PRESTON - Key Persons
Aofie Cullen is the College's 16-18 student governor and is currently studying on the College's Acting Training Academy course. Aoife is interested in governance, politics, and the functioning of government. Aoife is also a scholarship learner at Preston College.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Student Governor, 16 - 18
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Independent Governor / Chair of the Search and Governance Committee
- Independent Governor / Member of Search and Governance Committee
After graduating with a law degree from Lancaster University, Georgia Dunn began her career at Eversheds Sutherland LLP in their Corporate Secretarial department, where she worked with a variety of clients on governance matters, including academies and colleges. During this time, she embarked on the qualifying programme to become a Chartered Governance Professional, which she has now completed. Since 2018, Georgia has been a member of the Company Secretarial team at a listed financial services company in Manchester, a role which requires her to deal with a variety of governance and compliance matters. In her spare time, Georgia enjoys renovating her new house and walking her dog with her partner.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Independent Governor / Member of the Quality and Standards Committee
Helen Curtis has worked in the Further Education sector for over 30 years in a variety of roles including Lecturer, Course Leader, Staff Development Manager, Head of a Teaching and Learning Academy and Head of a National Teaching School. Helen was a former Edxecel Quality Verifier and Ofsted Inspector. Currently working on a part time basis at UCLan, Helen teaches on the Masters in Education and works with nine partner colleges in the North West of England overseeing the quality of UCLan Initial Teacher Education (ITE) courses.
Job Titles:
- Member of Audit & Risk Committee
- Member of the Board
- Independent Governor
- Independent Governor / Member of Audit & Risk Committee
- NatWest Group As a Director of Asset Finance
Isara Cotton currently works for NatWest Group as a Director of Asset Finance. Isara has a broad range of Finance and Banking experience across various roles in the sector for the last 18 years. Isara is passionate about education, having completed a Law Degree at Huddersfield University and a number of additional professional qualifications such as the Chartered Banker programme. Isara is a member of the Audit & Risk Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Staff Governor
- Staff Governor - Academic / Member of Quality and Standards Committee
Jane Hilton has worked at Preston College for 19 years and prior to this she was a student at the College. Her roles in college have included teaching maths and independent social skills and Jane is now an essential and highly valued member of the Learner Support SEND team. Jane works closely with a wide and diverse range of both students and staff with additional needs to ensure that their environment provides equal opportunities, enabling them to fully access all areas of College and work life and gain valuable experience both academically and socially, achieving equality for all.
Jane joined the Board in December 2022 as Staff Governor (Academic) and is also a member of the Quality and Standards Committee. In her spare time outside of College, Jane is busy spending quality time with her family and dogs. She also loves to travel and attending rock concerts.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Board
- Independent Governor
- Independent Governor / Member of Quality & Standards Committee
Jen Walters has broad experience as a director in further and higher education and as a former Ofsted HMI Inspection Manager. Jen also has recent experience as a governor at a College of Further and Higher Education and at a Sixth Form Academy. Prior to entering the education sector Jen enjoyed a management career in business and industry. Jen currently works as an independent expert adviser across further and higher education and as a leadership coach. Jen strongly believes that every learner has the right to an excellent education and training experience that inspires personal development and academic achievement and prepares learners to make informed choices about their chosen work and career pathways.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Finance Director at Locally Based Pub Company Amber Taverns
- Independent Governor / Chair of Search and Governance Committee
- Independent Governor / Chair of the Resources Committee
Joanne Jones joined the board of governors in October 2018. Joanne is currently finance director at locally based pub company Amber Taverns, which operates 155 pubs primarily across the north and midlands. She has held this position on the main board since February 2010. Her responsibilities include management of the finance function, strategic support to the board, bank and investor relations, HR and IT. Joanne is a member of the Search and Governance and Resources Committees.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Chairman of the Board / Independent Governor / Member of Search and Governance Committee, Resources Committee and Senior Post Holder Remuneration Committee
- Independent Governor / Chair of the Board
John Boydell is a corporate lawyer and for many years was a partner in regional law firm, Brabners, based at its Preston office in Chapel Street, although his ‘day job' for a number of years has been as a management consultant, specialising in strategy development. He was an early internet entrepreneur forming, in 1998, an internet services company, which developed its own secure money transmission and online shopping software. John has been Chair of the Board at Preston College since 2016 and as Chair enjoys his role in helping to shape the direction of the College in serving its learners and community. He expresses himself as unashamedly "proud" of Preston College. When time allows, John enjoys writing fiction and screenplays, learning languages and likes to keep fit. He's happily married, with grown up children, none of whom have chosen a career in law!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Independent Governor
Jose Sedano-Martinez was born and raised in Bilbao, Spain, and started his professional journey as a Graduate trainee, after completing an MA at Coventry University. Jose has worked internationally in Consumer Goods for more than 30 years as Finance Director, Commercial Director and CEO.
Jose is passionate about life-long learning and helping individuals and organisations to improve their outcomes.
In his free time Jose enjoys cooking and cycling and is currently working to become a padel tennis coach.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Chairman of the Quality and Risk Committee
- Independent Governor / Chair of the Quality and Risk Committee
- Independent Governor / Member of the Quality and Standards Committee
Laura Mason has worked in the Further Education sector for over 10 years in a variety of roles including Lecturer, Programme Leader, Teaching and Learning Improvement Leader and Head of Quality and Teaching and Learning. Laura currently works for the Education and Training Foundation as a Quality Manager.
In her spare time, Laura enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going to the theatre, camping and attending festivals.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Vice Chair of the Board
- Independent Governor / Vice Chair of the Board
- Independent Governor / Vice Chair of the Governing Body / Member of Quality and Standards Committee and Senior Post Holder Remuneration Committee
Lynda Mason worked in public health for over 20 years in the NHS prior to taking up post in a college of further education. Roles undertaken in a variety of colleges has included lecturing, quality assurance, Deputy Principal and Principal.
Job Titles:
- Member of Audit & Risk Committee
- Member of the Board
- Independent Governor
- Independent Governor / Member of Audit & Risk Committee
Malcolm was raised in Preston, is married with two children and four grandchildren. He knows the Preston community well and worked in the aerospace industry for many years, initially in Engineering and then Project/Business management. He has extensive experience in ensuring that large organisations are well run and equipped to fulfil their purpose.
As a committed Christian he is passionate about helping individuals achieve their full potential in life, not simply academic, enabling them to be successful and contribute fully to their community and wider society.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee
- Member of the Board
- Independent Governor / Chair of Audit & Risk Committee
- Independent Governor / Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee
Marcel joined the Board of Preston College in December 2015 after a long career in finance serving both public and private sectors. He is a qualified accountant, recently retired and commenced his sixth form education at W R Tuson College in 1975.
Job Titles:
- Vice Principal Quality, Teaching, Learning & Learner Support
Job Titles:
- Vice Principal Curriculum Delivery & Planning / Support
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Independent Governor
- Independent Governor / Member of Quality and Standards Committee
With over 20 years working in Further Education, Robert has been a lecturer, Head of School and Director in multiple curriculum areas. He has worked for ETC Awards, an Ofqual regulated Awarding Organisation and was a member of the hospitality T Level panel and is a serving member of the Institute of Apprenticeships Route Panel and Ofqual industry expert.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Accountant
- Member of Audit and Risk Committee
- Member of the Board
- Independent Governor
Sally has worked as a Chartered Accountant for over 20 years. Following her qualification in accountancy practice completing audits, she worked in Construction, Education, Housing and currently works for a Non for Profit organisation in Manchester as their Group Finance Director. Sally is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Independent Governor / Principal and Chief Executive
- Principal and Chief Executive ( a Member of the Governing Board )
- Principal and Chief Executive / Member of Search and Governance Committee, Resources Committee and Quality and Standards Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Independent Governor / Chair of Senior Post Holder Remuneration Committee Member of Resources Committee and Audit & Risk Committee
- Independent Governor / Chair of the Senior Post Holder Remuneration Committee
Steve Browne is now retired. Following a brief period in the Royal Navy, Steve's career was spent wholly within local government in Lancashire, with Wigan CBC and Lancashire County Council. He has a background in environmental planning, regeneration, waste management, and the delivery of strategic infrastructure. Steve's last role was as the Deputy Chief Executive of Lancashire County Council. Steve has chaired the College's Board, and is currently a member of the Resources Committee, Audit & Risk Committee and Chair of the Senior Post Holder Remuneration Committee. His main interests outside of work are his family, travel, reading Alexander McCall Smith and layman's non-fiction physics. Since retirement Steve has embarked upon an Open University Degree in Physics.