Governance and Leadership

Alison retired as Principal of York College in May 2019 after 35 years in the FE sector. She was privileged to lead and work at three outstanding colleges, York College, Nelson and Colne College and Runshaw College. Alison also served as President of the Association of Colleges, working with them to campaign for increased funding for the FE sector. She was awarded the OBE for services to education in 2012 and an honorary doctorate from York University. Additionally, Alison is a musician (bassoonist) and enjoys walking, beekeeping and helping with her new granddaughter.

Dean is Strategic Director of Finance and Resources at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and has worked in local government for over 30 years. Originally from Huddersfield, he qualified as an Accountant with Kirklees Metropolitan Council. He has held senior finance positions at a number of other councils including Barnsley MBC, Craven DC, Kirklees C, Pendle BC and Selby DC.
Dean has a keen interest in raising aspirations and educational outcomes of Children and provides a leading role on All-Age Skills, Education and Employment for Lancashire Chief Executives.

Anita joined the College in February 2020 as our Vice-Principal and is passionate about creating an excellent learning environment for every student attending Craven College. Anita started her career as a research scientist specialising in childhood cancers and has presented on this subject at national and international conferences. Seeing how she was inspiring girls and young women to study science whilst lecturing part-time, led her to the path of teaching full-time. The past 17 years of her career have been spent in the Further Education sector at a management level leading diverse, multi-disciplinary teams. The quality-focused teams that Anita has led have won awards for innovation in teaching, learning and assessment and employer engagement.

Majid believes in equal access to education for all. He has lots of experience of services relating to safeguarding, student welfare and wellbeing, Prevent and mental health support through his work in Further Education Colleges. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and travel.

John is Pro Vice Chancellor for Education at Kingston University. He has previously held leadership roles at the Higher Education Academy (now part of AdvanceHE), and Leeds Beckett, Huddersfield and Teesside Universities. He has extensive experience of quality management and enhancement and has chaired quality committees for the QAA and AQA. He is a National Teaching Fellow and a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA).

Nichola has extensive experience in the audit and risk assurance sector. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and currently works as Head of Internal Audit at Adam Smith International. When not busy working, Nicki enjoys hiking, particularly around her adopted home of Yorkshire.

Heather is currently Assistant Director, Estates and Facilities, at the University of Huddersfield. She has extensive experience in capital projects and facilities management and holds an MBA in Facilities Management

Judith is a very experienced AAT (Accountancy) Lecturer. She worked at other Further Education institutions before joining Craven College. When not teaching, she is kept busy helping out on the family farm.

Chris has over 18 years’ of experience working in Further Education, in particular the employment and skills sector.  Chris is also highly experienced in curriculum design, quality improvement, management information, and contract management and serves on a number of advisory and focus groups.

Neil is a great supporter of the local community and an experienced Governor who is still very active in this role as Chair of Thornton in Craven school and Chair of Skipton BID. He is passionate about creating opportunities and raising the aspirations of young people. Neil is a young person’s volunteer for the King’s Trust and works with them to help them gain the skills and confidence they need to achieve their goals.
He worked for many years as Managing Director of one of the UK’s biggest public house companies. He has a great deal of experience in hospitality management in addition to developing several leisure and building development lead property businesses.
Neil has an MBA in Business Administration. In his spare time very much enjoys skiing, scuba diving, rowing and playing the drums!

Rob has extensive financial experience having worked in a number of businesses including as Group Chief Finance Officer for Key Group. His work covered income, expenditure and capital expenditure. He has overseen specific projects covering acquisition and capital projects for a number of large national companies. Rob is also a non-executive Director for a local charity providing free professional careers advice and support across Cumbria and Lancashire. Rob is FCA qualified.

Claire worked for many years as the commercial manager and event organiser for Equestrian Management Consultants Limited. Claire was also responsible for the commercial arm of the British Equestrian Trade Association, reporting to the Finance and General Purposes Committee and BETA Council. She is experienced in the preparation of monthly accounts and annual budgets, staffing, and in instigating and fulfilling consultancy and sponsorship projects.

Sara was Director of MIS at Nelson and Colne College and spent almost thirty years in the FE sector, until retirement in July 2023.  Sara has a wealth of management experience in FE funding and the analysis and provision of information, as well as curriculum planning and budgeting. Through a number of college mergers she has played a key role in systems review, and the raising of standards in information capture and analysis in order to inform business decisions. As data lead Sara participated in two Ofsted inspections, both graded Outstanding. Sara now spends much of her time caring for both the older and younger generations in her family, and enjoys a variety of creative hobbies after many years spent at the computer.