Board of Governors

Exeter College Further Education Corporation

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Legal Status

Exeter College is a further education corporation established under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. The powers of Further Education Corporations are detailed in this act as amended by the Learning and Skills Act 2000 and the Further Education and Training Act 2007. Exeter College is also an exempt charity.

The constitution and requirements for internal conduct of colleges is prescribed by the Instrument and Articles of Government. You can view the current Instrument and Articles of Government here.

The Corporation has established standing orders to further prescribe its operation which are available on request to the Head of Governance.

The Board of Governors

The Board of Governors is responsible for determining the mission and strategic direction of the College as well as ensuring the effective and efficient use of resources and solvency of the College and safeguarding its assets. Accordingly the Board, in discussion with the senior leadership team, determines policy and oversees the management of the organisation.

Within the parameters set by the Instrument of Government, the College is able to determine its membership and composition. The current Board consists of 20 governors from a variety of backgrounds. Their experience, knowledge, skills and strategic leadership make a vital contribution to the continuing development of the organisation. Membership details and governor profiles can be found on the College website and can be provided on request. The Board operates through a committee structure comprising of five committees which meet regularly and report to the Board:

• Business Services
• Quality and Standards
• Audit
• Search
• Remuneration

Click here to view the Committee Structure.

Terms of Reference

Audit and Risk Assurance Committee Terms of Reference.
Business Services Committee Terms of Reference.
Quality and Standards Committee Terms of Reference.
Remuneration Committee Terms of Reference.
Search and Governance Committee Terms of Reference.
Executive Committee Terms of Reference.
Selection Committee Terms of Reference.

Task and finish working groups are established when required.

Individual governors are required to declare any interests, both financial and personal, which could be perceived as influencing their judgement. Governors’ completed declarations of interest are available to inspect at Exeter College on request to the Head of Governance.

Please click here to view the Governors’ Code of Conduct.

If you require any further information please contact:
Mrs Alison Layton-Hill – Head of Governance
Telephone: 01392 400493
Email: AlisonLayton-Hill@exe-coll.ac.uk

For more information regarding Board meetings (times, dates and venues) please click here.

Please click here to view the attendance register for 2023-2024.

Please click here to view the Meetings Schedule for 2024-2025.

• Please click here for more information regarding Report and Financial Statements 2023-2024.
• Please click here for more information regarding Report and Financial Statements 2022-2023.
• Please click here for more information regarding Report and Financial Statements 2021-2022.
• Please click here for more information regarding Report and Financial Statements 2020-2021.
• Please click here for more information regarding Report and Financial Statements 2019-2020.
• Please click here for more information regarding Report and Financial Statements 2018-2019.
• Please click here for more information regarding Report and Financial Statements 2017-2018.
• Please click here for more information regarding Report and Financial Statements 2016-2017.
• Please click here for more information regarding Report and Financial Statements 2015-2016.
• Please click here for more information regarding Report and Financial Statements 2014-2015.
  

Please click here to view the Remuneration Committee Annual Report for 2023-2024.

At Exeter College we are passionate about shaping the education and future of our students and creating life-long opportunities for all who learn and work with us. Becoming a governor at Exeter College will give you the opportunity to use your knowledge, experience and skills to determine strategy and policy to drive our ambition to be an exceptional post-16 education provider. Our governors provide support and challenge to ensure that we create a positive environment to enable our learners to become the best they can be and that we also meet the needs of our local employers and communities. We guarantee that being a governor at our outstanding and inspirational College will be personally rewarding and will change lives.

We welcome expressions of interest to join our Board from ambitious and committed members of the community who want to make a difference. We value and promote equality and diversity and appointments are made on merit, taking account of the need to fill any identified skills gaps.

If you are motivated to become part of our College Board, please email your CV to the Head of Governance, AlisonLayton-Hill@exe-coll.ac.uk outlining the reasons why you are interested in joining us.

If you require any documents in other formats please contact the Head of Governance.

Governor Information

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Click here to read this member's profile - Bindu Arjoon

Bindu Arjoon became Exeter City Council’s first female Chief Executive in March 2023.

Bindu’s academic background is in Economics with a special interest in Development Economics. She has a BA (Hons) in Economics and an MSc in Development Studies.

Completing a PGCE at London University, Bindu’s career began in Further Education, working at City of Westminster College for two years as a Co-ordinating Lecturer in Economics and Business Studies and teaching on a range of vocational and academic programmes and professional qualifications.

Bindu has been in local government leadership for two decades, leading services including business transformation, planning, social housing including development and retrofit, homelessness and housing needs, ICT, human resources, corporate planning, strategic partnerships, crime reduction and community involvement.

Bindu was appointed Deputy Chief Executive of the City Council in March 2021 and led the council’s transformation programme to secure a customer focus and cost efficiencies across council services.

She is a member of the Local Government Association’s Peer Review programme and is a qualified Level 7 Executive Leadership Coach and Mentor.

Bindu is passionate about supporting young people to achieve their potential, volunteering her time previously to be Chair of Governing Body of St Leonards Primary School and St Peter’s Secondary School. She is currently Chair of the Corporation of Exeter College.

Click here to read this member's profile - Patrick Tigwell

Patrick is a qualified Chartered Accountant and is a Partner with Westcotts Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors, a regional firm with offices across Devon and Somerset, and with his colleague Alison Watts, jointly manages the Exeter Head Office of the firm.

Patrick has been qualified for over 25 years having trained with a local Exeter firm and is skilled at acting for SMEs and the issues business owners face every day.

He is passionate about Exeter and has lived in the city for 30 years. He brings enthusiasm, a can-do attitude and a valuable sense of humour for the benefit of his clients.

Patrick is married with two teenage boys – both having just recently completed their studies at Exeter College. He is a keen supporter of Chelsea FC and the Exeter Chiefs. He does suffer from telling of ‘Dad jokes’ and where the opportunity arises ‘Dad dancing’.

Click here to read this member's profile - Jess Adams

My name is Jessica Adams, and I am a 17 year old female. I am currently in my second year studying for my A levels at Exeter College in Politics, Sociology and Law. I am driven to fulfil my highest potential. My positive outlook, organisation and leadership skills as well as punctuality combined allow me to communicate well with others and ensure everyone’s voice is heard.

Growing up in North Devon can be isolating, but it has allowed me to understand the importance of reaching for things that matter most, including helping others get where they want to go. By playing both team and individual sports at a high level from a young age, I have been able to fully understand the hunger and desire required to overcome all of the challenges set before me. I have tasted disappointment also in my sports and feel that this has given me a greater understanding of life and where I hope to see myself in the future.

My goals are to ensure that I continue to grow as a person, helping others and highlighting the importance of their voice. I hope to go to university after my A Levels and look forward to exploring new cities and new friendships along the way.

Click here to read this member's profile - Graham Atkins

Graham is the Chief People Officer of NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board.

Formerly a Partner in management consultancy, he has a wealth of experience in all aspects of people and organisation in a wide range of complex settings, having worked with over 30 public sector organisations throughout his career. Following training as an Army Officer and policy/strategy specialist in local government, business school opened his eyes to the vagaries and complexities of people, and he hasn’t looked back since. He has held executive roles as Managing Partner of New Street Consulting Group, as a Senior Partner at global consultancy Korn Ferry, and as a Shareholder Director of Hay Group leading their business with the UK Government. This role included overseeing all executive education for the Senior Civil Service. He holds an MBA, BEng(Hons) and is a Fellow of the RSA.

A father of three children working their way through the education system in Exeter, Graham was a Vice-Chair of governors at a local school and is passionate advocate for the region, Devon & Exeter. He lives in the City and can often be found walking his dog, Paddy, along the quayside.

Click here to read this member's profile - Sue Clarke OBE

Sue retired as Head of Education for Devon County Council in 2016 after forty years in education. She was headteacher of an inner London primary school before moving to Devon in 1996 when she became a primary phase adviser and school inspector. After undertaking a range of local and national roles, Sue was appointed Head of Education in 2011.

Sue has also led Peer Reviews for the Local Government Association and worked as an independent consultant.

Sue gained a MSc in Education Research from the University of Exeter and was awarded an OBE in the 2011 New Year’s Honours List for Services to Education.

Sue is Lead Governor for Safeguarding at Exeter College and Chair of the Quality and Standards Committee.

Click here to read this member's profile - Pamela DeGregorio

Pamela has worked at Exeter College since September 2009. Pamela started at the College as an Associate Lecturer in Philosophy and Religious Studies, becoming a full time Programme Leader the following Academic year.

Pamela completed her teaching qualification part time in her first two years at the College. Pamela has held a range of roles at the College, including Tutorial Lead and Deputy Head of Faculty. Currently, she is one of the College’s Advanced Teaching Practitioners. Pamela has led the College’s Debating Society since 2019 and is incredibly passionate about ensuring that young people have opportunities to openly discuss and debate current affairs and the issues that matter to them. Exeter College is currently National Debating Matters Champion.

During 2016, Pamela completed a Research Development Fellowship with SUNCETT. She worked collaboratively with a member of staff from the Health, Care and Public Services faculty. This has ignited a passion for evidence-based practice and practitioner led research. In 2017, Pamela completed the College’s LEAD Programme, and her project was orientated around empowering practitioners to conduct small-scale research.

Pamela completed her degree in Philosophy at UWE Bristol from 2006-2009, graduating with First Class honours. She lives in Taunton with her husband and daughter. As a teenager she was the frontwoman in a grunge band and has never lost her passion for live music.

Click here to read this member's profile - Ashish Ghadiali

Ashish Ghadiali is the Founder/Director of Radical Ecology, Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Atlantic Innovation Network at UCL and Lead Governor for EDI at Exeter College. His creative practice explores the intersections of racial justice, art and ecology through text, film, activism and performance. Moving image works include the film installations Can you tell the time of a running river? (2024), Invasion Ecology (2024), Planetary Imagination (2023) and the feature documentary, The Confession (2016). Performance works include Where do we go when we realise that we can’t go back to nature? (2024) and A Silent Walk (2023). Curatorial credits include the exhibition Against Apartheid (2023) at KARST and public programmes including Black Atlantic (2023) across Plymouth, Migrant Futurism (2023) at the Southbank Centre, Equilibrium (2022) at Serpentine and Sensing the Planet (2021) at Dartington Hall. He was a co-author of the earth systems science study, Quantifying the Human Cost of Global Warming (2023) for Nature Sustainability and he is a frequent contributor on art, literature and the environment for the Guardian and The Observer. In 2021, he led on political strategy for the COP26 civil society coalition and was activist-in-residence at UCL Sarah Parker Remond Centre for the study of racism and racialisation. He has been Advisor to the Representation and Decolonisation Process at The Box and Strategic Consultant for Climate Justice at the University of Exeter. He is currently working on a book, Dart River, for Hutchinson Heinemann. Through it, he explores the psychogeographies of empire in the corner of rural South-West England where he lives.

Click here to read this member's profile - Antony Hart

Antony is a police Superintendent and the Local Policing Commander for Exeter, East and Mid Devon. He has served with Devon and Cornwall Police since 2007 and has worked in a variety of uniformed and detective roles during his career. Before joining the police, he trained as an accountant in the financial services sector in London.

He was motivated to join the Board of Exeter College because the places great value on education in enabling individuals to reach their potential. There are also many parallels in the work of the College and the Police in supporting individuals, and local communities, to thrive. He has previously served as a governor at a local primary school.

Antony holds a BSc in Economics and Management Studies from Cardiff University, and he later achieved an MSc in Police Leadership and Management from the University of Warwick.

Antony lives in Exeter with his wife and three young children. Much of his spare time is spent on adventures with his family, but, when possible, he enjoys getting out on his bike or paddle board, preferably in the sun.

Click here to read this member's profile - Neil Hitchings

Neil was born and educated in Kent before moving across to the South West to complete his degree in economics and statistics at the University of Exeter. He trained and qualified as a chartered accountant with a big four firm in Exeter and after 17 years transferred to PKF Francis Clark in 2009. He is now a director and audit signatory in their corporate team, with clients across the South West and further afield, approximately half of which are not for profit, including some of the highest profile charities in the region. In his role as a not for profit specialist, Neil regularly contributes to the firms sector newsletters and advises clients on governance and risk management related matters. Neil was previously a director of Cornerstone Housing Association and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Neil lives in Cullompton with his wife and daughter. His passion outside of work is music, playing in several bands, and he is involved in community-based music projects.

Click here to read this member's profile - Wilf Hudson

Wilf has spent most of his working life in and around post sixteen education and training. He taught science and mathematics at five large FE colleges, before his last college role which was as Assistant Principal at Exeter College.

He left Exeter in 1993 to join the inspectorate and spent the next 25 years as an HMI working across England. During his time as HMI he inspected colleges, primary and secondary school, training/apprenticeship providers and was responsible for several years for the training programmes for new and part time inspectors. As well as leading national survey, for example into mathematics, he also led a team of inspectors and industrialists on a visit to South Korea to compare their education and training with the UK system.

When he retired fully in 2016, he joined the Board of The Cornwall College Group and spent 8 years undertaking a range of roles, including chairing the Quality and Curriculum Committee. He resigned from the Board in 2024.

Wilf has lived in Newton Poppleford for around 40 years. As well as playing golf very badly, he enjoys reading, walking and trying to keep up with the activities and adventures of his children and grandchildren.

Click here to read this member's profile - Rob Hutchins

Rob is a qualified management accountant. He is now semi-retired, but has previously worked in finance and assurance roles in public sector organisations.

He was formerly the Head of Devon Assurance Partnership, where he held responsibility for delivering internal audit, risk management and counter fraud services to the partners and a wide range of other clients.

He has managed large finance teams delivering finance support and advice, for example adult social care functions of a local Council and Health Authority (combined gross budget of circa £60m).

Rob’s depth of experience matches the diversity of the clients he has supported with audit and assurance work including Key Financial Systems, Social Care, Planning, major ICT undertakings and specialist projects.

Rob aims to use his experiences of Risk Management, Internal Audit, Project, Programme and Consultancy reviews to help the Audit and Governance Committee, and wider College, deliver consistently effective assurance arrangements.

Over the winter Rob undertakes assignment work in the fields of audit or finance, whilst in the summer he takes time out to enjoy outdoor activities including football, cycling, walking and surfing.

Click here to read this member's profile - John Laramy

John Laramy is Principal and Chief Executive of Exeter College, a position he has held since April 2016. Prior to this, John had been Vice Principal at the college since 2009. His background in quality improvement has supported the college’s drive for excellence – this was recognised in 2014 and 2022 by Outstanding grades in full Ofsted inspections. John has extensive experience of the full academic and vocational curriculum for 16 to 19 year olds, including A levels, International Baccalaureate, BTEC qualifications, Apprenticeships and foundation learning. Exeter College also offers a wide range of Adult and community learning, Higher Education programmes and customised courses for businesses.

John started his career in the construction industry and after teaching Karate in his spare time decided on a change. After undertaking a full-time PGCE at the University of Greenwich in 1996, whilst teaching part-time at North West Kent College, he started as a Lecturer at North Devon College in 1997. Progressing through various roles, John joined the Senior Management Team in 2005. John has spoken nationally on vocational education, Ofsted inspections and quality improvement.

John was a non-executive Director of Pearson Education Limited from 2018-2024 and completed a full term of office on the Local Enterprise Partnership Board (2019-2022). John has been Chair of the Tertiary Colleges Group since 2017 and is a member of the Education Training Foundation steering group for leadership development at the Oxford Said Business School. John was Founding Chair of the Exeter Specialist Mathematics School and a Founding Director of the Ted Wragg Multi-Academy Trust – John remains a member representing the college in both organisations.

In June 2022, John was appointed to be one of just eight National Leaders of Further Education by the Department for Education. In August 2024, John was asked to join the independent Curriculum Assessment Review – this group reports to the Secretary of State for Education. John holds an MSc in Educational Leadership from the University of Leicester and is a full corporate member of the Chartered Institute of Building. John lives locally, is married to Donna, has two children and a fox red Labrador – Bailey!

John was awarded a CBE in 2020, in the New Year’s Honours list, for services to education.

Click here to read this member's profile - Carol McCormack

Carol McCormack is Head of PPP and Projects at Michelmores LLP working nationally whilst based in Devon. Carol worked in the City at a major law firm before relocating to Devon over 15 years ago.

Carol is highly experienced property and construction projects and joint ventures. She has acted for major public sector bodies in a wide range of sectors including health and education. Following completing a number of high profile transactions Carol was awarded the OBE for legal services to HM Treasury and the Home Office in recognition of her exceptional commitment to the delivery of legal services.

Carol has a small holding of pigs and cattle.

Click here to read this member's profile - Stewart Noakes

Following a career of building several technology related companies Stewart is actively involved in fostering entrepreneurship in the UK and Portugal, with links also in the USA and India. This includes mentoring, coaching and advisory to founders of start-ups and scale ups as well as engaging with a variety of government and ecosystem level organisations.

Throughout his career Stewart has been proactive in supporting initiatives and organisations related to youth engagement and education. Now based in Exeter, his decision to join the board of governors at Exeter College was in recognition of the unique impact the College is having on the region and a desire to be involved in its future.

Key areas of interest for Stewart on the board include: Vocational training and re-skilling; the future of learning; aligning education with contemporary needs for speed and accessibility.

Click here to read this member's profile - Damion Norcombe

Damion was born in Exeter and is a proud alumnus of Exeter College, has deep roots in East Devon, where he has resided throughout his life. With a career spanning 26 years in the IT industry, Damion has honed his expertise within a prominent local family retail business based in Axminster. His tenure has encompassed pivotal roles in technical, data, digital, cyber, and change management arenas.

Beyond his professionalism endeavours, Damion has demonstrated a profound commitment to community service, having served as a Special Inspector for Devon and Cornwall Police Special Constabulary. Through this role, he gained invaluable insight into the intricacies of local law enforcement and fostered a deep understanding of community dynamics.

Damion’s interest includes cycling, photography, and travel. He finds fulfilment in exploring new landscapes and capturing moments of beauty through his lens.

Click here to read this member's profile - Ayomide Okesola

Ayomide is a driven advocate for student representation and active governance. Having previously served as the FE Student Governor during the 2023/24 academic year, she gained valuable insights into the governance process and played a key role in promoting the student voice at Exeter College.

Currently, Ayomide is an apprentice pursuing a Level 5 apprenticeship course at the college, which allows her to bring a unique perspective to the Board, particularly in representing adult learners and apprentices.

In her new role as a co-opted member on the Quality and Standards Committee, Ayomide is committed to influencing decision that enhance the student experience and ensure that student voices are heard and acted upon. With her strong commitment to excellence and innovation, she actively promotes student voices, ensuring their concerns are integral to decision-making processes. This strong advocacy, combined with her leadership experience, makes her a valuable contributor to the Board.

Outside of governance, Ayomide enjoys writing, cooking, volunteering and spending quality time with loved ones. These interests allow her to stay grounded and maintain a balanced, fulfilling life while continuing her commitment to education and student advocacy.

Click here to read this member's profile - Professor Tim Quine

Professor Tim Quine is the Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience) and Professor of Earth Surface Science. Tim is responsible for leading the delivery of the University of Exeter’s Education Strategy, and the Education and Student Experience vision within the University’s 2030 Strategy.

Tim’s brief is captured in the Education Strategy commitments to Success for All our Students and Valuing Educators, and encompasses the undergraduate and taught postgraduate student journey from arrival, through excellent teaching, learning and assessment, to the next stages in graduate life. He maintains a close partnership with the Students’ Guild in Exeter and the Falmouth and Exeter Students’ Union in Cornwall to ensure that our students’ interests are central to our plans for continuous enhancement. He also works closely with the Education Leadership Team including the three Faculty Associate Pro-Vice Chancellors (Education) to ensure that the University maintains its excellent academic standards and continues to innovate in teaching and learning for the benefit of all students.

He is a graduate of University College London where he obtained his Bachelors degree in Archaeology. Tim went on to complete his doctorate at the University of Strathclyde, and his research in earth surface science focuses on perturbation of the terrestrial carbon cycle and ecosystem services by soil erosion and sediment deposition. Tim’s research projects have seen him collaborate with researchers in universities and research institutes in China, India, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Bolivia, Saudi Arabia, Australia, New Zealand and many European countries. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and member of the Russell Group Education Network.

Click here to read this member's profile - Victoria Roberts

Vicki Roberts is the Business Support Staff governor and works within the College Information Services department as the Examinations and Assessment Manager. She joined Exeter College in 2007 starting as an Exams Clerk and then a couple of years later became Deputy Exams Manager. In 2024 she started in her current role which involves managing the college’s busy examination function. Vicki and her team support college students in all faculties to complete their examinations and assessments successfully, working with over 40 different awarding bodies.

Vicki studied a BA in English Literature at the University of Exeter and loved the city so much she decided to stay. Following her degree, she took on varying roles in administration and retail before realising that she needed a greater challenge, which she certainly found in the world of exams!

Vicki lives in Exeter with her husband and daughter and has a wide range of interests including yoga, live music and literature.

Click here to read this member's profile - Cynthia Sedgman

After qualifying with a PhD in Biochemistry, Cynthia worked in the global Pharmaceutical Industry for nearly 30 years. During this time, she had leadership roles in a variety of areas including Research and Development, Quality, Manufacturing and Global Supply Chains.

She then spent a number of years in Management Consulting in the Life Science Industry.

Cynthia has two sons and has lived in a small village on Dartmoor with her husband for over 10 years.

Click here to read this member's profile - Lindsay Skinner

Lindsay Skinner is Exeter College alumni, having been raised and educated in Exeter. She finished her A Levels at the College in 2001 and left to study English and Drama at university.

Currently, Lindsay is a former headteacher and now is a Director of Education at the Ted Wragg Trust. Formerly an English teacher, she loves English and all things literary and she has written a number of educational books for Harper Collins.

Lindsay is also a governor for the Virtual School, supporting the education of children in care across Devon.

Click here to read this member's profile - Adele Westcott

Adele is a career internal auditor, with 30 years experience gained in the UK and overseas. She is passionate about good governance, providing insight and assurance to Boards, Chief Executives and leadership teams.

She started her career at the Land Registry. After qualifying she joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, auditing Embassies and Consulates around the world. A move to the private sector took her into the corporate banking world at the Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Adele returned to the public sector and became the Head of Internal Audit for the Environment Agency based in Bristol. An opportunity to start up an Internal Audit function for a Government Department in Abu Dhabi gave her the chance to enjoy a different culture and a move overseas for five years.

Adele returned to the UK in 2015 and is the current Head of Internal Audit at the Met Office in Exeter.

Adele is married with a son at university. She loves spending time outdoors, particularly body boarding, snorkelling, cycling, walking and gardening. She also enjoys sharing good food with family and friends and reading grisly murder stories.

Click here to read this member's profile - Stephen Wiltshire

Stephen is Managing Director at Exeter Airport and a member of the Executive Team.

Stephen has a background in mechanical engineering and worked at Blackpool Airport for 7 years until he joined Exeter Airport in 2009 as Operations Director.

Stephen leads the airport team in all aspects of airport operations, including Air Traffic Control, Terminal Operations, Rescue and Fire Fighting, Aircraft Refuelling, Ground Handling and Aerodrome operations. He holds a wealth of experience in airport operations, safety/risk management and regulatory compliance requirements.

Outside of work Stephen is a keen golfer, enjoys supporting the Exeter Chiefs, and likes exploring the South West region. He lives in Exeter with his partner and two teenage sons.

Click here to read this member's profile - Sally Wolkowski

Sally is a Lead Enterprise Architect at the Met Office. Her CV covers an array of senior management positions leading the design and initiation of significant transformation portfolios and programmes and business improvements. Most recently Sally set up and led the Services Transformation department with responsibility for forecast production strategy and continuous enhancement of key products and services, including the National Meteorological Library and Archive.

Her passion for education was discovered during her tenure as Head of the Met Office College. In this post, she was asked to lead the review of the global standard for meteorologists by the World Meteorological Organisation and was invited to become a visiting scholar at the University of Reading where she developed a blueprint for future meteorological skills. Her leadership experience stretches from strategy development and business planning to strategic account management for central government customers and quite a lot in between.

In her spare time, Sally enjoys riding her motorcycle, reading books and spending time with her children.