone being able to access good quality education and understands the value education provides to individuals, communities and the economy.  As a Chair of a primary school, Rachel led the Governing Body to provide effective leadership and governance oversight.

Rachel joined the NCG Corporation Board in May 2024.

Christopher Wigginton is Pro Vice-Chancellor Engagement and Partnerships at Sheffield Hallam University where he has responsibility for the University’s global and regional activity as well as its wider partnerships, including with the Further Education Sector.

He also leads - or has led - a range of other activity for the University including responsibility for various Faculties and Colleges, academic resources and work planning, workforce planning, the University’s approach to culture and creativity, academic delivery structures and models, and the University’s systems leadership in the South Yorkshire region. With a background in the Creative Industries, Professor Wigginton’s research and academic work covers a range of cultural and creative forms including poetry, writing, art, film, media and digital production.

Chris joined the NCG Corporation Board in May 2024.

Andrew Young is currently Chief Operating Officer at the London School of Economics.  He manages the majority of central professional services, including: Estates, HR, IMT, Communications, Risk & Compliance, EDI, ARD, Residences & Catering and has oversight of the administration of the School. He sits on School Management Committee and is based in the Executive Office. He runs Professional Services Staff Briefings each term and introduced the annual PS Staff Conference in 2017.

Andrew's focus is very much on staff development and staff engagement. He has managed a significant portfolio of new build and refurbishment projects with a value approaching £500m.  

Prior to LSE, Andrew was COO at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and before that was Interim Director of Newcastle Science City and Faculty Manager at Newcastle University.  He has a PhD in Zoology.

Andrew joined the NCG Corporation Board in May 2024.

Liz Bromley is the Chief Executive Officer at NCG. Before joining NCG in 2019, Liz worked in Higher Education for more than 20 years, holding senior roles at the Open University, Salford, Goldsmiths and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) where she was Deputy Vice Chancellor. Liz was also CEO of University Alliance during 2018, on a secondment from UCLan.

First in the family to go to University, Liz studied English Language and Literature at Worcester College, Oxford. She has been a passionate advocate for social equality and for widening access to all forms of education, in practical as well as in policy terms, throughout her career. Liz is well known across the education sector for leadership development, positive change management, entrepreneurial leadership, improving the student experience, and for making things happen.

Liz holds a number of non-executive roles, which include English Heritage, NCFE and the Newcastle Hospitals Foundation Trust.

Anthony started his career as an Electrical and Mechanical apprentice at 15 with British Rail based in York. His first year was full time at York College where he learned basic engineering skills. He then had three further years of part time work and education in York and Leeds.

After his apprenticeship he went back to York College and completed a part time ONC and followed on with a part time HNC.  This led to a part time degree in Electronics.

After nearly 10 years, Anthony moved into the residential and commercial sector working for a privately owned company that built new homes, offices and warehouses across the North West.  He was involved in land buying, planning, sales and health and safety.

From here he moved to a large PLC housebuilder and has worked for two of the three largest house builders in the UK.  Anthony has been a Managing Director for 10 years.  He loves the varied work of house building.  

Antony’s passions away from work are his family, his two dogs (Orla and Aoife), squash, sailing and cooking outdoors.

Chetna has more 30 years’ experience in the construction and building sectors. Chetna moved to Carlisle in 1986 and spent two years at Cumbria College of Art and Design where she specialised in Surface Pattern Design. She then worked at an Architects practice before moving into Engineering.

Chetna is currently the MD of Construction Risk Consultants which was established in 2003. Prior to this Chetna had a local authority background where she progressed to civil engineer through a day release programme that she started at Carlisle College. Chetna was heavily involved in regeneration and land reclamation primarily across the west coast of Cumbria but was involved in the regeneration of the prestigious Kingmoor Park Business Park.

Chetna now specialises in ensuring compliance and governance for all sizes of business across the construction sector. Although more recently specialising in highways she is also involved with local construction companies and is able to help her clients with business management systems as well as helping to win new contracts through bid preparation.

Chetna has two children who both progressed to university after attending Carlisle College. She enjoys traveling and has visited many different places around the world.

Nicola is the Director for the Central Region at the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), representing a broad range of small and medium-sized construction enterprises.

With extensive experience in the construction sector, including running her own building company, Nicola advocates for the needs of SME builders and works to identify opportunities for growth. Her role involves translating industry insights into practical solutions for business owners, and she acts as an ambassador for Master Builders.

Nicola is particularly passionate about addressing the skills gap in the construction industry. She sees great potential in fostering partnerships between Kidderminster College and local businesses, particularly through the College’s new Construction and Automotive Green Technology Centre. She is committed to ensuring that SMEs play a pivotal role in training the next generation of skilled tradespeople, ensuring students gain a wide-ranging experience across the industry.

With previous experience as a school governor, Nicola has a grounding in educational governance and is keen to expand her understanding within the further education sector. She aims to help align the college’s programmes with the evolving needs of the construction industry, supporting the development of partnerships that benefit both students and local businesses.

Judy is leading the skills initiative for the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership and works as the Head of Service for Skills and Investment at the Worcestershire County Council.

She has worked in the Employment and Skills landscape for over 25 years and joined Worcestershire in 2013.  She was initially tasked with building a team which could develop and promote the wider skills agenda across Worcestershire. This role was eventually expanded to cover the LEP Director of Skills role.

Over the past few years, Judy and her team have built up a reputation of successfully delivering many ESF/ESIF, DfE, DWP, national and locally funded programmes and initiatives across the county.

Judy’s approach is through a creative, solution-orientated role with partnership and stakeholder engagement at the heart, working together to build the skills landscape of Worcestershire. Judy’s role within the council also includes the management of a number of other agendas and teams including Learning Services, SENDIASS and the NEET Strategic role.

Judy’s proudest achievement in her role has been the creation of the Worcestershire Apprenticeship brand to take apprenticeship engagement to a wider audience, which celebrates its 10-year anniversary in 2024.

Her mission is to ensure that young people have the skills to work in our economy and build a workforce Worcestershire can be proud of.

Tony has worked within the education system – both FE and HE – for over 22 years and has extensive knowledge of the opportunities and challenges facing colleges, the funding rules governing them and the agencies operating them.

Over many years, he has helped his previous college build a reputation for developing and working with varied partners within and without the sector and has worked with many employers both large and small.

Tony has also been a Board member of the local Training Provider Association for some time, working to develop a collaborative, supportive and innovative range of services and offers in conjunction with other stakeholders.

Tony also has experience of being a student in FE and HE. He started and ran a small retail business based in Worcester, specialising in science fiction memorabilia, and remains a dedicated fan (especially of Doctor Who and Star Trek!)

Ian has recently retired having worked in both formal FE and informal learning sectors as well as a lengthy career in the Civil Service. Job roles have ranged from designing programmes for The Prince’s Trust to working in the Minister for Employment’s private office.

Ian has dipped into FE learning as a student on a number of occasions throughout his career, to update or add to his qualifications.

Since the early 1980s, his career has been heavily focused on people with disabilities and those disenfranchised from learning, with a particular focus on those with learning difficulties. He has also been heavily involved in local community activities in the wider Kidderminster area. This has ranged from being a local school Governor, being part of a team that raised funds for and built a village community building, and being a local Magistrate for 25 years.

Dale has been in the presentation and communication industry for over 40 years.

He left school with one goal - to run his own business - and after just three years the opportunity arose. Dale took it, operating at first from a small outbuilding at his parent’s home as a filmmaker.

Today, DRPG is recognised as one of the leading integrated, full-service presentation and communication groups, winning Agency of the Year multiple times. The DRPG team comprises over 410 specialists across multiple locations in Worcestershire, London, Windsor, Leeds, Manchester, Germany, Ireland and the USA.

DRPG designs and produces communications solutions globally. Working with a wide range of clients to effectively communicate to internal and external audiences, all through award-winning film and video, events, experiential, print, design, digital, exhibition and creative solutions.

Dale is the past Chairman of EVCOM and is actively involved with key corporate clients, having worked at a senior level assisting in the development of communication strategies and creating presentation vehicles.

Clients find his wealth of experience and knowledge invaluable in creating solutions that are bespoke to an organisation and are effective. Using his production and broadcast background, Dale has been able to ensure DRPG's 25-year virtual and hybrid offering has expanded to cope with the demand brought about due to Covid.

Dale is passionate about nurturing new talent and putting his people first. DRPG has appeared in the Sunday Times' 'Best 100 Companies to Work For' list and has been awarded the Investors in People platinum standard. In 2015, Dale was presented with the events industry Personality of the Year and in 2016 was honoured with a fellowship award for services to communication, presented at the House of Lords. DRPG has recently been awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

Cathy has over 20 years of experience in the Higher Education (HE) sector, working at a senior level managing a university’s quality assurance and enhancement processes alongside Academic Registry functions. 

Cathy’s current position is Academic Registrar at Arden University, a UK private university delivering primarily distance learning programmes alongside blended learning provision delivered in UK and International Study Centres. 

She has also worked for QAA as a Quality and Engagement Manager, undertaking quality reviews and facilitating the Agency's activity around student engagement and Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB).

Cathy has a degree in Business Information Systems and a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education Management from UCL Institute of Education, University College of London.  She also volunteers with a local Youth Theatre Company, managing fundraising activities and backstage duties.

Kelly has been working at Kidderminster College for two years and has worked extremely hard in enrichment to increase student engagement across all areas of the College.

She is passionate about the quality of service provided to students and is focused on continuing to improve their college experience from start to finish.

She has created the NCG Enrichment Group, which has increased communication between Enrichment and Student Engagement Officers, enabling us to work together to share ideas and support each other plus sharing best practices.

Kidderminster College is a vital, vibrant part of Kidderminster town and a symbol of progress and diversity. Kelly aims to increase community relationships and build on those already thriving through collaboration and initiative.

Deavon believes that good and outstanding further education providers can create an environment that gives all learners the opportunity to achieve and excel in their chosen fields.

Deavon worked in the public sector for over 35 years, including 20 years in Further Education, in various roles across several organisations and nine years in education inspection.

Previously, Deavon worked in the NHS for 10 years. She developed a passion for education during this time and over the years earned Registered General Nurse (RGN) and Registered Health Visitor (RHV), later studying for a Masters in education management, as well as a Master’s in Business Administration.

In 2019 Deavon gained a Doctorate in Education. She is committed to and interested in being a positive board member.

Jon is the CEO of The Skills Centre - an employer-led, community-focused training and apprenticeships provider with 10 educational centres across London and the UK, serving over 4,000 students annually.

With over 15 years’ experience in strategy, operations and business development within the education and construction skills sectors, Jon brings a passion for training that provides learners with the best opportunities in their fields.

Under his leadership, The Skills Centre has developed a range of training courses and syllabuses that meet employer needs, working with partner organisations, local authorities, and policymakers across the UK to help fill a growing skills gap in the construction industry.

Living and working in Lewisham has given Jon a profound understanding of the local community's needs and aspirations, and his experience in running educational centres has provided invaluable insights into the skills, curriculum, and employability needs crucial for the region.

As an enthusiastic advocate for education and local development, Jon sees himself as an ambassador of Lewisham College within the community. He has a proven history of fostering partnerships between educational institutions and community organisations and is eager to bring this experience to his role as a member of the Lewisham College Board.

Jon is enthusiastic about supporting local young people and providing them with fantastic opportunities in Lewisham and beyond. He is keen to collaborate with fellow college board members, staff, and the community to ensure Lewisham College remains a beacon of excellence in education and a catalyst for positive change in the region.

Patrick has worked in the world of employability for many years. He describes it as the place where employment, skills and health come together; where the barriers to finding good work are exposed; and where the solutions can be found.

He is the Chair of the environmental and community building charity Groundwork East, a Trustee of Clarion Futures and a past Vice-Chair of the disability charity Papworth Trust.

He also runs a small strategic consultancy service focused on spreading good practice through discussion and debate across the employability sector in the UK and beyond. As part of that mission, he curates a rolling programme of strategy workshops and the annual Summit of the Institute of Employability Professionals. 

Before developing that portfolio, Patrick had a 30-year career as a public servant. His first leadership role was as manager of Lewisham Jobcentre in the 80s. His final role before leaving the civil service was as Jobcentre Plus Director for London at the time of the London Olympics.

As a chartered professional planner, Phoebe has worked for a range of clients (including universities, land promoters, developers and pension funds) at a large multi-disciplinary consultancy.

Previously at the Department for Education within the planning team, Phoebe worked on policy matters across the South East and provided operational advice, as well as having a good overview of planning and development in relation to the education sector.

As the Lead Planner at Thames Water, Phoebe worked on infrastructure and development projects across the Thames Water estate. She now works for the developer Aitch Group, working on mixed-use, residential and student accommodation schemes across London.

On a personal basis, Phoebe is passionate about encouraging widening participation in education, having volunteered for a charity undertaking mock university interviews for the last couple of years.

Helen has been the President of the South East London Chamber of Commerce for seven years and represents Landsec U+I (a specialist mixed-use regeneration developer) on the Board.

Prior to acquisition by Landsec, Helen represented U+I plc and worked on many major developments in Greenwich and Lewisham. She has worked as the public affairs lead for these companies and the majority of her work is with local authorities and other stakeholders.

Helen is a seasoned PR professional and has undertaken PR work in the local area for over 30 years. She has worked in property regeneration for many years as well as specialising in heritage buildings in the Maritime World Heritage Site.

Helen has been a Trustee of the Greenwich Society for over 30 years; Trustee of The Estate Charity of William Hatcliffe; the Greenwich Hatcliffe which runs alms houses for over 10 years, and this year she became a Trustee of Deptford First, a local charity which seeks to support local initiatives and provide assistance to residents in need.

Helen has been a resident of Brockley since 1986 and is committed to supporting Lewisham College through her work on the Board.

Kim started her career as a social worker, completing her training at Brunel University. 

Since then, Kim has gone on to work in various community outreach with many charities. She has worked on European social funded projects, helped training centres in London become accredited to deliver basic skills and ESOL classes, and is also fully accredited as an IT tutor. 

Kim is a former student of Lewisham College, having completed a management evening course which she really enjoyed. Kim now works for a large charity, managing 30 community outreach projects that range from food insecurity, to youth support and health.

Kim resides in Lewisham with her husband and children and is a proud daughter of the Windrush generation. Her mother was a nurse at Lewisham Hospital and her father was a local electrical engineer, so she has always been a strong local advocate for Lewisham.

As a Councillor for Hither Green ward and Cabinet Member for Jobs, Skills and Employment, she has a vast portfolio that includes local economic development, youth employment, markets, licensing and further and higher education, to name but a few.

Rachel Anderson is the Assistant Director of Policy for the North East Chamber of Commerce, where she leads on skills, skills policy and a range of other areas relating to the business landscape of the North East, including but not limited to transport, taxation, planning, economic development and devolution.

She is also the project lead for the North of Tyne and Tees Valley Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP). As part of the fieldwork for the LSIP, the Chamber engaged with over 1700 businesses in the North of Tyne and continues to work with employers and tap into their expertise in helping to design relevant provision.

Rachel has a strong interest in skills, skills policy and how it builds into the skills system and the business community. She is a keen advocate for FE colleges and the role that they play in developing young people and in developing a talent pipeline of skills for the local business community

Alice is Chief Sustainability and Communications Officer at Newcastle Airport. She is a C-suite leader with over 20 years of experience in strategic reputation communications, marketing and sustainability, and specialises in creating impactful communications strategies and developing successful and innovative teams to drive brand, growth and revenue generation.

Alice has a proven track record of raising brand awareness and ownership of voice through industry-leading campaigns which have driven leads, conversation and debate across multiple channels. She has previously worked at Parkdean Resorts, Northumbria University and the Royal College of Nursing and is a former board member of UK Hospitality Wales.

She has previously undertaken pro bono marketing and public relations work with enterprise graduates from Northumbria University. 

Alice’s experience is underpinned by professional qualifications including an MBA and Chartered Institute of Marketing Professional PG Dip.

Steve is the Chief Executive Officer at Newcastle United Foundation, which is the charity of Newcastle United.   

Steve has the accountability for leading the Foundation’s Senior Management Team with responsibility for strategy, business planning, leadership, management, governance, finance and risk. 

Since 2016 Steve has played a strategic role in significantly growing the Foundation's impact by developing innovative programmes and helping grow services to support the community across Newcastle and the North East. 
 
Since 2017 Steve has played a strategic role in growing Newcastle United Foundation by 275% and now employs over 240 staff.  

Newcastle United Foundation has been recognised nationally at the Football Business Awards as one of the best community organisations in the Premier League and was also recently awarded the North East Charity of the Year, as well as being recognised with the International Sports Award for Professional Clubs (Community). 
 
In 2022 the Foundation opened NUCASTLE a world-class, £8.5m purpose-built capital development in Newcastle City Centre to further expand the work of the Foundation and was recognised at the Construction News Awards as the best national project (under £20m). 

Richard is a Chartered Wealth Manager and has been advising individuals, trusts, charities and companies for approaching 25 years.

Prior to joining Barclays in 2011 advised clients at a National Law Firm, which allowed him insight into how intrinsically linked clients’ Wealth Management, Legal and Tax affairs are.

This experience allows Richard to work closely with clients and their professional advisors in order to support them in navigating the myriad of options available to them in protecting, managing and growing their wealth including areas such as wealth structuring and succession planning.

Richard has a passion for people development and undertakes a variety of mentoring roles across the region and beyond.

Richard is Chairman and Trustee of The Chloe & Liam Together Forever Charity.

Lindsay has been employed within Further Education for 25 years and has held various job roles and worked across both FE and HE curriculum areas whilst employed as a Lead Practitioner and Academic Programme Lead.

The job roles entailed managing curriculum improvements and providing support to Curriculum Managers with Teaching, Learning, Assessment, and Tutorial.

She is currently a Teaching Learning and Assessment Coach/Lead for maths and English, Digital Technologies and Art and Design.

In addition to her TLA role, she is the WorldSkills UK Centre of Excellence, Skills College Quality Lead for NCG and coordinates and directs seven educators across the NCG group to deliver competence to excellence to curriculum staff.

Lindsay held the post of Academic Staff Governor at her previous FE establishment for six years before joining Newcastle College in November 2021. The role provided her the opportunity to work at a strategic level with senior managers and to discuss and review educational issues, review strategic and financial objectives which met the needs of the business and partake in the annual self-assessment.

Within the role, she applied alternative thinking to problems which would generate productive solutions within challenging and changing times in education with regard to the governing body.

Lindsay has a wealth of knowledge within FE and recognises the need to support and encourage FE and HE staff to maintain high standards in times of change to the curriculum, inspection processes and college policies and procedures which meet the needs of the business.

She is a professional, positive, and engaging individual with a highly adaptable and collaborative approach to supporting college managers to ensure robust judgements are made within Newcastle College.

Professor René Koglbauer is Dean of Lifelong Learning and Professional Practice at Newcastle University, where he also holds a chair in Professional Learning and Leadership and heads up the Educational Leadership Centre in the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences.

In the Dean role, he leads the University’s lifelong learning strategy, including the growing (degree) apprenticeships and CPD provision both in Newcastle and the University’s international campuses in Malaysia and Singapore.

With the vision of developing coherent education and skills pathways, René has been leading on developing strategic skills partnerships with regional FE colleges, including NCG, and has brought together key stakeholders for regional projects and external skills funding bids, including the Institute of Electrification and Advanced Sustainable Manufacturing (IESAM), an institute co-funded by UKRI Innovate UK and the university.

René’s scholarly interest in education policy has also led to him taking an active role in contributing to the national debate on education policy matters; most recently on teacher recruitment and retention, assessment reforms, the Lifelong Learning entitlement, Skills Bill and the skills agenda more generally, which has led to numerous engagements with Members of Parliament, Peers in the House of Lords, and the Department for Education.

René holds several senior board positions at regional, national, and international level and has been actively involved in the governance of charities, national/international consortia, and education providers for over 30 years, most recently as Senator at Newcastle University, as Vice-Chair of a Multi Academy Trust and as long-standing chair of the Association for Language Learning.

He holds a senior fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, a fellowship of the RSA and the Chartered Management Institute.

Prior to joining Newcastle University, René worked as an educator and leader in secondary and further education in Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, and the UK.

Karen Marshall is the Apprentice, Education and Engagement Lead at Accenture where she manages the induction, training and supervision of all Degree Apprentices and Masters’ Apprentices for the regions, including the North East, the North West and Scotland.

Karen has always been interested in supporting people and helping them to decide their best way forward in education for their career choices.

She is a firm believer in the transformative power of education, particularly further education, to enhance life chances and social mobility, and the significant role that Newcastle College has to play as an anchor institution in the region. 

She is committed to helping to improve perceptions of the further education sector within the business world, helping to promote what she sees to be a very effective pedagogy for technical skills delivery. She is keen to advocate for and spread the word regarding the importance of colleges in a joined-up skills system.

Karen is an experienced Trustee and Board Member and has been involved with the development of policy decisions and reviews, new strategies, research programmes, proposals and funding bids. With extensive industry, academic and third-sector contacts, she facilitates and manages partnerships, influences and advises on the development of projects, products and services and identifies opportunities for collaborative working.

It is this experience, alongside her ability to make connections across sectors which Karen hopes to use for the benefit of the students at Newcastle College.

Alex has over 30 years of experience in the environmental profession, spanning local government, government agencies and the private sector. 

She is the founder and managing partner of an independent consultancy of master planners, landscape architects and environmental specialists including ecologists and is passionate about sustainable design for social good, improving places and for environmental gain.

Professional interests lie in the leisure, recreational, residential and commercial sectors, chiefly in regeneration and development projects throughout the UK.

Alex has led over the years multi-disciplinary design and technical teams through the planning, design and construction stages of projects and is an experienced expert witness, having given evidence at a number of public inquiries. 

Alex has also served on several charitable boards and committees in the region, including the National Trust and NCG.

Paul is the Head Teacher at Jarrow School and has over 18 years of experience in education, having served in various capacities including Curriculum Leader, KS4 Achievement Leader, Assistant Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher.

As a Head Teacher, Paul has a keen understanding of the journey that NSFC students have been through during their secondary education and is therefore well-placed to advise on the strengths and areas for improvement of cohorts. Throughout his career, Paul has been dedicated to fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment where every student can thrive both academically and personally.

He believes in values-driven education where bravery, respect, integrity, generosity, hard work and the opportunity to thrive are not just words but guiding principles that shape every aspect of school and college culture. Paul is keenly aware of the critical role that schools and colleges play in providing students not only with an excellent academic grounding but also with values they need to thrive as successful individuals.

Lynda has worked for over 40 years in secondary and adult education, with 14 of those years being in the FE sector. As such, she brings a wide range of knowledge and experience to the Newcastle Sixth Form College (NSFC) Board. This professional expertise, combined with Lynda’s personal experience of seeing and supporting her five children through their own educational journeys, means that she appreciates that everyone's journey is individual and unique.

Alongside her subject related experience in Geography, English, and project related qualifications, Lynda has many years’ experience (continuing) working as a GCSE and A-Level examiner and moderator and designing and overseeing enrichment programmes for students. She has also been the Chair of Trustees for Team Kenya for the last three years.

Through its curriculum and enrichment offer combined with strong pastoral and academic support, Lynda is confident that NSFC is in the best position to continue to support hundreds of young people in the North East on their individual education journeys.

Sarah is a Student Recruitment Coordinator at Northumbria University, Newcastle, where she is responsible for leading the NU ALLSTARS Partnership Programme. This allows her to support students in the North East in developing their understanding of Higher Education and making informed decisions about their futures.

Through her role at Northumbria University, Sarah is well-connected to a range of stakeholders in the region. She has worked alongside professional and academic colleagues at the University to support local schools and colleges in the implementation of new post-16 qualifications, with support ranging from curriculum building to marketing and recruitment guidance.

Sarah has worked in the Education Sector since 2018 and is passionate about the transformative power of education for young people in the region. With a background in Secondary Education, Sarah has a strong understanding of the challenges faced by students whilst studying for post-16 qualifications and has a wealth of experience in supporting students to strive for success and reach their goals.
Sarah also understands the vital role that staff play in students’ experience of education and has a keen interest in supporting staff development following the completion of her NPQ in Leading Teacher Development in 2022.

Alan is an entrepreneurial, inspirational, commercial leader with over 37 years’ experience in the branded Fashion, Sport and Outdoor industries. Starting out on the shop floor in retail, Alan has progressed through management, merchandising and buying into senior director roles on the Management Board of a UK PLC and within one of the UK’s largest Brand Management companies.

Alan believes that being involved in the education sector would be an exciting challenge, to learn new skills, whilst facilitating a process to explore how new ideas would add value and assist, in dealing with constant and different challenges.

Alan would like to give back to the young community, with his experience of appreciating that with the right support, guidance and focus, young people can aspire to achieve anything they want to.

Geoff is the founder of Canvas Marketing through which he provides strategic marketing support to businesses investing in ambitious growth or scale-up plans.

With over 20 years’ experience across product, trade and brand marketing, Geoff has worked with brands including Sage, Canon, Volkswagen and Avery Dennison. He has hands on experience of delivering successful marketing for global corporates through to invested start-ups.

As a multi award-winning marketer at director and executive level, Geoff knows how to build high performing marketing teams that deliver successful campaigns focused on both amazing customer experience and commercial growth.

He is active in developing and retaining marketing talent in the North East of England through mentoring and his support of organisations including Newcastle College Sixth Form, Newcastle Start-up Week, Digital Union, Marketing Meetup and NatWest Accelerator.

Sasha is a Biomedical Science graduate and experienced widening participation practitioner with experience in higher education outreach design and delivery and supporting teachers and advisers to embed a programme of progression activities in their school or college. After working for a graduate ambassador at Newcastle University, she realised her passion for supporting young people to realise their full potential and was thrilled to join the North East Uni Connect Programme soon after it was launched nationally.

Her current and previous roles have seen her work with students aged 6-19 and their key influencers, including working on targeted programmes for Young Carers and Care Experienced young people. As the sector has moved to embrace digital technology, Sasha has been responsible for developing creative and innovative solutions to outreach delivery. She delivered the region’s first online higher education festival, working with a large number of stakeholders to design content suitable for a range of audiences and utilising virtual conferencing platforms. She has extensive experience in the development of marketing materials and tailored communications to a range of audiences, with oversight for website development and social media in her current project. 

Sasha is experienced in developing projects from inception to delivery, managing stakeholder relationships and resources to produce the desired outputs within the agreed timescales. She applies her knowledge of both higher education and the wider sector to influence practice and ensure outputs are fit for purpose.

Outside of work, Sasha volunteers at a community theatre as a Stage Manager. This involves working as a single point of contact for all members of the cast and creative team to bring productions from rehearsals to the stage both safely and within budget. Seeing behind the scenes has given her a new appreciation for theatre.

James is Chief Executive Officer of technology business Advanced Electric Machines (AEM), based in Washington. AEM develops and manufactures electric powertrains for use in next generation electric vehicles.

He is an enthusiastic advocate for helping young people to reach their potential, developing the STEM skills which will be needed as we work towards a sustainable future whilst also recognising the importance of the arts in continuing to make the North East a rich and rewarding place to live and work. James chairs the UK’s “Driving the Electric Revolution” skills advisory council which seeks to enhance skills in the technologies needed to drive the future electronification of transport and other sectors.

James has previous experience as a parent governor at St Joseph’s Primary School, Highfield, where he supported the development of the science curriculum and health and safety best practice.

James’s daughter attended Newcastle Sixth Form College (NSFC) in 2021 and found it to be a great place to sit her A-levels whilst maintaining her own identity. James is keen to support NSFC as a college board member, supporting the College to achieve the highest standards whilst continuing to be a compassionate environment in which our young adults can grow.

As a year 12 student at Newcastle Sixth Form College, Aya is studying English and economics in order to fulfil her aspiration of studying PPE at university. 

Aya is excited to be a Student Member on the College Board as it will help her to influence the College’s curriculum to meet the needs and goals of her peers.  Through offering her peers’ genuine opinions and college experiences, Aya will be able to fulfil her wish of promoting inclusivity as a person of colour and student wellbeing.

By serving on the College Board, Aya believes she can contribute to creating an environment that supports academic growth, personal development, and overall student success.

Katy is Associate Dean for Education and a Senior Lecturer in Journalism at Newcastle University. A former broadcast journalist, her research interests include radio/journalism practices and higher education.

Katy is passionate about empowering all young people to achieve their ambitions through providing high quality education and equitable opportunities.

Lyanne Fellows is an art educator with a background in leading departments in both the UK and the UAE, specializing in art, textiles, and graphic communication. Lyanne's focus is on fostering a sense of artistry in students and creating an environment that resembles a studio, thereby aligning education closely with industry practices. Additionally, she is actively involved in two netball teams and is inspired by textures, nature and space. Always a lifelong student, Lyanne draws inspiration from all she sees around her. With each new piece of art that she creates, her skills are continually challenged and expanded, and concepts become richer and more fully defined. Like life, her creative endeavours are an endless learning process that is often surprising and always enriching.

Jasmine is a local Councillor, serving the people of Rye Lane Ward, where she lives with her partner and two children. She is Lead Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Adult Social Care in Southwark.

Between 2014 and 2018 Jasmine chaired Southwark Council's Education and Children's Services Scrutiny Committee at Southwark. She has a background in local government as an officer, senior manager and more recently a local politician.

Jasmine has 20 years’ experience in the public sector, with 15 years of senior management experience, including Westminster City Council, where she had a major focus on the provision of services to vulnerable and disadvantaged children. As Head of the London Asylum Seekers Consortium (LASC), Jasmine was responsible for operational and strategic direction for all London local government, on all aspects of asylum support and refugee integration.

Diana Barranco brings a wealth of experience in community engagement and development to the Board of Southwark College. As the Community Director at the Elephant and Castle Town Centre, Diana has been instrumental in fostering partnerships between local businesses, non-profit organisations, and educational institutions, creating vibrant and inclusive initiatives.

With a background in Business Development and Social Value, she has dedicated her career to improving community wellbeing and accessibility. Her work includes spearheading initiatives that promote cultural diversity, environmental sustainability, and educational enrichment, benefiting residents of all ages.

At Southwark College, Diana is committed to enhancing the school's role within the community, supporting programmes that connect students with opportunities and encouraging local participation in events and activities. Her strategic vision and passion for community building is something she is willing to bring to the College Board.

Outside of her professional role, Diana enjoys catching up with friends and family. Her leadership and community-focused approach continue to inspire positive change within the New Elephant and Castle Town Centre and beyond.

Roderick is a dedicated leader with a lifelong commitment to Southwark, where he was born and raised.

As the Founder and CEO of an award-winning specialist transport and training company which developed Traina buses to deliver innovative mobile training, he has revolutionised accessible transportation across Greater London and the United Kingdom, leading a company that served 26 boroughs with 10,000 accessible trips daily. His ground-breaking design and operation of London’s first single-seat wheelchair-accessible vehicles earned him the prestigious Route One National Award.

Roderick is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, serving as Founding Chair and Vice Chair of the Liberal Democrat's Campaign for Race Equality (LDCRE) and Vice Chair and current Chair of the Southwark Chamber of Commerce in its centenary year. In these roles, he drives initiatives that support small businesses, promote vocational training, and foster a culture of inclusivity.

His leadership extends to event management, where he played a critical role in planning and organising transportation for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games, an effort that won him additional accolades.

With extensive experience in mentoring politicians, governance, accessibility, and community engagement, Roderick is dedicated to advancing inclusivity and excellence as a member of the Southwark College Board.

Andrew is currently Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the London School of Economics (LSE).  He manages the majority of central professional services, including Estates, Human Resources, Information Management Technologies, Communications, Risk and Compliance, Equality, Diversion and Inclusion, Residences and Catering and has oversight of the administration of the School. He sits on the School Management Committee and is based in the Executive Office. He runs Professional Services (PS) Staff Briefings each term and introduced the annual PS Staff Conference in 2017.

Andrew's focus is very much on staff development and staff engagement. He has managed a significant portfolio of new build and refurbishment projects with a value approaching £500m.  

Before LSE, Andrew was COO at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and before that was Interim Director of Newcastle Science City and Faculty Manager at Newcastle University.  He has a PhD in Zoology.

Having failed her A-Levels, Jo was fortunate to stumble across an interesting role as a Trainee Healthcare Scientist which, through in-service training and day-release education, led to a fully funded MSc in Medical Radiation Physics and a fulfilling 30-year career in the NHS, including time at King’s College Hospital, Bart’s Health, Health Education England and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

Jo’s unconventional pathway has made her passionate about supporting others to find the right career path for them regardless of starting point, and through various projects involving apprenticeships, working with education providers and under-represented groups she found a new career, leading on Widening Participation at Guy’s and St Thomas’.

As a South Londoner, Jo is passionate about ensuring local people understand and have access to the broad range of roles within the NHS, no matter what their background or starting point.

As well as being a member of the Southwark College Board, Jo was a Governor for Southbank University Technical College for eight years and is now a Trustee on the Southbank Academies Multi Academy Trust Board. Jo is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics & Engineering in Medicine and an Honorary Fellow of the Academy of Healthcare Science. 

Personally, Jo found a passion for fitness five years ago and has become an avid runner, spending lockdown training for her first marathon and ultra-marathon! Proof that you can do anything you put your mind to.

Mike started his career of 25 years as a special FX makeup artist providing prosthetic makeup effects to such movies as "James Bond" (Quantum of solace) and TV Dramas such as BBC’s "The Body Farm", ITV’s medical drama "Monroe" and BBC2’s "The Shadow Line".

Retiring from makeup in 2013, Mike started a special FX makeup manufacturing business called Dashbo.

After gaining a Chemistry degree, Mike began making his own products to sell into the FX industry, now 11 years on with worldwide distribution, Dashbo has supplied makeup to such TV shows as "Vikings" and big budget studio Marvel.

Dashbo also provides student kits into colleges and universities across the world. Mike wanted to dispel the myths that professional grade makeup products had to cost the earth and give something back to the industry that has been such a big part of his life.

Jackie has worked in the NHS for 30 years and is currently the Integration Place Leader for Lancashire East working jointly across the NHS in Lancashire and South Cumbria and Lancashire County Council. She has held several strategic leadership positions in the NHS as far afield as Carlisle down to Manchester and across to Blackpool.

Jackie is an accountant by background and has an MBA from Lancashire University.
She lives locally and all of her three children went to Up Holland High School before going onto local colleges and universities.

Jackie is passionate about improving health and health outcomes for the residents of West Lancashire and as such is keen to play an active role in raising the aspirations and educational attainment of its residents.

As Deputy Chief Executive of West Lancashire Borough Council, Chris has responsibility for all Council services and the delivery of the Corporate Plan. He is also the Chair of Tawd Valley Developments and West Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Partnership. As such, Chris brings a wealth of local knowledge and experience to the West Lancashire College Board.

With an in-depth understanding of the current and future social and economic challenges of the local area, Chris is well placed to inform NCG’s place-based approach to college governance. As one of West Lancashire College’s key stakeholders, the Council is integral to the success of the College, and Chris’s place on the Board serves to enhance that partnership, enabling a more coordinated and impactful approach to improving the life chances of young people and adults in our local area.

Chris is passionate about the integral role that West Lancashire College plays in improving the local economy, both as an employer and key partner in addressing skills gaps.

Lauren joined West Lancashire College in 2023 as School Liaison & Transition Co-ordinator. A former West Lancashire College student, Lauren’s background is in the performing arts industry. After qualifying, Lauren worked in hospitality and entertainment for 5 years, followed by a career in sales and a short spell in HR with the NHS.

Lauren is passionate about further education and the opportunities it can create to provide local young people with better life chances. Since joining the college, Lauren’s mission has been to support the local feeder high schools to enhance transition activities ensuring that young people are aware of the vast options available to young people post 16.

Lauren is the embodiment of NCG’s values and is proud to represent West Lancashire College within our community. She fully embraces the College mission and is excited to play a big part in the journey ahead as the college thrives and grows to its full potential.

Tina has been an invaluable asset to West Lancashire College since she began her career there in 2009. Her journey at the College started in a supportive role for learners with Special Educational Needs (SEN), where her dedication and compassionate approach quickly made a significant impact.

In 2012, Tina transitioned to the Pathways Team, where she took on the crucial responsibility of working with at-risk learners. Her efforts were focused on reengaging these students, guiding them back into the realms of education or employment. Through her unwavering commitment and innovative strategies, Tina played a key role in transforming the lives of many young people, providing them with the support and encouragement they needed to succeed.

Currently, Tina works with adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). In this role, she has been instrumental in developing and delivering the Supported Internship programme. Her work not only aids in the professional development of these adults but also fosters a more inclusive and supportive learning environment at the college.

Tina's career is marked by her passion for helping others and her dedication to fostering an inclusive and supportive educational environment. Her contributions to West Lancashire College have had a lasting positive impact on the community and the students.

Hannah is a Level 3 Health and Social Care student at West Lancashire College. She is always trying to find new ways to better herself as a person and student and believes that these skills will support her in becoming an effective student member of the West Lancashire College Board.

Hannah likes to help people and knows that being on the College Board will not only be fulfilling for her but for other students at the College who will see her as a problem-solver and a person who listens and cares.