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NCG Governors
NCG is governed by a Corporation Board, which exists to help ensure the effective running of the organisation at all levels. It consists of independent governors that each bring their own skills and experience, along with representatives for NCG colleagues and students. Please see the below Pen Portraits for each of our Corporation Board Governors.
Our Corporation Board Governors
John Widdowson – Chair of Corporation
John Widdowson CBE has been Chair of the NCG Corporation Board since August 2023. John began his career as a lawyer but worked in Further and Higher Education for over forty years. He left his post as Principal and Chief Executive of New College Durham in July 2020 after twenty years in the post.
In addition to his roles in colleges across the country, John has played a leading role in a number of national educational bodies including the Further Education National Consortium and the Mixed Economy Group of Colleges. He has been a Board member and President of the Association of Colleges and was a member of the Higher Education Funding Council for England for six years. He is Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Workers Educational Association, a national charity supporting adult education.
John has published papers and articles on a range of education subjects and has spoken regularly at national and international conferences. He has a particular interest in the development of college-based Higher Education to provide alternatives to traditional approaches to university education.
John has been a member of the NCG Corporation Board since September 2020 and has served on the Appraisal and Remuneration, Estates and Higher Education Governance Committees during that time.
Shirley Atkinson, OBE – Independent Governor
Shirley Atkinson OBE is the former Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Sunderland where she led the University through a period of sustained growth with the expansion of operations in Sunderland, London and overseas. This incorporated a new School of Nursing, a new Medical school, a University Technical College in Durham, a new Cultural partnership in Sunderland, and the early adoption of degree apprenticeships.
Throughout her career, Shirley has held senior executive roles both within and outside of the education sector. She has a wealth of experience in non-executive roles both at national and regional level. Her recent national roles have included Board membership of the University and Colleges Employers Association, the Social Mobility Advisory Group, and the Cultural Cities Inquiry Board. She is a Board Director and Chair of Audit and Risk Committee at the University of Cumbria. Shirley was awarded an OBE in the Queens 2019 Honours list for Education with a focus on widening participation and access to higher education.
Shirley joined the NCG Board in 2020 and is a member of the HE Quality & Students Committees.
Professor Charlotte Croffie - Independent Governor
Charlotte Croffie is a global executive with 20 plus years' experience working across complex, multi-cultural and often political environments. She is an advocate for Equality, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and social justice. She is also an executive coach.
Charlotte is currently a Professor of Practice – Entrepreneurship at Loughborough University. Her areas of interest are Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Intersectionality and decision making across multiple sectors.
She joined Loughborough University as the inaugural Pro Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Charlotte led the EDI portfolio, creating inclusive environments and sustainable outcomes with tangible impact. As a member of the executive, she also supports the Vice-Chancellor and executive team to deliver the University’s mandate and to address global challenges.
Prior to this, Charlotte held a range of positions including Director for Entrepreneurship and Director of Organisational Development at UCL; Director of Human Resources at Birkbeck University, Senior Consultant/Advisor for International Development and Regional Skills & Capacity Advisor for London.
Charlotte is a Trustee for The Centre for Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education (TASO) and the British Computer Society (BCS).
Charlotte joined the NCG Corporation Board in May 2024.
Darren Crossley - Independent Governor
Darren Crossley is the Director of Place, Sustainable Growth and Transport for the newly formed Cumberland Council and has more than 30 years of experience in local government working for Metropolitan and District Councils in Preston, Sheffield, Bedford, Wigan, Lancashire and now Cumberland.
Darren has substantial experience of leading public sector organisations, the education sector and social enterprise. He is skilled in place-based leadership, crisis management, major capital project delivery, regeneration and economic programme management, local government transformation, arts, culture and tourism development, community engagement, climate change policy and transport planning.
Away from council duties, Darren has significant board experience in the further education sector as the Chair of the Carlisle College board, city health development and social enterprise as a Director of iSH (Industrial Solutions Hub). Darren was the Chair of the Carlisle College Board for four years and is a member of the NCG Search Committee. Darren joined the NCG Corporation Board in March 2024.
Lisa Gregg - Independent Governor
Lisa Gregg is the Director of Business Transformation at Aston University, Birmingham. Lisa is a senior management professional with extensive experience of successfully setting strategy and delivering transformation in Higher Education for almost 20 years. Most of Lisa’s career has been spent on leading and developing individuals to be the best they can be and enabling teams to achieve strategic goals.
Lisa is a member of the University group for Diversity and Inclusion and leads the Inspiring Women at Aston network of over 150 colleagues. Lisa has organised and led the activities for International Women’s Weeks in recent years and this has included bringing together external networks from other institutions, representatives from Aston Villa Football Club, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Trust, and also utilising in-house knowledge from Aston academic colleagues.
Lisa is actively engaged both within and outside of the Higher Education sector, in order to share and build best practice and share innovation and to develop her skills.
Outside of Lisa’s paid role, she has invested eleven years in supporting primary education through Governor, Vice-Chair, Chair, Trustee and more recently, Member roles. Lisa recognises the importance of building relationships locally, however also working with wider stakeholders and networks in order to achieve strategic aims.
Lisa is keen to explore how her skills, experiences, networks and passion for learning, can support NCG in its drive to create impactful and sustainable education with learner experiences at the heart.
Lisa was the Chair of Kidderminster College Board before joining the NCG Corporation Board in March 2024.
Rob Holt – Independent Governor
Rob Holt is Group Director – Strategic Services at Robertson Group. Rob is a strategy-oriented senior executive with 30 years’ industry recognised results in developing and implementing strategies to establish, transform and grow businesses within the construction and services sectors. This includes transferable expertise in the acquisition, integration and disposal of significant businesses to support and deliver organisational strategic objectives for both the businesses involved and respective partners.
Rob also has extensive experience in the management of significant construction and services businesses delivering a number of complex UK public sector programmes in the Education, Healthcare and Local Authority sectors.
Rob joined NCG in 2020 and is the Chair of the Estates Committee.
Louise Humpish - Independent Governor
Louise Humpish is a Global Account Director at JLL and a key figure in JLL’s UK and EMEA Work Dynamics. With rich leadership experience, Louise utilises strategic thought to shape and deliver effective, measurable solutions. Specialising in commercial real estate, she aids clients in realising their strategic goals. Louise's notable focused experience with commercial real estate occupiers has cultivated a wealth of experiences, supporting clients in actualising their strategic objectives and ensuring that they are catered to the variations and increased pace of change in market maturity, cultures, and differing priorities.
She brings enviable strategic prowess, facilitating her clients' journey to unlocking their inherent potential and ensuring future-fit workplaces that deliver the best employee experience.
Louise is recognised for effectively managing complex stakeholder engagements across different cultural, maturity, and client business models, ensuring alignment with her clients’ strategic objectives.
As a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, her career has spanned the North East, London, and the Middle East. Today, while working in London, Louise once again calls the North East home.
Louise joined the NCG Corporation Board in May 2024.
Joanne Marshall - Independent Governor
Joanne Marshall is Chief Executive at JMM and Associates – PeopleMatters Ltd. Joanne is a high energy leader with over 25 years’ experience working with organisations in a variety of workforce roles in both the Higher Education sector and the NHS. She has 20 years’ experience as an Executive Director of People and OD, and has significant experience in leading organisational transformation, change programmes, developing organisational models, organisational turnaround, complex investigations, development of strategy and underpinning strategic engagement and communications strategies.
Joanne has significant experience in human resources, cultural change, organisational development, communications, engagement, leading a range of campus services, transformational change including large acquisitions, and the management of complex employee relation’s issues, including complex investigations / MHPS investigations in the NHS, and negotiating national pay awards for the HE Sector.
With her strong leadership skills and experience, Joanne is agile and passionate about supporting others to realise their full potential and inspire change. She is an experienced chair, coach and mentor to a broad range of stakeholders from board level to grassroots staff, at a national and regional level with the ability to build lasting effective relationships with key stakeholders, with a forward-thinking approach and a proven ability to translate strategy into action on the ground.
Joanne joined the NCG Corporation Board in May 2024.
Chris McCourt – Independent Governor
Chris McCourt is an Investment Director at Mercia Ventures focused on early-stage and technology investments across the North East of England. Chris trained as a Chartered Accountant with a Big 4 firm in Newcastle and after a spell in London returned to the North East to work in regional accountancy firms, most recently Armstrong Watson LLP.
Between 2012 and 2014 Chris was Chief Operating Officer at the North East England Chamber of Commerce during which time he had Board responsibility for the Chamber’s training company, an independent apprenticeship provider working with around 1,000 apprentices each year. This gave Chris a good understanding of the apprenticeship funding regime and Ofsted inspection process.
Chris joined the NCG Corporation Board in 2020. He is the Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee and a member of the Appraisal & Remuneration and Search, Nominations & Governance Committees.
Dr Vikki Smith - Independent Governor
Vikki Smith is a seasoned executive leader, whose career spans both public and private sectors, and further and higher education. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Education Standards at the Education & Training Foundation, developing strategy and supporting initiatives in academic governance and professional development methodologies. Prior to this appointment Vikki was the Special Education Adviser at the British Medical Association, where she engineered increases in member engagement and strategic advancements; she also has a rich background in organisational development and change management from her time with Oxford University Press and City & Guilds Group.
Vikki holds a PGCE in Further Education and a Ph.D. in Education; she is a Fellow of the RSA and Senior Fellow of the Staff and Educational Development Association. Vikki is motivated by driving positive change and fostering impactful outcomes in further education and skills.
Vikki joined the NCG Corporation Board in March 2024.
Kevin Stach – Staff Governor
Kevin worked in the Engineering industry for more than 15 years before joining Newcastle College as a Lecturer in 2015.
Kevin has been a Lecturer and Programme Leader, teaching both Higher and Further Education students; Engineering Design, Computer Aided Design and workshop-based machining and fabrication skills. His background is diverse and eclectic in terms of employment, covering many roles in both education and industry.
After completing an apprenticeship, Kevin started a manufacturing company, which he developed to become one of the top three manufacturers in a specific sector, selling it on after 15 years. Kevin has had roles as a manufacturing consultant, and has held Directorships in manufacturing companies, including group training companies specialising in delivering apprenticeships.
During these roles in industry, Kevin was invited onto the Board of Governors of a Community College to represent the views of the local manufacturing companies. Kevin has a strong interest in innovation and problem solving, holding several patents and registered designs. He has won two International Awards for innovation, and has had experience as a Business Advisor to the ‘Prince’s Trust’.
Rachel Taylor - Independent Governor
Rachel Taylor is a successful Senior Executive and Non-Executive with extensive strategic and operational experience with a proven track record at a senior level in the social housing sector.
Rachel is a passionate believer in the importance of investment in communities to support and enable to bring about demonstrable and sustained improvement.
Rachel is a well-connected financial professional with strong business acumen who has exceled at influencing at organisational, local, and regional levels.
Rachel has a strong belief in everyone being able to access good quality education and understands the value education provides to individuals, communities and the economy. As a Chair of a primary school, Rachel led the Governing Body to provide effective leadership and governance oversight.
Rachel joined the NCG Corporation Board in May 2024.
Prof. Chris Wigginton - Independent Governor
Christopher Wigginton is Pro Vice-Chancellor Engagement and Partnerships at Sheffield Hallam University where he has responsibility for the University’s global and regional activity as well as its wider partnerships, including with the Further Education Sector.
He also leads - or has led - a range of other activity for the University including responsibility for various Faculties and Colleges, academic resources and work planning, workforce planning, the University’s approach to culture and creativity, academic delivery structures and models, and the University’s systems leadership in the South Yorkshire region. With a background in the Creative Industries, Professor Wigginton’s research and academic work covers a range of cultural and creative forms including poetry, writing, art, film, media and digital production.
Chris joined the NCG Corporation Board in May 2024.
Dr Andrew Young - Independent Governor
Andrew Young is currently Chief Operating Officer at the London School of Economics. He manages the majority of central professional services, including: Estates, HR, IMT, Communications, Risk & Compliance, EDI, ARD, Residences & Catering and has oversight of the administration of the School. He sits on School Management Committee and is based in the Executive Office. He runs Professional Services Staff Briefings each term and introduced the annual PS Staff Conference in 2017.
Andrew's focus is very much on staff development and staff engagement. He has managed a significant portfolio of new build and refurbishment projects with a value approaching £500m.
Prior to LSE, Andrew was COO at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and before that was Interim Director of Newcastle Science City and Faculty Manager at Newcastle University. He has a PhD in Zoology.
Andrew joined the NCG Corporation Board in May 2024.
Liz Bromley – Chief Executive Officer
Liz Bromley is the Chief Executive Officer at NCG. Before joining NCG in 2019, Liz worked in Higher Education for more than 20 years, holding senior roles at the Open University, Salford, Goldsmiths and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) where she was Deputy Vice Chancellor. Liz was also CEO of University Alliance during 2018, on a secondment from UCLan.
First in the family to go to University, Liz studied English Language and Literature at Worcester College, Oxford. She has been a passionate advocate for social equality and for widening access to all forms of education, in practical as well as in policy terms, throughout her career. Liz is well known across the education sector for leadership development, positive change management, entrepreneurial leadership, improving the student experience, and for making things happen.
Liz holds a number of non-executive roles, which include English Heritage, NCFE and the Newcastle Hospitals Foundation Trust.
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Policies and procedures
View and download all NCG policies and procedures.
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Ofsted
Read our latest Ofsted report where NCG was rated as "Good".
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NCG Executive Board
NCG’s Executive Team has a wealth of expertise and leadership experience within the sector.
How we
make decisions
A number of local and group level boards and committees are in place to help ensure the effective running of the organisation at all levels, including College Boards and The Corporation Board, both of which include Student and Staff Governors.