Governance

David Meadowcroft, Chair of Governors

David Meadowcroft joined the Board in March 2015. David is a property services specialist and Business Unit Director with CBRE having previously worked with organisations such as RBS, HSBC, HMRC and Barclays. David has a passion for supporting the development of young people and he is proud that he has been a college/ school governor for over 15 years. David grew up in West Cumbria, which is where he developed a passion for the countryside and outdoor pursuits. He lives in Deanshanger with his wife and two teenage sons. David is a member of the Remuneration Committee.

Dr Liz Marr, Vice Chair of Governors

Dr Liz Marr joined the Board in December 2011 and is Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Students) at the Open University. After leaving school and going straight into the workplace, she started university as a mature student. A BSc, MSc and PhD later, Liz began working as a lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University where she eventually became Head of Widening Participation. In 2009, she moved to the OU where she has been able to pursue her passion – the provision of higher education as a means of achieving social justice; Liz holds a MBA in Higher Education Management. Liz is Vice Chair of Governors, a member of the Remuneration Committee and she chairs the Curriculum & Quality Group. Liz is Lead Governor for SEND and Safeguarding.

Richard Bartlett-Rawlings, Governor

Richard Bartlett-Rawlings joined the Board in October 2019. Richard is a qualified accountant (FCA) and currently an audit partner with RSM Milton Keynes working with a range of businesses from not for profit fund holders to large corporate entities in a variety of sectors. Richard has extensive financial experience having previously held roles with KPMG and Deloitte. Most of Richard’s spare time is taken up with family but he is interested in all things automotive and also has a passion for technology. Having attended a Further Education College prior to university, Richard is committed to widening participation and understands the value that Further Education Colleges can bring to the wider community. Richard is Vice-Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee.

Rebecca Carrington, Governor

Rebecca Carrington joined the board in December 2017. Rebecca is Principal of Arts1, an independent theatre school offering specialist training to children, young people and adults including full time courses in the post-16 sector. Rebecca holds a PGCE in Post-16 education from the University of Greenwich, a Masters Degree in Performance from the University of East Anglia, a Post Graduate Diploma in Musical Theatre from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and a BA first class honours in Modern Drama Studies and English Literature from Brunel University. Rebecca is passionate about high quality, inspiring and stimulating learning environments that enable learners to thrive in developing their skills and creativity and is a member of Milton Keynes Arts and Heritage Alliance. Rebecca is a member of the Curriculum and Quality Group.

Alan Cook, CBE, Governor

Alan Cook CBE joined the Board in August 2019. Alan has extensive financial services experience across insurance, banking and investments Since 2010, Alan has been solely performing governance roles on numerous Boards including: LV= and Chetwood Financial Ltd, (where is he the current Chair), and prior to that he has served as Chair of the University of Bedfordshire, Chair of Permanent TSB Group Holdings, senior independent director of Sainsbury’s Bank, Chair of the Highways Agency and as Non-Executive Director at the Department for Transport, Financial Ombudsman Service and the Office of Fair Trading. As an executive, he has also been managing director of Post Office Ltd, chief executive officer of National Savings & Investments and chief operating officer for UK and Europe of Prudential Assurance. Alan has lived in Milton Keynes for many years and was keen to take on this local role. Alan is the Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee.

Peter Cox, Governor

Peter Cox joined the Board in July 2014. Peter was a corporate partner in the Milton Keynes office of Dentons, a global law firm, until his retirement in October 2020. Peter’s particular expertise is in corporate finance transactions. His practice covers banking, mergers, acquisitions and disposals, establishing and reorganising businesses, joint ventures, venture capital and private equity investments. Peter is a member of the Audit & Risk Committee and Chair of the Property Development Monitoring Group.

Mat Gotkowski

Mat joined the Board in May 2019. Mat is a qualified accountant (ACCA) and currently a Senior Manager with PwC in Milton Keynes where he leads on audits of financial services clients as well as being a career coach and mentor. His experience includes people management, financial reporting, financial management and corporate governance. Mat is passionate about social mobility and the role of education in shaping the workforce of the future and he describes himself as an outdoor enthusiast and a fan of travel and adventure books. Mat is a member of the Audit & Risk Committee.

Dr Julie Mills OBE, Governor/CEO and Group Principal

Dr Julie Mills is the CEO and Principal of MK College and a highly respected thinker and doer in the areas of education, skills, social justice and diversity. Julie’s contributions have been featured by the BBC, ITV, The Huffington Post, The Times Educational Supplement, FE News, and many more. She is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion. Julie is the driving force behind plans for an Institute of Technology at Bletchley Park, Chair of the Helena Kennedy Foundation, Vice Chair of the English Colleges Football Association and Chair of Women Leaders UK and SEMLEP Board Member. Julie is a champion for all things Milton Keynes and is a trustee of the MK Dons Sport and Education Trust and a MK Business Leaders Partnership Board Member. As an Open University graduate, she was awarded a doctorate in 2005 for her research into the management of prison education staff. Julie was awarded an OBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2019 for services in linking education and business.
Julie is a member of the Search & Governance Committee.

Asad Mir, Student Governor

Asad Mir was elected as Student Governor in November 2019. Asad has been at the College since 2016 studying for Level 2 and Level 3 Public Services. He is currently studying an HNC in Public Services (Level 4) whilst volunteering within the public services sector and his intention is to progress to Level 7. Asad’s time at College means he has excellent knowledge of the student experience and he hopes to benefit personally from his role as a Student Governor by gaining a broader understanding of how a business is run which will assist Asad with his future endeavours.

Stephen Norrish MBE, Governor

Stephen Norrish MBE joined the Board in October 2009. Stephen has lived and worked in Milton Keynes for 25 years and is Co-Director of the MK Christian Foundation, a local charity working mostly with young people, offering them learning opportunities through their engagement in a variety of social enterprises. He is also a former chair of the MK Community Foundation. He has previously been involved in supporting and managing a number of regeneration schemes in the area. Stephen was made an MBE in 2001 for services to the community, especially young people. Stephen chairs the Search & Governance Committee, and is a member of the Curriculum & Quality Group.

Ruby Parmar, Governor

Ruby is an experienced business advisor to the private company market. She has worked in professional services firms for over 30 years, the last 20 at PwC where she was a partner whose roles included heading up the Private Business practice, leading on the PwC sponsored Private Business Awards and latterly as leader of the Milton Keynes office.

Having retired as a PwC partner at the end of June 2019, she now wears many hats supporting the private, public and charitable sectors. She also continues to mentor individuals and supports organisations with their Diversity and Inclusion agenda.

Her other roles include: Chair of TOTM (an organic and sustainable feminine hygiene products business), Director of Twenty3 (a sports intelligence business), Trustee of the Magic Bus, (a charity supporting children from the most deprived backgrounds in India), Director of Signia Wealth (a private investment office). When not engaging in business, education and opening up and sharing networks, she enjoys walking the dog, keeping fit, and growing vegetables.

Georgia Pongourou (Student Governor)

Georgia was elected as Student Governor in November 2020. Georgia joined the College in September 2020 as an Access student and her aim is to progress to university to study Biomedical Science.

Georgia is a role model for her young daughter. As well as representing the student voice, Georgia wants to use the opportunity to gain experience and new skills, and also to help improve the College to help future students thrive even more than current and past students.

Charlynne Pullen, Governor

Charlynne Pullen is an experienced social researcher, specialising in Further Education, and she joined the Milton Keynes College Board in 2016. Charlynne was formerly the Head of Research and Evaluation at the Education and Training Foundation (ETF), and is now working as an independent consultant for a range of organisations including the Gatsby Charitable Foundation. She has previously worked at City & Guilds and the National Foundation for Educational Research. Charlynne was Labour’s parliamentary candidate in Milton Keynes North in 2017 and 2019. Previously, Charlynne was a Labour councillor in the London Borough of Islington where she chaired the Education Committee, sat on the board of the Richard Reeves Foundation, and served on two Primary School governing bodies. She grew up in Milton Keynes, and holds a BA (Hons) in Modern History from the University of Oxford, an MSc in Social Research Methods from the Open University and a Graduate Diploma in Economics from Birkbeck College, University of London. Charlynne is a member of the Search & Governance Committee and Curriculum & Quality Group.

Neil Sainsbury, Governor

Neil Sainsbury joined the Board in October 2019. Neil is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute as well as a qualified urban designer. As Head of Placemaking at Milton Keynes Council, he is responsible ensuring that high quality placemaking occurs which involves balancing the retention of those aspects of the city that provide the unique identity to Milton Keynes while also addressing some of the current challenges that its urban form and design presents.

Aniesa Shah, Staff Governor

Aniesa was elected to the Board in September 2019. She is a member of the Quality Team and her role is Teaching & Learning Development Manager. Aniesa holds a BA Hons in English Language and Education Studies and a PGCE in Post-16 Education from the University of Bedfordshire. Her career in Further Education started at a local failing college where she developed and implemented strategies to address core issues. Aniesa has a passion for Teaching & Learning and is invested in ensuring all students at Milton Keynes College receive a high-quality learning experience in a stimulating environment. Outside of work Aniesa is interested in history, experiencing different cultures and cuisines and mixed martial arts.

Gwynneth Tan, Governor

Gwynneth Tan joined the Board in September 2014. Gwynneth is a partner at Shoosmiths LLP where she specialises in employment law providing strategic and commercial advice to clients across a range of sectors including further and higher education and retail. Shoosmiths is a major UK law firm with a network of 12 offices. Gwynneth enjoys the outdoors and travel. Gwynneth chairs the Remuneration Committee.

Manish Verma, Governor

Manish joined the Board in May 2019. Manish is a qualified accountant (ACA) and entrepreneur. His experience is global having worked with many leading banks and includes financial management, programme management, consultancy and leading edge technology. Manish is currently a strategic adviser for major corporates, managing complex budgets and delivering regulatory and technology projects as well as owning a restaurant. Manish is a Parish Councillor, School Governor and a member of MK Business Leaders Partnership. In his spare time, Manish is interested in philanthropy, education and cricket.

Kuldip Kaur

Kuldip is a co-opted member of the Audit & Risk Committee. Kuldip is a Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA and AAT) and is currently a Financial Analyst with the Regulator of Social Housing where she is responsible for reviewing and reporting on financial statements, audit reports, risk and mitigation strategies and compliance with regulatory standards. Outside of work she is interested in history, travel, current affairs and going to the gym.

Karen Brown, Head of Governance and Clerk to the Corporation

Karen joined the College in 2010 and prior to that she was a senior Learning Consultant with the Royal Bank of Scotland. Karen is directly accountable to the Board of Governors and her role is to provide support, guidance ensuring there is high quality college governance and that the Board operates within the requirements of the Instrument & Articles of Government. Karen has been a school governor for 12 years.