The Corporation Board is the governing body of North Kent Colleges Group. It provides strategic leadership, ensures accountability, and safeguards the long-term success and sustainability of the Group.
The Corporation Board comprises of 20 governors including:
Our external Governors are drawn from a wide range of business, professional, public sector, and community backgrounds. They bring valuable skills, experience and insight to the college group, united by a shared commitment to education and public service. In return, they find the role of Governor highly rewarding - offering an opportunity to contribute directly to the groups impact on learners, employers and the wider community.
The work of the Corporation Board is guided by the groups Vision and Mission, as set out in the Strategic Plan. Vision To be recognised nationally as a leading vocational centre, delivering outstanding teaching and learning, responsive to local and regional industry needs, and producing learners who are the first choice of employers. Mission To provide high-quality education, learning and training which, through partnership working, offers young people and adults the opportunity to achieve their potential and contribute to the success of their communities. The Board ensures that every aspect of groups strategy and governance aligns with this mission - maintaining a strong focus on student success, quality improvement, employer engagement, and community benefit. The Corporation Board operates as a strategic, decision-making body responsible for setting the educational character, mission, and long-term direction of the Group. As charity trustees, Governors act collectively in the best interests of the Group, upholding the Nolan Principles of Public Life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership. The Board’s core responsibilities include: Strategic Role and Delegation The Corporation Board operates at a strategic level and does not become involved in the day-to-day management of the Group. Operational leadership and management are delegated to the Chief Executive / Executive Principal, who is accountable to the Board for implementing the agreed strategy and ensuring the effective and efficient running of the Group. The scope of this delegation is defined in the Instrument and Articles of Government, the Scheme of Delegation, and the Financial Regulations, all of which are available on the Group website. The Corporation Board is committed to maintaining high standards of governance in line with Department for Education expectations, the Association of Colleges (AoC) Code of Good Governance, and wider sector best practice. This includes:
Committee Membership
While the full Corporation Board considers major strategic, policy and performance matters, much of the detailed work is carried out through a series of statutory and non-statutory committees. This structure enables the Board to make effective use of Governors’ expertise, provide appropriate scrutiny and challenge, and maintain effective oversight across all areas of the College’s operations in support of its Vision, Mission and strategic objectives.
Audit Committee (Statutory Requirement): Provides independent assurance to the Corporation on the adequacy and effectiveness of the College’s governance, risk management, internal control and assurance arrangements, and oversees the work of the internal and external auditors.
Search, Governance & Remuneration Committee (SG&R): Oversees Governor recruitment, appointments, succession planning and performance, supports the effectiveness of the College’s governance arrangements, and considers remuneration matters within its delegated responsibilities.
Quality & Standards Committee (Q&S): Provides detailed scrutiny and oversight of the quality of education and training, curriculum performance, student experience and outcomes, and the College’s arrangements for continuous quality improvement.
Finance & Resources Committee (F&R): Provides detailed scrutiny and oversight of the College’s financial performance, financial planning and sustainability, people and workforce matters, and estates and capital investment. The Committee monitors the effective use of College resources and provides assurance and recommendations to the Corporation on matters within its delegated responsibilities.
David is a qualified chartered accountant who has worked for a number of leading international financial organisations. He joined the College as Principal in 2010, having previously occupied the same role at Bexley College for two years prior to joining North Kent College. He joined Bexley College as Director of Finance in 2001 and then became Deputy Principal in 2003 before becoming Principal in 2008. David was born in Dartford and educated at local schools before gaining an MA in Mathematics from Oxford University.
Louis joined Smiths Medical in March 2016 to head up the expanded GFS EMEA shared service center based in Ashford. In this role Louis is responsible for all Finance and accounting activity in the EMEA region for Smiths Medical.
Louis has over 25 years of Finance & Accounting experience in a range of Industries including, Automotive, building plastics, Telecommunications & for the past 20 years Pharmaceutical, including 14 years at Pfizer in a number of senior positions.
Prior to joining Smiths Medical Louis was Executive director of Finance, contracts and outsourcings for Daiichi Sankyo Development Ltd, the European development arm of this Japanese Pharmaceutical company.
Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants 2003
Association of the Chartered Certified Accountants member since 1996
Member of the Search, Governance, Remuneration Commitee
Until his ‘retirement’ in 2018, David was one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors for Further Education and Skills. He is a veteran of the further education and skills sector, three inspectorates, successive inspection cycles, and their frameworks. After a successful teaching and senior management career in four further education colleges, he was a full-time education and skills inspector for over 20 years, originally with the Further Education Funding Council, from its inception, the Adult Learning Inspectorate, and then with Ofsted.
He inspected all aspects of general further education and sixth-form colleges, workplace learning, including apprenticeships, and adult and community learning. He has particular expertise in leadership and management and in the quality of education and training. In addition to leading many inspections, David worked successfully with many providers to improve their performance and inspection grading. He also contributed significantly to the training and mentoring of newly appointed inspectors.
Prior to inspecting, David was a full-time teacher of business and management studies and social sciences in further and higher education for 27 years, latterly holding senior leadership roles, including deputy principal and principal. He has also held directorships of workplace learning companies.
David graduated in the social sciences. He also has post-graduate and professional qualifications in management, marketing and export, and tourism. In1972 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
David was born in Kent. After living and working in many other parts of the country he returned for Kent for work and remains there. He shares a love of food and travel with his wife, who is a longstanding chef-proprietor.
In addition to his Governor role, from late 2018 onwards, David provides occasional consultancy, especially to further education colleges, as part of their improvement strategies.
Mandeep is a qualified CIMA accountant with over 20 years’ experience of working in various finance roles across the media industry. Currently working as Finance Director for FutureBrand, a global brand consulting business. Previously, Mandeep worked with CNN International supporting the Global Sales team and International news bureaus.
Sarah is the Chief Executive Officer at Ingenious Pixies an AI-powered business intelligence platform designed to help more start-ups scale-up. Her career has spanned marketing, business development, operational and general management roles with global and national practices across the legal and accountancy professions, in the UK, US and Asia. Sarah has held Board level positions in PLCs and has worked as the CEO of a major royal charity.
For many years a Kent resident, Jane has been working in the Further Education sector since 1992 in a range of roles which took her from West Kent College, to the Learning & Skills Council, to KAFEC and finally to MidKent College. Since her retirement in 2016 Jane has been acting as a consultant to the FE sector at senior management level supporting College mergers and providing senior leadership support. Currently she is undertaking an Open University degree course (English Literature and Creative Writing) with a view to being able to write that book that she is sure she has in her!
Jane's interests include ballet, theatre, books, gardening and enjoying time with her two granddaughters.
Experienced client focused professional having worked in different geographies (France, USA, UK) and across a variety of areas in finance, ranging from Markets activities to Investment and Commercial Banking. Always covering clients directly and managing commercial strategies. Father of five boys and husband to Petra, Peter and his family live in Kent not far from Dartford.
Sue did a BSc in Environmental Biology then trained as a science teacher and taught in schools for several years. She returned to studying full time and did a degree and then a PhD in law at King’s College in London. Her work in education and law led her to a job in the House of Commons Research and Information Department where she has worked as a senior policy analyst in higher and further education for 20 years. This job involves working closely with MPs and their staff and providing them with accurate and impartial information to assist them in their parliamentary and constituency duties.
Martin is a civil servant who has been part of the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs since 2010. He’s worked in a variety of senior roles, primarily developing government policy related to farming. Since 2019 he has led work to develop new subsidies to improve the health and welfare of farmed animals in England.
With over a decade of teaching experience and currently serving as deputy head of curriculum, I bring a wealth of knowledge and leadership skills to my role. My diverse career spans 40 years in the automotive industry, where I developed strong business and leadership acumen, including owning my own business.
Beyond the classroom, I am passionate about community engagement, leading a popular regional running club that fosters camaraderie and well-being.
Recently, I have taken on the role of Staff Governor, contributing my unique staff perspective to the governing body and working collaboratively to ensure strategic management and high educational standards. At 56, I continue to inspire and motivate others through my dedication to education and community service."
Joanna has a wide-ranging background in both the NHS and the Independent sector. She has worked in schools, community nursing and Continuing Care. Joanna was a Chief Nurse in a large corporation providing homecare across the UK and now works as a consultant advisor to those working with children, young people and adults in the places they live and work, including hospices, residential homes/schools/colleges, assisted living, secure settings and family houses.
Joanna is passionate about supporting people to achieve their chosen goals whilst remaining in their preferred environment and supports nurse-led care, especially for those with complex needs. She is an advocate for those people who need care at home and for the nurses and carers that provide this.
Yolanda joined North Kent College in 2011. She has over 15 years’ experience working in the FE & HE sector as Clerk to the Corporation and is qualified in FE & HE Corporate Governance. Prior to joining North Kent, she worked for Farnborough College of Technology and The Henley College. Her background before joining the FE sector was working with Hampshire Local Education Authority, Governor Services Department contracted to both primary and secondary schools. Yolanda was born and educated in Zimbabwe, Africa.
Irene Serewicz Redman is Head of Business Development and Relationship Management for Africa and the Middle East at the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA). Key stakeholders include higher education institutions, employers, regulators, and local actuarial societies. She is a passionate international business development and key account management professional.
Irene has had a portfolio of careers across the professional membership and qualifications sector, legal sector, management training in emerging and developing countries and started her finance career in the City of London in investment banking and venture capital. Originally from the US, Irene moved to the UK almost 30 years ago and after living in London, moved to Kent over 15 years ago.
Irene holds an MBA in Finance from Bayes Business School, an MA in International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh, and a BA in Biology from Lawrence University.
Gurdip became a Governor for North Kent College in December 2025.
He brings with him a vast amount of experience, as a Fellow Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), having held senior executive positions within complex commercial organisations, senior civil service and social enterprises. He has experience in implementing transformation and cultural change programmes, developing organisations from start-up through to maturity, building capability and developing systems across organisations. Strategic, proactive, with a proven and consistent track-record of sustained success in finance and multifunctional teams in corporate services, including people management, data and digital and corporate governance.
He is currently Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Operations at OPDC established to shape and accelerate the regeneration potential, created by the arrival of High Speed 2's Old Oak Common super hub, a thriving, inclusive and healthy new urban district, with up to 8000 homes and 2.5 million sq. Ft. of commercial space creating huge benefits for current and new residents and businesses alike.
Simki brings extensive experience in marketing, communications and community engagement. She has led successful projects and events in both professional and voluntary roles. Simki is passionate about supporting education, fostering strong community links, and contributing to strategic decision-making that benefits students and staff.