The College is an independent charitable Corporation established under the Further & Higher Education Act 1992. Governors are responsible for setting the strategic priorities of the College, its finances, management and overseeing its performance. The College’s Instrument and Articles of Government determine the duties and responsibilities of the Corporation.
The Corporation is made up of highly experienced professionals with expertise in industry, business, finance, law, education and the local community, complemented by student and staff governors.
The Corporation meets as a full board approximately 6 times a year. The College has also established a number of Committees which report directly to Corporation.
Governors also play an active role in college life through support and advice, as well as attending events and promoting the good work the College does in the community.
The Governors are committed to equal opportunities and aim to ensure that their membership comprises a broad range of skills and experience. The College is always keen to hear of any member of the community who is interested in joining the Governing body. The position of Corporation member is voluntary and unremunerated but it is a very fulfilling role in supporting training and education in Cambridge and the wider area. Please contact the Head of Governance Emily Baldwin if you would like to find out more.
Chair of Governors, Finance & Resources Committee, Search & Governance Committee, Learning & Quality Committee and Remuneration Committee member.
Heather Du Quesnay CBE, is the former CEO of the English Schools Foundation in Hong Kong. In this role, she worked closely with the Hong Kong Government and the ESF Board to transform ESF into an educational business with a long-term financial strategy. Prior to this, Heather was Chief Executive of the National College for School Leadership and Executive Director of Education at the London Borough of Lambeth and Hertfordshire County Council.
Deputy Chair of Governors, Chair of Finance & Resources Committee and Chair of Remuneration Committee
Tim is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and has more than 25 years’ experience in senior international executive financial roles, including several as a main board director of public companies. Tim has extensive experience of IPO’s, fund raising, integrating international acquisitions, restructuring, outsourcing and implementing systems. He spent his first seven years of his career with Price Waterhouse, including three years in Chicago.
Principal and Chief Executive
Mark Robertson joined CRC as an interim Principal in June 2016 and as acting Principal for HRC from November 2016, before being appointed as permanent Principal for the merged College from August 2017. Prior to that, he was Principal and CEO of Barking and Dagenham College and City of Wolverhampton College. He has a BA (Hons) in Education Studies and has completed the LSIS Aspiring Principals programme.
Chair of Search & Governance Committee and Audit & Risk Committee member
Nichola Harrison was formerly an elected County Councillor for Cambridge City. Her background is in commercial property development, and she has a strong interest in environmental and planning issues in the region.
Prior to joining CRC, she was a governor of the Parkside Federation of Schools and a member of the East of England Regional Assembly’s Regional Planning Panel.
Finance & Resources Committee member
Martin Clapson is Chairman of the Board and Managing Director of Price Bailey LLP, a top 30 accountancy and business advisory firm serving private clients and regional, national and international businesses. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ACA).
Martin is also a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of CamSight, a registered charity working with blind and partially sighted people in Cambridgeshire.
Commercial Strategy Committee member
Richard Tunnicliffe is Regional Director, CBI East of England. Richard joined the CBI in 1997 after completing his degree in applied biology at the University of Hertfordshire. He completed his MBA in 2005.
He worked initially in the CBI headquarters with responsibility for a wide range of membership activities including recruitment and regional relations. He moved to the CBI East of England office in July 2000 where he had responsibility for the whole range of CBI activities in the East. He was appointed Regional Director in July 2005. This role includes regular liaison with senior executives in CBI member companies and lobbying on a regional level on issues such as skills, transport, broadband, housing and aviation.
He includes football amongst his wide range of interests despite his support for Barnsley Football Club! Richard is married and lives in Ely with his wife Vicky, his children Sam and Gracie and two kittens Cagney and Lacey.
Chair of Commercial Strategy Committee
Recently appointed as the first Professor of Further Education and Skills at University College London (Institute of Education), Martin Doel was previously Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges. AoC is the representative body for England’s 330 Further Education and Sixth Form Colleges, who provide almost 10% of all higher education in England. Prior to joining AoC he served for 28 years in the Royal Air Force.
Chair of Audit & Risk Committee
Andy Jennings qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG Peat Marwick. He has predominantly worked in the media industry, having been Finance Director of an international conference and training provider, a brand licensing agency, and now the Group Finance Director for the UK companies of a multinational entertainment group.
He was previously a governor of three primary schools (chair of one for nearly 10 years) and an elected member of Greenwich Borough, Huntingdonshire District and St Neots Town Councils.
Chair of Learning & Quality Committee
Dr Lynn Morgan MBE has a PhD in Organisational Psychology from Manchester Business School. She retired from the Arthur Rank Hospice in 2018, where she had been the CEO for 9 years, prior to that she was the Director of Business and Enterprise at the East of England Development Agency. Lynn is currently an advisor and supporter of the social enterprise The Rising Network and a Commissioner on the Greater Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Commission on Health and Social Reform.
Commercial Strategy Committee member
As Managing Director Huntingdonshire District Council, Jo Lancaster has over 25 year’s experience in public service in local government in District and Unitary Councils, in both urban and rural contexts. She previously held senior management positions at Wolverhampton District Council, Lichfield District Council and at North Shropshire District Council.
She holds the ILM level 7 Executive Coaching and Mentoring and an MSc Public Service Management.
Finance & Resources Committee
co-opted member
Jane is currently Director of Finance for the NHS clinical commissioning groups in Suffolk and North East Essex, organisations which plan and commission services for the local population.
Previously, she worked at CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) as Head of Health and Integration. This role involved supporting finance staff working in health and social care, and commenting on health and social care policy.
Prior to this, she was Director of Finance at Papworth Hospital, with responsibility for procurement, contracting and performance. During this time she was part of the team which secured the go ahead to build the New Papworth Hospital.
She is committed to developing finance teams and has a background in governance and risk management.
Commercial Strategy Committee member
Paul Gaudin grew up locally and attended HRC College, then known as Huntingdon Technical College to study mechanical engineering.
Paul has been immersed in the business, design and manufacturing world throughout his working life, picking up design and enterprise awards from an early age. He founded the New York Bagel Company, today an exceptionally well-known brand.
His many innovations include the development of the Q score used to assess health risks and promote healthier lifestyles. He took this business global and has extensive international business experience and networks. He is currently an Advisor and Mentor on the NHS Clinical Entrepreneurs Scheme, an NIA Assessor as well as chairing two health company boards. One of his more recent projects assists networking of families and friends when a member is ill or in hospital.
Learning & Quality Committee member
Jack works on skills strategy within the Department for Education and has a broad experience in the education sector. He teaches undergraduate mathematics as a College Research Associate at Clare College, Cambridge and taught maths at North London Collegiate School. He has experience evaluating the impact of educational charities within a small non-profit.
Previously, as a consultant at BCG, he worked on strategy within a wide range of prominent organisations in the private and public sectors. He holds a PhD in mathematics from the University of Cambridge.
Audit & Risk Committee member
Neil Hunter qualified as a chartered accountant at Leeds City Council in 1994. His background is in local government and he is currently the Head of Diligence and Best Value at Cambridgeshire County Council. He has had a number of previous voluntary positions including being a CIPFA Council member and Chair of the CIPFA regional network. Passionate about the importance and benefits of a strong community, Neil was Chair of the City of York Athletic Club from 2008 to 2015 with a continuous agenda to increase inclusivity and promote the accessibility of athletics to all.
Finance & Resources Committee co-opted member
Abigail Trencher is the head of Birketts’ employment team in Cambridge and also heads up Birketts’ Education Sector group. She has expertise in advising education clients on a range of employment issues including equal pay issues arising from the implementation of new pay scales, discrimination claims and TUPE. She also acts for clients within the private sector advising on collective redundancy, board level disputes, making changes to defined benefit, final salary pension schemes, changing terms and conditions of employment and TUPE.
Learning and Quality Committee member
After completing his Hospitality qualifications at CRC, Bradley completed a hotel management course that saw him take on roles in establishments spanning the country. Returning to Cambridge, Bradley joined MJP Restaurants as the business prepared to launch MJP@TheShepherds. Bradley played a key role in the relocation, refurbishment and reopening of the restaurant during the pandemic. Bradley said, “I am thrilled to become a CRC Governor as it is another way to give back to the college that put me on the career path I am now on.”
Audit & Risk Committee member
Tim qualified as a solicitor having trained at a Cambridge law firm. Over the years Tim has specialised as a financial service lawyer either acting for or employed by large financial institutions or smaller financial technology businesses. Some of these businesses have had local offices in Cambridge – where Tim began to understand the training needs of businesses in this region. Tim has been a member of numerous Risk & Audit Committees of regulated financial services businesses, and so supports the College with best practices from an equally highly regulated sector. Tim lives in Impington near Cambridge and having been brought up in the East of England, Tim is passionate about the opportunities that further education can bring to the local community.
Learning and Quality Committee member
Lesley is a qualified midwife and has worked for the NHS for 23 years, working mainly in London before moving to Cambridgeshire in 2016. She has worked in various clinical roles before moving into management which she has experience at a senior level running large healthcare divisions. She is currently the Deputy Chief Nurse at Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group where she oversees quality of healthcare services. She has a master’s degree and is currently reading a PhD. Lesley has also been a member of the Army Cadet Force for over 30 years and in August 2021 was promoted to the rank of Colonel and appointed as Commandant of Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force.
Learning & Quality Committee (Staff Governor)
Michael has been with CRC since 2012, as a games course student, lecturer and is now the course lead for Level 3 Games Development. Whilst very proud to lead on the course he once studied, Michael also feels that this has given him clear perspective of college experience from numerous roles over the past decade. It was his student experience that aided his progression and proves that providing innovative ideas can make significant differences to college life. During this time, Michael was nominated for a BAFTA for his role within the games industry.
Student Governor
Hannah is a student governor studying BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health & Social Care
Student Governor
Mason is a student governor currently studying Level 4 Uniformed Services
Head of Governance, Cambridge Regional College
The timetable of Corporation and committee meetings is provided on this website and is updated regularly. Corporation and Committee meeting minutes are posted on the website once they have been confirmed and approved by Governors at the subsequent meeting. Members of the public are allowed to attend meetings for certain items, subject to the agreement of the Chair in advance of the meeting. If you would like to attend, please contact the Head of Governance.
If you require a draft set of minutes before they are posted on the website, or would like to view a particular paper, please contact the Head of Governance.
2021-22 Corporation Committee meetings |
Agenda 30 March 2022 |
15 December 2021 |
28 September 2021 |
1 July 2021 |
13 May 2021 |
24 March 2021 |
16 December 2020 |
1 October 2020 |
30 June 2020 |
21 May 2020 |
25 March 2020 |
17 December 2019 |
25 September 2019 |
2 July 2019 |
22 May 2019 |
27 March 2019 |
17 December 2018 |
27 September 2018 |
Terms of Reference 2021 |
Agenda 8 March 2022 |
22 November 2021 |
21 June 2021 |
9 March 2021 |
1 December 2020 |
14 September 2020 |
16 June 2020 |
17 March 2020 |
26 November 2020 |
18 June 2019 |
26 February 2019 |
27 November 2018 |
Terms of Reference 2021 |
Agenda 14 March 2022 |
6 December 2021 |
21 September 2021 |
25 May 2021 |
15 March 2021 |
7 December 2020 |
2 June 2020 |
5 December 2019 |
13 June 2019 |
14 March 2019 |
6 December 2018 |
Terms of Reference 2021 |
Agenda 21 March 2022 |
30 November 2021 |
9 June 2021 |
2 March 2021 |
1 February 2021 |
9 June 2020 |
3 March 2020 |
12 November 2019 |
11 June 2019 |
5 March 2019 |
13 November 2018 |
Terms of Reference |
Agenda 14 September 2021 |
4 May 2021 |
15 September 2020 |
5 May 2020 |
12 September 2019 |
16 May 2019 |
13 September 2018 |
Terms of Reference |
Terms of Reference |
Appendix to Standing Orders: Procedure for Appointment of Governors |
Standing Orders May 2021 |
Appendix to Corporation Standing Orders – Policy for the Remuneration of Senior Post Holders, December 2021 |
Instrument and Articles October 2020 |
Summary Code of Conduct |
Register of Interests Summary March 2022 |
Other Corporate documents are available at College Policies and Reports https://www.camre.ac.uk/about/policies-reports/, including the College’s Strategic Plan, Financial Accounts and Whistleblowing Policy.