National Governance Professionals' Group

The NGPG usually meets four times a year. It is the conduit for information to and from the regions and is responsible for promoting the voice of governance professionals in the sector and ensuring they are properly informed on all key governance issues. Its members are elected to represent each regional committee and there are also co-opted members.

The minutes of the meetings are published.

The NGPG works closely with both AoC and the National Chairs' Council. There is a Memorandum of Understanding between AoC and the NGPG. The NGPG has a co-opted member on the National Chairs' Council.

If you would like further information about NGPG, please email AoC’s Governance Team or call 07795 477118.

AoC Regional Member (Chair)

Wendy Stanger

Eastern Region

Wendy is a Chartered Governance Professional and has had a varied career working at a management level in the public sector, including as a Senior Local Authority Housing Manager, an Internal Auditor for the NHS, and a VAT Inspector. She has worked in governance since 2014 and has also been a school governor. Wendy is currently Director of Governance at East Coast College and a governance consultant providing support to other Colleges.

Wendy’s regional and national work includes working as an AoC consultant to produce online modules for the governance development programme, Chairs the AoC East Governance Professionals network, Chair of the AoC National Governance Professional network, and the moderator of the national Further Education Governance Professionals online Jisc network.

Wendy won Chartered Governance Institute’s Governance Professional of the Year in 2019, and Highly Commended Champion for Governance in 2024, and DMJ Top 100 Governance Trailblazer in 2025, and was appointed in March 2023 as a National Leader of Governance, where she is currently providing active support and helps deliver the Just One Thing programme for new Chairs, Principals and Governance Professionals.

Wendy has a BA (Hon) in Politics and Law, a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management, is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute, and has completed the Further Education Governance Professional’s leadership Programme and has successfully completed all levels of the Further Education qualifications including the level 7 Diploma for Further Education Governance Professionals (Dip FEGP).

As Chair, I will continue to champion a collaborative, forward-thinking approach, raising the profile of governance professionals and supporting continuous improvement. I am committed to ensuring the group remains a strong, influential voice for Governance Professionals.

AoC Regional Member (Vice Chair)

Catherine Sykes

Yorkshire and Humberside Region

AoC Regional Member (Vice Chair)

Debbie Corcoran

North West Region

Please describe your role at the college.

I am Director of Governance at the Nelson and Colne College Group, which includes Nelson and Colne College, Accrington and Rossendale College, and Lancashire Adult Learning (LAL). As the governance professional for the Group, I offer independent advice and support to the Board of Corporation to ensure it meets its responsibilities and can deliver on its vision and ambition for the College Group. The College Group was formed in 2018 through merger, has a real breadth of provision and continues to make significant and exciting campus investments and curriculum developments - so the roles really interesting…

What is the most rewarding part of your role?

Being part of a Group and whole College team that’s all about learners, businesses and communities having the highest quality skills support they need to succeed – I love hearing and seeing every day how the Group, and FE as a sector, transforms people’s lives.

Tell us something interesting about yourself that we didn't already know.

I have another day job – as well as my College role I’m a non-Executive Director in the NHS, which is equally as interesting!

If you could invite three people to your dream dinner party who would they be?

Author and poet Maya Angelou, comedian and author Deborah Frances-White and David Attenborough

Co-opted, Chair of Governors' Council

Julie Dougill

I am currently the Chair of Governors at Plumpton College, an innovative specialist Land Based College in Sussex of over 2000 students, and the college Safeguarding link governor. I have been in this role for the last two years but throughout my career I have served on a range of governing boards developing a wide governance skillset.

I have worked in the education, learning and skills sector for over 30 years in various senior management roles in FE, schools and at local authority level working on strategic quality improvement and partnership working and in supporting providers, colleges and schools to prepare and deliver post 16 qualifications. More recently I had strategic responsibility for Leadership Development and Governance Services across East Sussex.

I have been actively involved with colleagues across Sussex to inform and shape our successful LSIP bid, in promoting collective governance models and have been part of a national Charis’ forum working with EDF to develop a competency framework for FE and Chairs. I am passionate that as a group of volunteers our skills, knowledge and expertise is used by the AoC to both inform current practice and to drive future change in effective governance.

As your representative, I will use my vast experience of working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders alongside my open-minded approach to new ideas and opportunities for change, to ensure that as a group of South East Chairs we are kept informed and more importantly have a strong voice both locally and nationally on the AoC Governors Council.

AoC Regional Member

Bella Howard

South East Region (Co-Chair)

I am the Director of Governance at East Sussex College Group, which has campuses in Hastings, Eastbourne, Lewes and Newhaven. ESCG, which formed in 2018 following a merger between Sussex Coast College Hastings and Sussex Downs College, is the leading destination for further education in East Sussex. I have been in role since 2022 and provide trusted advice and guidance to the Board, with a particular focus on supporting the College in delivering against its strategic priorities, whilst facilitating robust governance practice.

I previously worked for a local authority Governor & Clerking Service, responsible for leading the Governor training & development programme, as well as advising governance professionals across the county in a broad range of educational settings. Before then, I was fortunate to enjoy a variety of exciting and challenging leadership roles within the financial services sector.

I have been a governance professional for over six years, with prior experience as a Governor and then Co-Chair of Governors in a school setting. I am passionate about governance and the invaluable mechanism it provides for driving positive outcomes for learners and local communities.

AoC Regional Member

Georgina Flood

South East Region (Co-Chair)

Currently the Director of Governance at South Hampshire College Group (formed in August 2023 following a merger between Fareham, Eastleigh and Southampton Colleges) I have been with the SHCG since 2019. I have been a governance professional for over 20 years - previously Assistant Company Secretary in a large Housing Association Group, and Company Secretary for a small National Charity.

I am passionate about governance and the integral part it plays in delivering strategy and driving successful organisations. Currently embedding SHCG’s new group structure, I’m particularly focused on developing reflective practice and impact assessment.

AoC Regional Member

Nicola Taylor

North East Region

AoC Regional Member

Louise Hazel

East Midlands Region (Co-Chair)

Louise was appointed as Director of Governance and Policy in 2016 having
previously held a policy and planning role at the College.

Before joining Leicester College she worked for the Further Education Funding Council (FEFC). Louise has many years’ experience as a school governor in both primary and secondary schools including as Chair of Governors.

She has also been Company Secretary for a Co-operative Trust school. Louise holds BA (Hons) and MA degrees from the Universities of Manchester and Essex

AoC Regional Member

Ian Jones

East Midlands Region (Co-Chair)

Barrister specialising in education law.

Substantial experience of providing advice to meetings and of training and supporting governors.

Primary School Chair of Governors. Former National Leader in Governance.

AoC Regional Member

Zoe Lawrence

London Region (Co-Chair)

Please describe your role at the college.

I am Director of Governance in a fairly large general FE college in London spanning from Westminster to Wembley. The role is dynamic as the pressures and priorities are constantly changing and there is never a dull moment. Before FE, I spent 20 years in central government including several national secretariat functions, before moving into education at a local level. The skills and approaches, particularly leadership, have all be transferable into my current role. I am lucky to work with a Chair and CEO who respect the principles of governance, and work with me and the advice I give to help ensure the delivery of the college’s strategic aims.

What is the most rewarding part of your role?

I think there are two - one, seeing the penny drop in the minds of the executive when they eventually ‘get governance’. And second, being able to contribute to better the life chances of young people and adults in the communities the college serves.

Tell us something interesting about yourself that we didn't already know.

I am a trustee of a wildlife and built heritage charity in South-west London.

If you could invite three people to your dream dinner party who would they be?

Assuming they could be alive or dead (it is a dream), Jeanette Winterson, George Orwell and PB Shelley.

AoC Regional Member

Victoria Eastwood

London Region (Co-Chair)

AoC Regional Member

Kay Kavanaugh

West Midlands Region

Please describe your role at the college.

Kay currently holds the position of Director of Governance at Stoke on Trent College, where she demonstrates exemplary commitment to upholding the institution’s standards of accountability and regulatory compliance. With over a decade of comprehensive experience that spans both the school and multi-academy trust sectors, she has, during the most recent six years, applied her specialised knowledge within the Further Education sector. As the appointed Data Protection Officer, she is responsible for overseeing the College's data privacy framework, implementing robust policies to safeguard sensitive information, and ensuring compliance with relevant data protection legislation.

What is the most rewarding part of your role?

Seeing the direct positive impact that governance decisions have on the students, and hearing from students about their experiences at college.

Tell us something interesting about yourself that we didn't already know.

I’m a member of Mensa!

If you could invite three people to your dream dinner party, who would they be?

Richard Branson, Elon Musk, Winston Churchill

AoC Regional Member

Gillian Steels

South West Region (Co-Chair)

Gillian is the Governance Professional at Hartpury University and College and has been there for 5years.

She has worked in governance for over 30years in both the private and public sector, working at a number of FE colleges and schools, and also spent some time working in the NHS. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute and holds the Advanced Certificate in Health Service Governance (Awarded Roy Wilson Prize) and ICSA Certificate in FE Governance FE Governance. She has supported organisations to improve and maintain good practice.

AoC Regional Member

Wendy Randle

South West Region (Co-Chair)

Co-opted: Natspec Representative

Kayleigh Sergeant

Please contact the Governance Team for further information on the NGPG.