BORDERS FURTHER EDUCATION TRUST (BFET) - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Board Member since Feb 2023 )
- Teaching Staff Member
Andrew graduated in mechanical engineering prior to a career in product design and manufacturing at sites worldwide. A move into teaching later saw him head the engineering department of a large comprehensive school. Andrew has written several textbooks and revision guides for vocational Engineering subjects. He has also worked with a range of awarding bodies to develop engineering qualifications and is currently chair of examiners for BTEC engineering subjects.
Andrew currently lives in the Scottish Borders and lectures in Engineering at Borders College.
Job Titles:
- Vice Principal Curriculum and Student Experience
Working in education since 1998, Anne-Marie has extensive knowledge and experience in delivering a curriculum that meets the needs of students and the wider stakeholder community, with a focused but quality-driven approach.
As a passionate advocate of Further Education and the many opportunities it offers students, a key ambition of Anne-Marie's is to continue expanding the curriculum to maximise positive outcomes for all students and staff at both a local and national level.
Delivering a curriculum that is relevant, effective and contributes to economic development for the local and national communities that are served by Borders College is at the very heart of what Anne-Marie strives for.
With experience of working with national bodies in the Health and Social Care sector, Anne-Marie is motivated to ensure that Borders College is an active participant in the global learning and teaching space, and ensuring that the work of developing student-friendly policies which support positive outcomes for our students continues.
As a promoter of Global Citizenship, Anne-Marie has been instrumental in driving forward an effective programme that ensures that students achieve Global Citizenship status during their time at Borders College.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the Nominations Committee
- Board Member since July 2022 )
- Education Consultant and Director of Caledonia Education Ltd
Bernie is a higher education consultant and director of Caledonia Education Ltd operating in the transnational education sector. Prior to this, he worked in Singapore as academic dean for a Swiss international branch campus institution. He was also a senior lecturer in the school of Business, Enterprise and Management at Queen Margaret University and has worked extensively in the far east.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Audit and Risk Committee
- Member of the Nominations Committee
- Board Member since January 2021 )
Carol worked for over 35 years in the NHS gaining a breadth of experience in a number of areas including finance, capital planning, procurement, estates and facilities. She graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in modern languages and is a qualified accountant (member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy). She has also held a number of voluntary roles in support of her local community.
Job Titles:
- Board Member since July 2023 )
- Student Member
Christopher is President of the Borders College Students' Association.
"Hello, my name is Christopher Alder, and I am the "Student President" for the Borders College Student Association. I have spent a large part of my career either learning or teaching in FE, He and the private sector; along with this, I have had a varied number of jobs, from floor sweeping to middle management posts. All of this greatly helps me in my current post in that I can relate to and understand the needs and points of view of both students and staff, which enables me to help the board be aware of the student's views on the varied issues that are brought to the board."
Job Titles:
- Board Member since Jan 2024 )
- Vacant - Support Staff Member
Douglas has over 20 years of working with children and young people and is currently Chief Executive of TD1 Youth Hub, a youth work charity based in Galashiels. Prior to this he worked in both charity and local government, delivering positive outcomes for vulnerable young people.
He also sits on the board of Youth Scotland and as Secretary for Tynecastle FC.
Job Titles:
- Governance Adviser / Board Secretary
Job Titles:
- Vacant - Teaching Union Member
Jessica studied at Borders College from 2018 - 2021; she completed the HND Business course, which gained her entry into Heriot-Watt University, where she went on to study International Business Management and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in 2023. Jessica started working for Borders College in the summer of 2021 as the Facilities Administrator & Campus Receptionist. Jessica also works part-time in the Heriot-Watt Library. Having been a college/university student, Jessica understands the need for further education and the benefits that FE/HE can bring to students. Jessica Lives in the Scottish Borders.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Team
- Vice Principal Finance and Corporate Services
As a member of the Executive Team, Kirsty has responsibility for some of the non-curriculum critical areas of the College, including estates, I.T. and Finance, which are essential components that Borders College requires to meet the needs of students, stakeholders and staff.
With a wealth of experience in major capital projects such as the Borders Railway, Broadband rollout, and the Heart of Hawick, Kirsty has also led the governance and management of the investments for the Scottish Borders Council Pension Fund, which has assets of £900m.
Focusing on ensuring the longer-term financial stability of the College in challenging economic conditions, Kirsty is responsible for delivering solutions that are imaginative and versatile to ensure that the College continues to provide high-quality learning across the variety of learning opportunities it offers, and at the same time Increase the prospects for partnership, working with both the public and private sectors, which are key priorities for the College.
A qualified accountant and member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, Kirsty is very much embedded in the Borders Community and believes in the Live, Love, Learn ethos of the College.
Job Titles:
- Member of Audit and Risk Committee
- Board Member since Jan 2024 )
Lindsey has over 20 years' experience in property, construction and estates management both in the private and public sectors. As a qualified Building Surveyor, she has developed a wealth of experience managing large estates and complex buildings.
For the last eight years she has worked at The University of Edinburgh, where she is the Deputy Head of Maintenance Operations and responsible for the maintenance, renovation and compliance of the second largest educational estate in the UK, situated over six main campuses.
With a particular interest throughout her career in the development of construction related apprenticeships and previous winner of Apprenticeship Employer of the Year, she has worked closely with CITB, SDS and City of Edinburgh Council to support future apprenticeships and opportunities for young women entering the construction industry.
Lindsey was also a previous Board Member at Forth Valley College.
Job Titles:
- Member of Audit and Risk Committee
- Board Member since Nov 2023 )
- Student Member
Micah is one of the Vice Presidents of the Borders College Students' Association.
"Hello, my name is Micah Hall, and I am studying HND Art and Design at Borders College. Previously, I attended Hawick High School, but College really allowed me to explore who I am and become more confident in myself. My current role is Vice President in the BCSA, I lend my voice to the students to make sure that everyone that attends the College has a positive and fun experience and can leave with the same confidence I have now."
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Board Member since Jan 2024 )
Nick works as a consultant in the land-based sector, having stepped back from his role at SRUC as a Dean of Faculty in late 2023. Nick took up the role of Dean in 2018, having held a professorial position in the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute and, prior to that, various academic roles in the West of Scotland Agricultural College and the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC).
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the Remuneration Committee
- Board Member since January 2021 )
Register of Interests
Paul is an Economic Infrastructure Development Project Manager, employed by South of Scotland Enterprise. He has previously worked as a senior manager with Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Partnership. In addition, Paul is Team Leader of Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive
- Principal
- College Principal
- Our Principal
Pete's contribution to further education began in 2004 with a senior position at Edinburgh's Telford College. He then joined Borders College as a Vice Principal from 2007 to 2018 before undertaking a similar role at North East Scotland College from 2018, until appointment to his current role in September 2022. Prior to joining the further education sector, Pete spent 15 years in local government, working in both corporate finance and delivering a range of education support services.
Pete currently serves on the Colleges Scotland College Sector Finances Committee, and also undertakes non-executive director and trustee roles for a number of bodies, currently Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC), the Scottish Teachers' Pension Board and Live Borders.
Pete's priorities are to ensure the College delivers the education and skills necessary to support economic growth in the Scottish Borders and beyond, as well as drive forward the innovative and creative partnerships and developments that will ensure that our economy is both inclusive and sustainable.
Building on the foundation of education and learning opportunities in the community, Pete is focused on the vision of ensuring that local partnerships with our schools are effective, that the concept of lifelong learning thrives within the Scottish Borders, and that Borders College plays a key role in delivering this.
Pete is clear that the enrichment of the student experience is essential to a successful college and is a process that is continual. Through self-evaluation and reflective practices, Borders College will continue to respond to the ever-changing needs of the diverse student population.
The concept of the College as a community anchor is one that Pete feels very strongly about and is something that he is determined to ensure is recognised across the Region.
Job Titles:
- Member of Audit and Risk Committee
- Board Member since April 2023 )
- Managing Partner of Oberlanders
Phil Macdonald is the Managing Partner of Oberlanders, one of Scotland's leading architectural practices, with a head office in Edinburgh and 5 other offices across the UK, including in Galashiels. Oberlanders was founded in 1983, initially focusing in complex scientific research and healthcare facilities. However, today they undertake projects in all sectors and of all sizes and scales. Phil is the Partner Lead for projects within the higher and further education, science and research sectors and has experience working on a wide range of projects from complex multi-phased refurbishments to large scale strategic masterplans and major new-build developments.
Phil joined Oberlanders in 1999, becoming a Partner in 2002 and Managing Partner in 2016. He has managed the growth of the practice to nearly 100 staff, with a clearly defined business purpose, vision and values underpinned by a strong people focused culture. He has developed cohesive and effective collaborations, allowing clients to access the very best in sector leading, innovative talent whilst having confidence in project delivery that is rooted in the local context. He facilitated Oberlanders membership of the International Design Alliance Network (IDeA) - a global alliance of like-minded architectural practices committed to sharing world class, sector leading knowledge and expertise, delivered in a local context and scale.
In December 2022, Phil was appointed to the Board of the UK Science Park Association (UKSPA) as Director representing Business Affiliate Members. In April 2023 he was co-opted onto the Board of Management of Borders College in Galashiels, also taking a position on the College's Audit Committee.
Phil lives in Innerleithen, with his family. Away from work, he is a committed member of Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team and is currently team Secretary, as well as being one of the team's Casualty Carers. He is also a Scottish Ambulance Service Community First Responder in his local community of Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders where he is currently Chair and Group Coordinator.
Job Titles:
- Member of Audit and Risk Committee
- Member of the Nominations Committee
- Board Member since July 2022 )
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Chairman of the Nominations Committee
- Member of the Remuneration Committee
Ray joined the Borders College Board in February 2022 as Chair of the Board. He is also the Director for the WEA [Workers Education Association] in Scotland and a member of its UK Executive Leadership Team. He is also a member of the Adult Learning Strategic Forum for Scotland a member of the Education Scotland Board and has previously held a number of other non-executive director roles. Prior to his current roles Ray worked in the college sector as a lecturer and learning manager before securing Assistant Principal roles at Perth College UHI, Adam Smith College and finally a Vice Principal role at Edinburgh College.
Job Titles:
- Board Member since July 2022 )
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Remuneration Committee
- Board Member since July 2022 )
- Vacant - Vice Chair
Vernice is now retired and has recently relocated to the borders after more than 20 years working as a CIPFA qualified finance professional and senior manager within local government in England where her final role saw her managing a shared service across a partnership of three local authorities. Alongside her professional career she has been able to develop and continue her interest in education through board membership of her local FE college, Cambridge Regional College.