Mr J S Allen – Principal & Ex Officio

John Allen has served in Further Education Colleges for over 38 years, the majority of which involved teaching both further and higher education students.

He has been Principal of Lincoln College since 2000, prior to which he served in senior management positions at colleges both in the North West and North East of England.

Mrs M Serna – Chair

Margaret Serna has extensive experience in transport and logistics issues and currently provides consultancy services through her own company "Bluedale".  Prior to this Margaret had been the Chief Executive of the Lincolnshire Ambulance and Health Transport Service NHS Trust since 2000.

Margaret’s early career was as a microbiologist working in R&D with ICI in the North East and North West of England. This was followed by a period of further study that resulted in her qualification as an accountant and subsequent transfer to the Public Sector, taking up a role with the NHS in Lincolnshire in 1990.  Her NHS career included a number of senior roles in Finance and Commissioning.  In 1999 Margaret took up a Board role with the Lincolnshire Ambulance Trust and became Chief Executive in March 2000.  This marked the first ever appointment of a female to such a role in the NHS.  During her time at the Trust, the service strengthened its community focus and pioneered many initiatives that were subsequently adopted nationally.  She also chaired and served on a number of National Committees.

Margaret is passionate about the benefits of life long learning and skills development as a driver for change in the delivery of sustainable improvements to local communities.  Professionally she has endeavoured to champion accessible educational and workforce development strategies that have promoted the benefits of learning for all.  On a personal basis Margaret’s own learning continues as she endeavours to qualify as a Chartered Secretary.  She also has two teenage daughters; one in secondary education in the County and the other currently taking a gap year before reading Medicine at Nottingham University.  Any spare time presents a much relished opportunity to indulge in the Arts!

Mr J Barrie - General Member

Jim Barrie was born and educated in Manchester moving to Newark some 30 years ago. He has worked in the Chemical industry for 40 years the majority with the UK chemical company Croda International plc. in their Adhesives Division. During his career he worked in various functions from Technical Development through Technical Sales, Marketing and Acquisitions, travelling extensively worldwide. Appointed Development Director in 1990 with responsibility for all technical operations UK and overseas which involved both recruitment and training.

Now semi retired he is a strong supporter of further education and the creation of opportunities for the young. He joined the board in 2007 having previously been a Governor of Newark College. He is a Governor of North Kesteven School, a board member of Young Enterprise in Lincoln, and also a Public Governor of Sherwood Forest Hospital Trust. Jim is married with 2 children, one of which is in full time education,
His interests include reading, hill walking, travel and real ale (a member of CAMRA).
Mr J Barrie – General Member

Mr P Birt - General Member

Paul Birt is HR Director at Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery Limited, part of the global Engineering firm Siemens AG. He is also the Siemens UK Energy Sector Lead on Skills. Paul graduated from the University of Paisley with a degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering in 1984 which he followed up two years later with a Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Management. After graduating he spent the first few years as an Electronics Trainer and after 11 years became Head of one of Scotland’s leading Information Technology Centres (ITECs). Paul joined Siemens in 1996 as Head of Training and Development for the Semiconductor division in the UK, supporting the establishment wafer fabrication plant in Newcastle. During this time Paul was Chair of the North Tyneside Education Business Partnership as well as the Education Board of the North East Chamber of Commerce where he worked closely with Schools, FE and HE on the Skills Agenda for the North East. Paul also completed his Diploma in Personnel Management at the University of Northumbria and became a Chartered Member of the CIPD.In 2001 Paul took up the post of Corporate Personnel Manager for Siemens at the UK HQ in Berkshire where he was instrumental in the establishment of an HR shared Services business which he went on to lead as General Manager in 2004. Paul is married to Liz with a son, and daughter. Currently commuting from Surrey during the week he hopes to relocate to Lincolnshire in the next few years.

Mr J Cawdell – General Member

John Cawdell is a Chartered Accountant and well known local businessman. He is Director of Business & Resources at Trent Valley Academy formed by the merger of 2 local secondary schools and moving to a £35 million new purpose built facility in September 2009.

He is also a non-executive director of ACIS Housing Group. He has had substantial experience both in private practice and the construction industry. He has been Vice Chairman of the Lincolnshire Branch of Institute of Directors, a former Chairman of the Lincoln and South Lincolnshire Society of Chartered Accountants and Past President of The Rotary Club of Lincoln.

He was appointed to the Lincoln College Board in 2004 and is Chairman of the Finance Committee.

Mr P Doody – General Member

Pat Doody is Director of Commercial Banking for NatWest/Royal Bank of Scotland in Lincoln and Boston. He has worked in the County for the last 20 years and is involved in a number of Economic and Social forums many of which touch Education. He was part of a small group that established Commercial Banking’s National Learning Academy in 2007. Married with two children he fully supports village activities via membership of various committees including PTA, junior football, Scouts and village hall. He is also an advisory Board member of the University's School of Law and Business. Interests include Welsh Rugby, Golf, cycling, sport in general and travel.

Mr P Hoskins - General Member

Phillip Hoskins is Corporate/Commercial Partner at Andrew & Co LLP.  He also looks after Quality and Risk within the business.  In addition he is a non executive director of LawNet Limited and a trustee of St Barnabas Hospice.

Mr G Lee - General Member

George Lee is the Director of a Highways sector trade association, based in Gainsborough, a post he has held since 1997. A Scotsman by birth he has lived in England for over 20 years and in Lincolnshire since 2005. Qualified to post graduate level his professional experience before his current role was in public policy formulation and implementation, in addition to representational work on behalf of the business community. More recently he has become extensively involved in business development, quality assurance, vocational qualifications and specialist apprenticeship programmes all within the specialist highways sector; whilst also implementing delivery programmes for NVQ Levels 2 to 4 and Apprenticeship Schemes. George has a passionate belief in the power of education to transform peoples’ life chances and to empower them to achieve their ambitions and beyond. He is a Board Director of Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is married with two children who are in primary education. His interests include football, he is a season ticket holder at Sincil Bank, military history and hill walking.

Dr F Mannsaker – General Member

Frances Mannsåker has recently stepped down from her role as Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, after forty years in higher education.

Born and brought up in North Yorkshire, she read English at Nottingham University, after which she moved to India to teach at Bombay University. Extensive travel around India kindled research interests in the literature and culture of the British in India, upon which she completed her PhD on her return to England.

After teaching in further education in Loughborough for two years, she moved to higher education, first in Newcastle and then in the University of Glamorgan in Wales, where she rose to be Pro Vice Chancellor in charge of academic standards and quality. She moved to Lincoln in 2003 and joined the Board of Lincoln College in 2004. She is currently Vice-Chair of the Board and Chair of the Standards Committee.

She has been actively engaged at national level in the quality assurance of higher education since the early 1980s, with the Council for National Academic Awards, the Higher Education Quality Council, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales. She has been a Board member of Skills for Justice, the sector skills council for the justice sector, and the Lincolnshire and Rutland Learning and Skills Council.

She does not like hobbies, but in whatever free time she has, she reads, writes, walks and cooks.
 

Mr J Pinchbeck - General Member

James Pinchbeck is Marketing Partner with mid tier, top 60 UK accountancy and tax practice Streets Chartered Accountants. He is responsible for the strategic development of the firm’s marketing concerned with growth and development. A role for which he is well placed as a graduate in Business Studies, specialising in Marketing and Accounting. James has a broad interest in education and enterprise and is a non executive director of the regional enterprise agency NBV, he is a Fellow of the Institute of Director past Chairman and now policy officer for the Lincolnshire Branch. He is also President of the Lincolnshire Branch of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. James has a broad interest in education through his interest and involvement as a primary school governor and as a member of the University of Lincoln Business School Advisory Board. James’ interests include food and wine, music, long distance cycling and spending time with his family. Mrs E Rossall – General Member

 Mrs E Rossall - General Member

Elaine Rossall is a senior organiser of Home-Start Newark, a charitable voluntary organisation offering friendship and support to parents with children under 5. Elaine has been with the organisation since 1991 first as a volunteer for two years then as an organiser, and for the last 6 years as the senior organiser.

Elaine has extensive experience working with families in the community, and also recruiting and preparing volunteers for their home-visiting work. This led on to a general interest in education in Newark. Elaine has represented the college on the Joint Governing Board of all the 11-18 schools in Newark over the last three years.
Elaine attended Newark college as a student for 6 years on a part time IT course then last year completed her BSL Level 1 which she thoroughly enjoyed.  Originally from Stockport she is married with three grown up children and has now lived in Newark for 24 years.  In the January 2009 honours list Elaine was awarded an MBE for her work within Home-Start and other areas of the community.  The award was presented to her on the 11 June 2009 by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.

Mrs C O’Hara – Staff Member

Claire O’Hara was elected to the Board of Corporation as the staff Member (support) in 2006 and currently serves on the Audit and Search Committees.

Born in Germany and brought up in a military family, Claire is well travelled and has chosen to settle in Lincoln.

Claire commenced employment at Lincoln College in January 2005 as Senior Personnel Officer; she previously worked for United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust in a similar role and has experience in a wide range of both operational and strategic personnel initiatives. Claire graduated from the University of Lincoln with a First Class (Hons) Degree in Business in July 2002 and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (MCIPD).

Married with two sons, Claire enjoys spending her free time with her family.

Mr H Spratt - Staff Member

Hilton studied Business Studies at Lincoln College from 1978 to 1979 and 1980 to 1982. Whist at college in the second period he was also vice-chairman of the college students union and a member of the Board of Governors. On completing his studies at Lincoln College Hilton Studied for a law degree at what is now called the University of Central Lancashire. After graduation Hilton worked in various roles. He started working for Lincoln College as a law lecturer in February 1993.
Whilst studying at college, Hilton developed a keen interest in politics. He has been a Councillor on the City of Lincoln Council since 2000. He served as the Mayor of Lincoln between 2007 and 2008.
 

Mr J Diack - Student Member

Miss E Hearn - Student Member

Ellie Hearn is 17 and currently studying A Levels in English Language, Geography and Business Studies.  Ellie is interested in finding out how businesses work and making a difference to improve the college for future students.

 Miss D Clifford - External Member

Deborah has worked for the Jobcentre Plus organisation for 27 years in various locations and roles. She originally started her career in Lincoln in 1984 and worked in Yorkshire and Hampshire before returning to Lincoln for family reasons in 1992.

Working for Jobcentre Plus has given Deborah the opportunity to gain experience in many areas including marketing, estates and project management. In a former role she was responsible for dealing with external communications to MPs and hosted numerous visits from VIPs and Ministers to Jobcentre Plus premises. In her current role she is responsible for engaging with partners to support the achievement of Jobcentre Plus priorities and ensuring delivery of a package of redundancy related advice and guidance through partnership working with the public and private sector. Deborah also regularly represents Jobcentre Plus in the media and takes part in press, radio and television interviews about local and national initiatives.

Deborah is a single parent to two children and therefore a lot of her free time is taken up with her family, especially as her young son suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome. However she has a keen interest in rock/pop music and tries to see live music acts perform as often as possible. She organises open mic/jam night sessions and charity events at local pubs and is the manager of a five piece rock covers band. 

Mr J Grubb - External Member

Jon Grubb was editor of the Lincolnshire Echo for nearly six years until his departure in the summer. He now runs his own PR and Media Consultancy business, Grubb Street Media.

Prior to arriving at the Echo he held the editor’s chair at the Scunthorpe Telegraph and was deputy editor at the Nottingham Post. His career in newspapers has spanned 22 years and four daily newspapers.

Aside from running his new business Jon holds a number of positions at organisations throughout the county. He is the current chairman of the Lincoln Book Festival, a Visiting Fellow of the Media Faculty at the University of Lincoln, a member of Lincolnshire Crimestoppers Board, a founder member of the Lincolnshire Business Convention organising committee and a member of the Lincoln Cathedral business advisory group.

He grew up and was educated in Louth and now lives with his wife and two sons in Heckington.

Mr P Horner - External Member