Born in Telford and a former New College and University of Wolverhampton student, Gail currently works as an integration programme manager for life and pensions compact ReAssure in Telford. Her background is project and programme management. Gail has also worked for Telford and Wrekin Council and holds an MSc in strategic management.

• Date Appointed – 21/12/2017
• 2nd Term Ends – 12/10/2025

Lawrence joined us in August 2024 from Coleg Llandrillo in North Wales, where he was principal. He has worked in the further education sector for nearly 25 years, including more than a decade in senior post-holder positions. Lawrence has a wealth of experience in partnership working and employer engagement, and has led on a number of significant projects strengthening the role of the college within the community as well as serving as a peer inspector for Estyn, the Welsh education and training inspectorate.

• Date Appointed – 01/08/2024
• Term Ends – N/A

Born in Manchester, raised in Hayling Island, of part English, part Jamaican heritage, Joanna has spent the last 15 years living, working and raising a family in New York. Having returned home to England, permanently, she and her family have made Telford their new home. She brings with her over 27 years of administration experience having overseen a wide variety of essential functions. Accustomed to optimising productivity, efficiency and service quality across various sectors within diverse environments, her backgrounds have been in the New York construction industry, UK government and mental health charitable services.

• Date Appointed – 20/03/2023
• Term Ends – N/A

Chris has worked in globally renowned tech companies for more than 25 years, most of those leading his own award-winning technology services provider (Bespoke Computing Ltd) to help businesses achieve more through adoption of good technology strategy. He regularly speaks with the local business community on the business end of IT; enabling businesses to learn about technology, and how the application of tech in real-world scenarios can add value to every business.

• Date Appointed – 17/07/2018
• 2nd Term Ends – 16/07/2026
• Committee Membership – Audit Committee
• Link areas – IT

Jim’s career was launched with a BTEC in Business Studies from Telford College’s forerunner TCAT and led to senior leadership positions in Finance, Sales, Operations and General Management, in a USA owned, global manufacturing business.

Qualifying as a Chartered Management Accountant, he also earnt a Masters in Business Administration from Baylor University whilst living and working Texas.

He believes that education can be an enabler for all and hopes his diverse experience will help the college excel to new heights.

• Date Appointed – 20/11/2023
• Term Ends – 17/12/2027

As an international education consultant, Kevin Barton works at policy and practice levels with schools, government agencies, NGOs and organisations, including the Youth Sport Trust, YST International, Nike, and the British Council, as an expert trainer, bespoke consultant and author of resources. He has a particular interest in physical, creative and cultural education and leadership. Kevin had a twenty-year career as a teacher, subject leader and senior leader in schools throughout England, including a nine year period at a secondary school in Telford from 1999-2008. From 2011 to 2016, Kevin held a senior national leadership role in an educational trust which used the power of physical activity and sport to improve wider education outcomes for young people and schools. Prior to this, he was the national adviser for Physical Education at the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, England’s national governmental agency responsible for the development of the National Curriculum and for the regulation of national qualifications and examinations. He led the organisation’s work in Physical Education, including the development of a new National Curriculum and assessment framework applied in schools throughout England. Kevin was a Visiting Fellow at the University of Exeter from 2012 to 2016, working within the Graduate School of Education, with a particular interest in student-led school transformation, working with colleagues at the University to improve teachers’ skills as researchers and to support schools in developing enquiry skills in teachers and students.

• Date Appointed – 13/12/2021
• Term Ends – 12/12/2025
• Link area – Curriculum and quality 

Gill is delighted to have joined the Governing Body of Telford College. She recently retired as CEO of the Learning Community Trust, a Telford based Multi-Academy Trust which she established in 2017, with primary, secondary, and special schools. Prior to this she was Principal of the Hadley Learning Community from 2005-2017, a large all-through school serving the community of Hadley. She brings the skills and experiences of a strategic, education leader to the Board. Currently, Gill is the Independent Chair of the Telford and Wrekin Education Strategic Partnership Board working with education leaders across Telford.

Dr Eatough has been honoured with an MBE for her services to education and appointed as a member of the Order of the British Empire in King Charles’ New Years Honours list

• Date Appointed – 20/11/2023
• Term Ends – 19/11/2027

Ann has lived in Shropshire for 50 years starting her career in people development, a passion that led to Ann becoming HR Director of one of the Sunday Times 100 best companies to work for. Then, following a major trauma in 2002 which left Ann as a permanent wheelchair user she took her passion for the inclusion and development of the workforce into the  wider community, leading on social justice work and social impact projects, acknowledging that it is not people who need to change to influence or achieve their ambitions instead it’s about creating systems that seeks to be more inclusive and to ensure that the people they support are influencing the practices that impact upon them. 

Ann’s work has included producing internal papers for the Open University on how to meaningfully engage service users and led or supported the setup of a range of community-based people-led projects.   

Currently Ann is the leading consultant and advisor on the Public Sector Equality Duty and the Socio-Economic Duty for Equality and Diversity UK (EDUK) which has led Ann to advise on working practices related to the duties with a wide range of public bodies across the UK including police forces; Civil Servants; Education providers, regulators and commissioners. In addition to her work with EDUK Ann is an advisor on lived experience engagement within education to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is the Telford Local Implementation Lead for Lloyds Bank Foundation, a role that brings together a wide range of local partners, small and local charities, communities, public and private sector organisations to support the delivery of services that people across the borough need the most. 

Ann is delighted to have joined the Governing Body of Telford College to bring her experience in equality, equity and community engagement to the development, progression and well-being of the workforce and students 

• Date Appointed – 30/09/2024
• Term Ends – 30/09/2028

Hollie is a passionate advocate for digital skills and apprenticeships. She is an award-winning TEDx speaker, author and director of two digital companies – Purple Frog Systems and FraggleWorks. She is also the National Policy Skills Champion for the Federation of Businesses (FSB).

Having originally read business studies at university, Hollie completed a Level 5 apprenticeship through Telford College some 25 years later in her own organisation, using it as an opportunity to upskill her existing knowledge. As well as employing apprentices, she now has first-hand experience!

Hollie joined the Governing body in 2023, seeing it as an opportunity to bring the small business voice to the table. She is keen to help break down barriers and ensure that the digital skills needed by all sizes of business are accessible to bridge the skills gap and digital divide.

• Date Appointed – 20/11/2023
• Term Ends – 19/11/2027

Ruth taught business and languages in further education colleges in Staffordshire and at Staffordshire University. She was qualifications manager for a leading awarding body where she managed teams of examiners assessing GCSEs, A levels and vocational qualifications. She now works as a freelance consultant providing services to professional institutions, regulatory bodies and examination boards. She has written a number of textbooks and teaching resources for critical thinking examinations.

• Date Appointed – 07/10/2019
• 2nd Term Ends – 06/10/2027
• Committee Membership – Remuneration Committee, Search Committee
• Link areas – Assessment and achievement 

Born in Staffordshire, completed General Nurse Training in Shrewsbury in 1983 followed by Registered Sick Children’s Nurse training in Manchester. Worked within Shropshire since 1990, School Nursing, Special Needs School Nursing as well as Acute Hospital Nursing within Paediatrics. The last 16 years of which have been as Lead for Safeguarding Children for The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. Member of St John Ambulance since 1972 and currently manages the Unit in Market Drayton. Along side this Teresa is also a member of ( and secretary to) Shropshire County St John Priory Group and represents the Youth in West Midlands in London as a Priory Chapter Member of the Order of St John. Teresa is also President Elect (2024/2025) for Rotary in Market Drayton. Married to a College Lecturer and Mother to young adult twins, both of whom are registered disabled.

• Date Appointed – 20/11/2023
• Term Ends – 19/11/2027

Previously a pupil at Madeley Academy, Jack now studies Level 3 Public Uniformed Services. Jack plans to progress onto a university degree and then onto joining the Police Force. He hopes to use his passion for helping others by putting forward the voice of students and ensuring they continue to be at the heart of the college.

• Date Appointed – 18/12/2023

• Term Ends – 16/12/2025

Rehan progressed to the college from Ercall Wood Academy. Currently in his first year of Level 3 Public Uniformed Services he hopes to eventually progress onto an apprenticeship in the Police Force. Rehan has seized the opportunity to become a Student Governor and hopes to positively influence the student experience at Telford College.

• Date Appointed – 18/12/2023

• Term Ends – 18/12/2025

Before joining the college in 2014 John previously worked as the Assistant Studio Manager of Ealing Studios as part of the Operations Team working directly with both national and international production companies to produce a wide range of films, television shows and commercials.

Starting his teaching career with Telford College in the Creative department John delivered both Art & Media to a wide range of students working at L1, L2, L3 and HNC/D. In 2020 John moved into the Foundation department and now works as Curriculum Team Leader for the Princes Trust programme.

Alongside his teaching qualification John also has a BA in Film & Television Studies and an MA in Digital Film Making and Photography.

• Date Appointed – 16/06/2023

• Term Ends – 12/06/2027

Martin came to the college to study on a higher education course in 2014 and then finished his teacher training at the University of Wolverhampton. His interest in IT infrastructure, security, digital forensics, and networking has now taken him from teaching computer science into the role of Network Manager.

Martin wanted to become a staff governor with the aim of moving the college forward digitally and hopes his input on today’s digital world can make life more secure easier for both staff and students alike. He also has a passion for mental health and wellbeing for everyone who attends the college.

• Date Appointed – 11/03/2022
• Term Ends – 10/03/2026