- Truro
- Penwith
Governors
Our governors are a dedicated group of business and education experts. They’re responsible for guiding the present and shaping the future of Truro and Penwith College.
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Katie Ashworth
View profileMember of Employment & Business Policy Committee and Investment Panel
Appointed August 2013Katie spent her childhood in Devon but met her Cornish husband in London, where she was working as a corporate finance solicitor in the City. She continued with this career when she moved to Cornwall, specialising in renewable energy, and working on projects across the whole of the UK. In 2011, Katie left private practice to join the family business, The Nare Hotel Company Limited, as a director. She is responsible for business and financial planning and, of course, legal issues. She and her husband have two daughters. She is Vice-Chair of Cornwall Historic Churches Trust.
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Linda Batchelor
View profileSafeguarding Lead Governor
Member of Employment & Business Policy Committee, Audit Committee, Teaching, Learning & Assessment Committee and Chair of Remuneration Committee
Appointed October 2012Linda graduated in law from the University of Nottingham and has since lectured on numerous academic and professional law courses. She joined Truro College on opening in 1993 with responsibility for the Law Team's delivery of various full and part time law courses. In 2004 she received a teaching fellowship award from Plymouth University to undertake a review of development and delivery of foundation degrees in partner colleges. She retired from lecturing in 2008 but retains educational and legal interests. Linda is also the safeguarding lead governor at the College and acts as the link between the governing body and the designated officer.
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Roland Bray
View profileMember of Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee
Appointed September 2020Roland returned to work at the college 5 years after he left as a student. He currently works for the Learning Services (Support and Transition) Team and enjoys supporting students across all programmes of study. He is excited to take on the role of staff governor and hopes that he does his colleagues across the college the justice they deserve! In his spare time, Roland enjoys all things creative and theatrical; he is currently the Honorary Secretary for Redruth Amateur Operatic Society Trust.
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Peter Callen
View profileMember of the Finance & Generall Purposes Committee
Appointed November 2016Peter qualified at King's College Hospital and underwent postgraduate training in surgery and gynaecology in London. He was appointed as a Consultant at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in 1985 until 2007 and then at the Bodmin NHS Treatment Centre where he was the Medical Director. He then retired from Clinical Practice in April 2017. He held an active role in medical education for undergraduates and postgraduates, as well as Examiner for the Bristol Medical School and a Senior Examiner for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for over twelve years. Having provided care in the far West of Cornwall for many years he developed a love and appreciation for Cornish art and ceramics.
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David Collins
View profileMember of the Finance & General Purposes Commitee
Appointed August 2017David qualified as a Veterinary Surgeon from the Royal Veterinary College London in 1975 and is currently employed as the Veterinary Head of Field Delivery (VHFD), Western England for the Animal and Plant Health Agency. David was a partner in mixed veterinary practice in Cornwall before working for the Government. He worked in various managerial, leadership and operational roles throughout England and Wales, implementing State Veterinary Medicine, animal health and welfare. This involved agreeing Veterinary Policy both National and European. David has experience in quality assurance, project management and implementing change programmes as well as carrying out inspection visits to third world countries who export animal products to the UK. David is Lead VHFD for training and capability in the Agency.
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Michael Cooper
View profileMember of the Employment and Business Policy Committee and the Finance and General Purposes Commitee
Appointed November 2019
Micheal was a College governor from August 2014 - March 2016 and stood down from 2016-19 whilst Chair of the Peninsular Learning Trust, St.Austell. Micheal attended Bosvigo School Truro, Sutton High School Plymouth and the University of York. He had placements in Zambia and Pakistan with Voluntary Service Overseas. Over 20 years he led schools in East Sussex (11-18 years), The Netherlands (3-18 years) and North London (11-18 years). He is a former governor of the University of Middlesex and Enfield College and currently a trustee for the Citizens Advice Bureau Cornwall, Director of the Kings Groups Academies, Portsmouth, Director of Tudor Park Academy Trust Hounslow and Vice president of the Confederation of British International Schools. Appointed OBE in 1997 for services to education. -
Bob Crossland
View profileChair of the Corporation
Chair of Employment & Business Policy Committee, Member of Remuneration Committee and Search & Governance Committee
Appointed September 2003Bob was a town planner before changing career and training in social work. He was worked in the probation service, in prison and the community, both locally in Cornwall and in Bristol. Prior to retirement in 2013 he was the manager of the Drug and Alcohol Action Team for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, commissioning and coordinating drug and alcohol services. He is currently a Director of White Gold Cornwall, a community interest company that works with vulnerable and disadvantaged young people.
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Finn Hilsdon
View profile(Student Governor Truro)
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Sir Robert Owen
View profileMember of Teaching, Learning & Assessment Committee and Finance & General Purposes Committee
Appointed March 2018
Sir Robert read law at Exeter University and was called to the Bar in 1969. He practised as a barrister until 2000, being appointed a QC in 1988. In 1997 he served as chairman of the Bar of England and Wales. In 2001 he was appointed a High Court Judge. Between 2005 and 2008 he was the Presiding Judge of the Western Circuit.
Between 1998 and 2004 he was a Governor of the College of Law. In 2004 he was appointed a member of the Judicial Studies Board, and until 2009 was the director of training for judges sitting in the civil jurisdiction. In 2010 he became director of training for the senior judiciary, namely the judges of the High Court and Court of Appeal, and in 2011 became a Governor of the Judicial College, the successor to the Judicial Studies Board.
He retired in 2015 following his completion of the Litvinenko Inquiry. In 2016 he was appointed to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. -
Kate Prosser
View profileMember of the Finance & General Purposes Committee
Appointed September 2020
Kate is the Chief Executive Officer for Bosence Farm, a charity providing residential drugs and alcohol rehabilitation treatment in West Cornwall. Kate has a strong business background, with a record of achievement in formulating and implementing strategic plans to enhance business growth. She has significant expertise in various disciplines including company operations, strategy creation and execution, marketing and PR, relationship development, finance/budget control and developing a culture of continuous improvement. -
Kate Skipper
View profileMember of Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee Appointed December 2020
Kate comes from a background of running her own Sports Therapy business and teaching dance. She is now in her second year of the FdSc in Sports Rehabilitation, with a place on the BSc (Hons) in Applied Sport and Health Science next year. Kate enjoys an active role in the college and bringing the student voice to the fore, having been a Student Representative, lead Higher Education Student Representative and Higher Education Student Governor. -
Sarah Sanderson
View profileVice-Chair of the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee and Member of the Audit Committee
Appointed August 2014Sarah is a conference and events consultant with over 25 years experience in the business communications/corporate events industry. Sarah has a diverse range of interests and is currently a trustee of Concerts Penzance and a member of the Camborne Show Executive Committee. She has two children who both completed the IB programme at the College in 2013 and 2017 respectively.
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Lizzie Sheridan
View profileVice-Chair of the Corporation
Chair of the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee, member of Remuneration Committee and Search & Governance Committee
Appointed January 2007Lizzie gained a PhD in biophysics at Imperial before taking up roles in the Cabinet Office and Treasury. She later joined BT where her jobs included general manager for the Home Counties and Regional Director for the SW. She has since qualified as a counsellor and works in private practice and the voluntary sector.
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Daphne Skinnard
View profileVice-Chair of Employment & Business Policy Committee and Vice-Chair of Audit Committee
Appointed March 2006Daphne Skinnard is the Assistant Editor at BBC Radio Cornwall; she's the link between the community and it's radio station, managing outside broadcasts, events and partnerships with local organisations. She also runs BBC Radio Cornwall's highly successful charitable appeals. She enjoys being involved in many aspects of Cornish life and is a Trustee for the Cornwall Community Foundation, a board member of Kneehigh Theatre and is Country Patron of Cancer Research UK. She was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Cornwall in 2012.
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Robert Townsend
View profileChair of Audit Committee and Member of the Investment Panel
Appointed August 2019
Robert is a qualified accountant with over 30 years' experience in commercial financial roles, covering retail, manufacturing and hospitality, based in London, Belgium and the south coast and for the last 20 years in Cornwall. He has three children in education and has held governor roles in primary and secondary schools. He is a reluctant part-time runner and enthusiastic petrol head. -
Beth Tubb
View profile(Student Governor Penwith)
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Martin Tucker
View profilePrincipal
Appointed August 2020
Martin has been part of the Senior Management Team since January 2008, having previously been the Programme Team Leader of Sport at Truro College. For the past 13 years he has sat on the College’s Senior Management Team as Director at Penwith College, a role which has seen him take a lead on the College’s merger with Truro College in 2008 and in the continued development of the College’s provision. -
Allister Young
View profileChair of the Finance & General Purposes Comittee and Chair of the Investment Panel
Appointed August 2016Allister is Chief Executive of Coastline Housing, an independent, not-for-profit housing association with over 4,300 homes in Cornwall. He qualified as a chartered accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers in London and his previous roles including Assistant Director of Finance at the Peabody Trust (specialising in new projects and corporate finance), Director of Finance & Resources at Tree Aid (an African development charity) and Finance Director at Bristol Community Housing Foundation.