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, Safeguarding and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion..

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 continues to develop her thinking and experience in education and is currently studying part time for her diploma in Montessori teaching. She is passionate about high-quality student centred education, inspiring and stimulating learning environments, and facilitating learners to thrive and develop their skills and creativity. In 2019 Rebecca was awarded a Milton Keynes Women Leaders Award for Arts, Culture and Creative Industries. Rebecca is a member of the Curriculum and Quality Group and the Finance 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: 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.

Kaye Dwight, Staff Governor

Kaye was elected as a Staff Governor in October 2020. Kaye has worked at Milton Keynes College since 2004 in several roles, giving her valuable experience of Further Education and the changes that the sector has undergone. Currently she is Head of Admissions, Bursary and Data Services, responsible for the recruitment and enrolment of the majority of the College’s students and ensuring that the bursary allocation is targeted at the most vulnerable students. Kaye also oversees the reports and data provided to support both curriculum and business partner areas.
Kaye is a member of the Curriculum & Quality Group.

Mat Gotkowski, Governor

Mat joined the Board in May 2019. Mat is a qualified accountant (ACCA) and currently the Head of Group Financial Accounting & Reporting at Zopa Bank. He previously worked at two Big 4 firms (PwC and EY), leading on audits of financial services clients. Mat’s 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 chairs the Finance Group and is a member of the Audit & Risk Committee.

Shalom Lloyd, Governor

Shalom Lloyd joined the Board in December 2021. Shalom is the Founder of Naturally Tribal Skincare, a natural skincare company built on valuing healthy, ethical and sustainable living whilst empowering African women.

She is also the Chief Strategy Officer at Emerging Markets Quality Trials (eMQT), an organisation focused on diversity in Clinical Trials providing the global pharmaceutical industry access to patients in Africa.

Shalom’s cross-cultural background has enabled her to push for diversity and cultural awareness in the global business place at every opportunity for herself and others. With a strong belief in providing support, direction and opportunities for young people through her passion for STEM and nature, Shalom strives to open doors for people to see that anything is truly possible and achievable.

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.

Stephen Norrish MBE, Governor

Stephen joined the Board in October 2009. Stephen has lived and worked in Milton Keynes for 25 years and is 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.

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.

Ian Revell, Governor

Ian joined the Board in 2021. Ian is CEO of MK Community Foundation where he leads a team which promotes philanthropy, managing 50+ charitable funds that enable the Community Foundation to give grants to over 180 community organisations annually. Ian has worked in the Voluntary and Community Sector for over 30 years throughout that time Ian has served on a number of Boards both business and charitable and has a track record of public service work with local, regional and national bodies throughout his career. Previously, Ian led the YMCA locally, bringing forward its redevelopment project in CMK. Before moving to Milton Keynes, Ian worked in the Brixton area of South London developing and running numerous community programmes for young people, children and families. He also led on developing engagement and education initiatives for what was at the time the UK’s largest refugee and asylum-seeker hostel.

Ian describes himself as a true Milton Keynian, living with his family in Bletchley for over 20 years, fully engaging in all the city and borough has to offer including the local ice hockey junior teams.

Sufian Sadiq, Governor

Sufian Sadiq joined the Board in 2022. Sufian is the Director of Teaching School at Chiltern Learning Trust, with responsibility for overseeing two regional hub areas in southeast England; Chiltern Teaching School is one of the largest providers of teacher development to the sector nationally. Sufian has held a wide range of non-executive roles across a range of charitable and educational establishments and is passionate about equality and diversity. His hobbies include cricket and football. Sufian is a member of the 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.