NCG Executive Board

NCG’s Executive Board has a wealth of expertise and leadership experience within the education sector. Together they work to ensure NCG succeeds in its mission to enable social mobility and economic prosperity through exceptional education. Our team consists of professional services colleagues, College Principals, Directors and strategic leads.

Liz Bromley

Chief Executive Officer, NCG

Before joining NCG in the summer of 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.

Scott Mulholland

Chief Information, Data and Estates Officer, NCG

Scott’s education career began in 1997 as Head of Student Administration at the Robert Gordon University where he also completed a MSc in E-Business. Digital transformation and the evolution of the smart campus have been a strong interest ever since.

Lisa Sproats

Chief Finance Officer, NCG

Lisa has been part of NCG for 14 years, as it has grown from two colleges to the group of seven colleges it has become today. In this time, Lisa has held a variety of roles in the finance team which have equipped her to now lead the finance function across the Group.

Steven Wallis

Executive Director, Quality, NCG

Steve joined NCG in April 2018 and is responsible for the Group’s education and training performance, quality frameworks, and continuous improvement. Steve is also Chair of NCG’s Safeguarding Council, Policy Council, and is executive lead for NCG’s apprenticeship provision. 

Tony Lewin

Executive Principal, NCG

Tony joined NCG in 2015 as Principal of Newcastle College and became Executive Principal in 2021. He has responsibility for several NCG colleges and leads on a number of strategic areas across the Group, including the Leadership Hub and our environmental commitments.

Gerard Garvey

Executive Principal, NCG

Gerard joined NCG as Principal at Newcastle Sixth Form College in 2015, having worked at a number of high performing sixth form and General Further Education colleges. He now holds the role of Executive Principal, with responsibility for several NCG colleges and strategic areas, particularly focusing on the development of people and culture.

Jon Ridley

Principal, Newcastle College

Jon was appointed Principal of Newcastle College in 2024 but has been a member of the Principalship team since joining NCG in 2016. In 2021, he became Deputy Principal and a member of NCG Executive, leading on higher education. Passionate about the power of education to transform lives, Jon leads on NCG’s Higher Education Strategy to 2030.

Sarah McGrath

Principal, Carlisle College

Sarah has over 20 years of experience in Further Education and is passionate about the difference it can make to people's lives. She became Principal of Carlisle College in 2021 and is driven by widening participation and improving life chances of the people of Carlisle and beyond.

Simon Ross

Principal, Newcastle Sixth Form College

Simon joined the senior team at Newcastle Sixth Form College in 2016 and has undertaken a number of roles during his time here at NCG.

Cat Lewis

Principal, Kidderminster College

Cat is an ambitious educational leader who joined NCG in 2017, after holding senior roles at Heart of Worcestershire College and Stratford upon Avon College. With a genuine passion for empowering students and communities through education, she has been the Principal of Kidderminster College since 2021.

Jane Button

Principal, Southwark College

Jane joined Lewisham College in December 2020 with a commitment to inclusive education and supporting those with significant social barriers to learning. She has over 20 years of experience in curriculum and support services management and was recently appointed Principal of Southwark College.

Jamie Stevenson

Principal, Lewisham College

Jamie joined Lewisham College in August 2023, bringing more than 20 years of experience working in Further Education. Over the past 13 years, Jamie has held a number of senior management roles in FE colleges and has led strategic responses to large regeneration projects, adult skills, apprenticeships, partnerships and stakeholder engagement.

18 October 2024

Executive Principal Gerard Garvey Speaks to FE Week About Leadership Development for All

Executive Principal Gerard Garvey speaks to FE Week about NCG's philosophy and development programmes.

25 July 2024

The Link Between Social Mobility, Mental Health and Education

NCG's CEO, Liz Bromley, discusses our mission of enabling social mobility through exceptional education, and how supporting good mental health and wellbeing is linked to its success.

16 October 2023

New Principal of NCG’s Lewisham College Reflects on his passion for education and the important role that colleges play in communities

Jamie Stevenson, brand-new Principal of NCG’s Lewisham College, reflects on his passion for education, the important role that colleges play in communities and his priorities for his first year in the role.