Management and Governance

Chair of Board 

Ian Billyard was the Principal & CEO of Leeds College of Building, the only specialist Further Education College for the Construction & Built Environment Sector in the UK, up until his retirement on 31st December 2018.  At this time Ian had been Principal for nearly sixteen years.  Prior to becoming Principal he was Deputy Principal at LCB, Head of Faculty, Head of Department and lecturer at a number of Further Education Colleges in England. 

During his time as Principal Ian was a member of one of the Dfe/IfA groups involved in developing the new T Level qualifications for England and a member of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership being involved in the publication “Educating the North”. Additionally, Ian was a Council member with CGLI, a Board Member of the Construction Cross-Industry Apprenticeship Task Force; Board Member of the Yorkshire Builders’ Federation (YBF); Director and Chair of the West Yorkshire College Consortium; FE representative on the Leeds City Region LEP Employment & Skills Panel; Chair of the Leeds City Region Skills Network; Member of the FMB Area Board (Yorkshire & Trent) and Member of the NFB North East Region Executive Board and member of the FMB National Training Group.  He is also a member of various local, regional and national groups supporting education and training. 

Prior to his move into the Further Education sector Ian trained as a building surveyor, initially with English China Clays in the South West, subsequently he worked for contracting companies and a Local Authority, also in the South West. 

Post retirement Ian has been keen to maintain involvement in the sector and has maintained/taken on a number of roles, including; Fellow and Council member with CGLI; Board Member of the Yorkshire Builders’ Federation (YBF) and a Director of BACH (British Association of Construction Head) Ltd.

Mark Locking was appointed as the Principal / Chief Executive Officer of the Lincoln College Group on 1 April 2022.  He also holds voluntary positions of Director of the Lincolnshire Institute of Technology, Director of Association of Colleges Sport, Lincoln College International and a member of the Lincoln University Technical College. 

Starting out as a lecturer in Further Education in 1994 Mark has worked in education for over 26 years in a number of roles in colleges, a school and a specialist SEND college, interspersed with 2 separate roles in the commercial sector. These positions were across a range of teaching and leadership roles that as they became more senior transitioned into leadership roles with teaching no longer at their core. The 2 positions in the commercial sector, that were 10 years apart, gave Mark a commercial perspective to education and have helped him see training from an employer’s perspective when he came back to FE, having worked with the likes of Kellogg, JCB, Legal and General and Walkers. 

Mark has underpinned his public and private sector career spanning 30 years with high quality education and training including postgraduate qualifications and leadership training from the likes of the SAID Business School at Oxford University, Loughborough University and the Institute of Directors.  Time working in education and leadership has strengthened his view that people and talent are at the heart of an organisations’ success and an open and growth mindset to learning enhances the chances of success and happiness in life and the workplace.                                         

Tim is a commercially focused senior HR professional, with a Masters in Strategic HRM and a further Post Graduate Diploma in Employment Law. Currently working within Currys PLC who are Europe’s leading specialist electrical and telecommunications retailer and services company, employing over 41,000 people in nine countries.

In his current role as Head of Organisational Design and Effectiveness, his remit spans the entire Currys ecosystem – from strategic workforce planning to cultural transformation across all UK&I locations. This remit encompasses designing operating models that enable our ambitious transformation agenda, optimizing organizational structures for agility and efficiency, and building capability frameworks that prepare our colleagues for the future of retail.

https://currys.co.uk

Previously Tim has held several senior roles covering predominately the 3rd Party logistics fields as well as various national and international mining businesses. Originally South African Tim retains a passion for travelling and experiencing other cultures as well as spending time together as a family.

Dr Alexandra Carlin is Programme Lead for Health and Social Care at Lincoln Bishop University and an experienced nurse academic, qualitative researcher, and District Nurse. She brings clinical and academic experience, with expertise in quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and programme governance across higher education and professional practice.

After qualifying as a Registered Adult Nurse, Alexandra went on to complete an MSc in District Nursing, and a PhD offering an ethnography on the social interactions within problem‑based learning. Her research and teaching expertise span nurse education, community health, and student‑centred pedagogies with an international reach. 

Alexandra has held academic roles at the University of Lincoln, the University of Nottingham, and Lincoln Bishop University, contributing extensively to assessment design, programme quality monitoring, regulatory alignment, and curriculum development. While at the University of Nottingham, she was part of the School of Health Sciences Assessment Team, who were recognised with a Lord Dearing Award in 2025, celebrating innovative and high‑quality contributions to teaching, assessment, and the student learning experience.

She continues to maintain clinical practice through an honorary contract at Nettleham Medical Practice and serves as an External Examiner for King’s College London and the University of Greenwich, further reinforcing her understanding of standards, compliance, and academic integrity. Alexandra also represents her institution on regional health and wellbeing groups, strengthening partnerships between education, community services, and the wider health and social care system.

Alexandra brings to the Board a strong commitment to widening participation, high‑quality vocational pathways, regulatory excellence, and the development of a knowledgeable and skilled health and social care workforce.

Michele currently runs a small retail business serving Lincoln and the surrounding areas. She is a firm believer in high standards of customer service and places this at the heart of her business.

Prior to this Michele had a 35 year career in further education with Lincoln College. During this time she undertook the roles of lecturer, personal tutor, curriculum manager, Head of Quality Improvement and Director of Education and Training. She therefore brings to the Board local knowledge and a broad base of expertise across curriculum provision, with a particular focus on quality improvement and the student experience.

Michele is an advocate of collaboration and teamwork having played a key role in regional peer review networks and witnessed the impact of organisational cohesion when the College achieved an Ofsted Outstanding grade and AoC Beacon Award.

Michele holds a first class BA (Hons) in Management in Education and also volunteers for the NSPCC with their Schools Service

Ellie is a second year degree student undertaking the Professional Policing Degree with Lincoln College. She has studied with Lincoln college for 4 years now and has previously attended the college and completed a National Extended Diploma in Uniformed Protective Services. 

Alongside her studies Ellie has now joined Lincolnshire Police force as a Special Constable, a frontline volunteer role that will give her an insight to her future career. 

In Ellie's very limited spare time she likes to spend time in her hometown by the seaside, Cleethorpes! Nowhere serves a better fish and chips than Cleethorpes. 

Harpaul Singh Dhindsa is a strategic leader with over 12 years’ experience across higher education, employability, and skills development. He is currently Head of Careers and Employability at the University of Lincoln, where he leads institution-wide strategy to improve graduate outcomes, employer engagement, global opportunities and social mobility, aligned to key performance indicators.

Harpaul has significant governance and assurance experience, having served for two years as a Trustee of the CIT Trust, where he sat on the Risk and Audit Committee, contributing to oversight of risk management, financial controls, and organisational performance. 

Within the University of Lincoln, Harpaul plays an active role in supporting the Teaching and Learning Strategy, contributing to the development and monitoring of key metrics aligned to the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), student outcomes, and progression.

His expertise includes strategic planning, performance and risk management, partnership development, and inclusive education. Harpaul holds a BA (Hons) in Criminology from the University of Lincoln and is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Having  retired from his main career leading the NatWest Commercial Bank offering across Greater Lincolnshire, and last year his time as Director and Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP , Pat now spends his time engaged with a portfolio of social impact board memberships including , Lincoln College (where both his children attended), University of Lincoln, Lincoln City Foundation, Lincoln Prison EAB, BNA charity and the Lincoln Poverty Truth Commission .

Spare time is taken up by some fitness cycling, walking and swimming as well as watching live sport including Lincoln City FC and as much welsh rugby as I'm allowed ! I have built up a strong network across Greater Lincolnshire in my time here, some 34 years and do my best to put that to work for the organisations I'm lucky enough to work with.

Tim comes from a Lincolnshire farming family, having trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in Leeds he returned to the county in 1996. He is a retired director of Duncan & Toplis Limited having been based in their Lincoln office and lives just north of Lincoln. During his professional career he undertook various compliance roles and managed a portfolio of SME’s. He still retains an interest in business and he acts a Chairman of the Board for a local business.

In his spare Tim undertakes all manner of activities in trying to keep himself fit including walking and cycling. He is also a keen Leicester Tigers supporter.

Following a 30-year career in Royal Air Force, Chris has held director level appointments in large and small Defence companies, including as managing director of Lincoln-based Metrea Mission Data. He is a Chartered Manager and holds an MA in Defence Studies from Kings College London.  

A navigator by trade, Chris joined the RAF straight from school after A-levels. He is a former station commander at RAF Waddington and he ended his time in uniform with responsibility for the Ministry of Defence’s portfolio of information and intelligence system capabilities. He moved from there into a senior business development role with the multinational engineering company Atkins before returning to work in Lincoln in 2017 at MMD, where he progressed through strategy and leadership positions to become managing director in 2020. He led the company’s transition to a front-line operational services business delivering global support to Defence customers as part of the Metrea group. He now works part-time for Metrea leading strategic bids.    

Chris is member of Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership Defence and Security Advisory Board, pushing growth initiatives in the region and creating opportunities for collaboration between industry, academia and government. Originally from Nottingham, he has lived in Lincoln with his family for over twenty years.        

I am Curriculum Lead for English at Lincoln College, where I lead curriculum quality, staff development and inclusive practice across our English provision. My role focuses on creating high expectations alongside strong support systems, ensuring that all learners particularly those requiring additional support can access and succeed in their studies.

I am currently developing a refreshed approach to English delivery that strengthens contextualised teaching within vocational areas. By working closely with curriculum teams, we are building a model that connects English skills meaningfully to students’ chosen pathways, raising both engagement and achievement while supporting progression into employment or further study.

As Staff Governor, and a member of the Performance and Quality Committee, I bring both frontline insight and strategic awareness to Board discussions. I am particularly interested in how clarity of structure, strong organisational culture and evidence-informed decision-making enable sustainable improvement. I am committed to ensuring that staff voice informs governance and that strategic priorities remain closely aligned with the lived experience of teaching and learning.

I am proud to contribute to the College’s 2030 vision by championing high standards, inclusive opportunity and a culture where collaboration, professional trust and continuous improvement enable both staff and students to thrive.

Ashok Kumar is an experienced education leader with a multidisciplinary background in education, medical education, engineering, science, and business management. As Assistant Director of Medical Education and Library and Knowledge Services at Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group, Ashok plays a pivotal role in shaping the educational landscape for clinical professionals across the trust.

With an MBA, MSc, and B.Eng, Ashok brings a unique blend of strategic insight and operational expertise to his work. He is a Chartered Manager and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (CMgr FCMI), recognised for his leadership in driving innovation, quality improvement, and educator development within the Education sector and NHS.

Ashok’s career spans over two decades of service, during which he has led transformative initiatives in medical education, digital learning, and knowledge mobilisation. His work supports the continuous professional development of healthcare staff, enhances patient care and student experience through evidence-based practice, and fosters a culture of lifelong learning.

A passionate advocate for collaboration and inclusivity in education, Ashok is committed to empowering future generations of professionals through accessible, high-impact learning environments.

I lead business incubation, innovation, and enterprise growth at the University of Lincoln, supporting start-ups, scale-ups, and student entrepreneurs through Sparkhouse, Think Tank and our Student Enterprise service. I work closely with regional and national partners to develop skills, drive innovation and contribute to sustainable economic growth across Lincolnshire.

With a background in teaching and lecturing across both further and higher education, alongside industry experience in the UK and US private sectors, I am passionate about bridging the gap between education and enterprise to create meaningful, real-world impact.

I served for eight years as a Governor, including three years as Chair of Governors, at Cambridge Park Academy in Grimsby. This is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 19 with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and complex learning needs, supporting up to 220 students from across North and North East Lincolnshire.

I currently sit on the City & Guilds Employer Industry Board for the T Level in Management, Business and Digital, and previously served as Vice-Chair of Young Enterprise Humber.

Thomas McKenzie embarked on his professional path immediately after school, joining Siemens in Lincoln as an engineering apprentice. Immersed in a rigorous training programme, he successfully achieved an NVQ Level 3 in Technical Engineering, along with both a National Diploma and a National Certificate in Engineering from Lincoln College. This foundation equipped Thomas with a robust technical background and a strong appreciation for hands-on problem-solving.

Upon completion of his apprenticeship, Thomas took on a position within the Spares Stores department, where he managed specialised projects and gained valuable operational experience as a storeman. This exposure to the logistical side of engineering enabled him to develop a keen eye for detail and efficiency within complex supply chains.

Demonstrating adaptability and initiative, Thomas transitioned into the Sales Support department. In this role, he worked closely with Sales Managers, providing essential support for the preparation of quotations and the processing of orders for clients across the globe. His growing expertise and commitment to customer satisfaction quickly became evident, leading to an opportunity for a secondment as a Sales Manager. In this capacity, Thomas provided direct support to European customers, deepening his understanding of client needs and the nuances of commercial negotiations within the energy sector.

After excelling during his secondment, Thomas was appointed as a permanent Sales Manager. He assumed responsibility for managing a broad portfolio of customer accounts worldwide, with a particular emphasis on key regions including India, Bangladesh, Japan, Vietnam, Libya, and Turkey. His role involved nurturing strong client relationships, coordinating complex international projects, and ensuring the delivery of tailored solutions to meet diverse energy requirements.

Building on his success, Thomas advanced to the position of Regional Product Development Manager. In this strategic role, he now oversees the growth and development of the Small Gas Turbine product line across Asia and China. His responsibilities encompass market analysis, partnership development, and spearheading initiatives aimed at driving innovation and expanding Siemens’ regional presence.

Recently, Thomas has broadened his focus to include supporting customers in the UK and Ireland as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition. He works closely with clients to provide guidance on sustainable solutions and help them achieve their decarbonisation goals, reflecting his commitment to shaping a resilient energy future.

In parallel with his professional responsibilities, Thomas is actively pursuing a Chartered Management degree. This academic commitment not only enriches his management capabilities but also underscores his dedication to continuous learning and leadership excellence within the engineering and energy industries.

Russell Melbourne qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in 1999.  Since, he has developed a distinguished career across both the corporate and education sectors. His professional background includes senior leadership roles, notably serving as a Finance Director, where he contributed to the strategic and operational performance of complex organisations. In a separate capacity, he held roles in The Netherlands and Wales which included managing a diversified asset portfolio valued at $4.4 billion, gaining extensive experience in governance, risk oversight, and large‑scale financial stewardship.

 Building on this strong corporate foundation, Russell transitioned into the education sector, where he brings a rigorous, practice‑informed perspective to teaching and learning. His work is characterised by a commitment to academic standards, learner progression, and the integration of real‑world organisational insight into curriculum delivery. Through this dual expertise, he supports the development of students who are prepared for advanced study and equipped with the skills required to navigate contemporary professional environments.

Paul’s career in food manufacturing started as a Sainsbury-sponsored A level trainee studying for an HND in Business & Finance at Cambridgeshire College of Arts & Technology - he believes that the ‘sandwich’ nature of this course (alternating periods of academic study with time in a variety of ‘hands-on' factory environments) gave him a real advantage over others who took a purely academic approach to their Further/Higher Education paths, and established an ongoing approach to learning that ultimately helped him achieve successful career progression to Managing Director roles. 

Paul has worked in Senior Business Leadership roles across many parts of the food industry (in the UK and internationally), several of which involved major strategic change programs such as start-ups, capital projects, business restructuring and challenging performance turn-arounds.

Paul is now focused on Board Advisory/Non-Exec Director roles balanced with a couple of voluntary roles: as well as being a Governor of Lincoln College, he’s also a Trustee of Transaid, an international development charity with a focus on improving healthcare access and reducing road traffic casualties across sub-Saharan Africa.

Mark is an experienced CIMA qualified accountant with 20 years’ experience of working within the Lincolnshire healthcare sector.

In his current role, as the Chief Finance Officer at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Mark is leading an effective portfolio of services developing a strong awareness and knowledge of strategic management within a large successful public sector organisation. This knowledge is being used to enhance his role as part of the College’s Board of Governors to develop the continued growth and success of the College group.

Originally from Leicestershire, Mark studied Accounting & Information Systems at Sheffield Hallam University and started his working career at Tesco, where he developed a strong passion for leadership and team development.

Mark enjoys spending time with family and has a number of interests including Motorcycling, mountain biking and paddleboarding.

Jayden is currently attending Lincoln College studying a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Policing (formally Uniformed Protective Services). He is now in his second year and enjoying his course! He is aiming to progress into the Lincolnshire Police in a Police Officer role. In Jayden's spare time, he likes to spend time with his family and people who matter to him. He also has an interesting hobby - Air Rifle Shooting, which he enjoys doing alongside friends!

Peter Price is a Finance, Strategy, and Business Development Director at AB Mauri, a global business of Associated British Foods plc. Prior to joining AB Mauri, Peter was Finance Manager at L.J. Fairburn & Son Ltd., one of the UK’s largest egg producers and distributors. Peter did his initial accountancy training at Lincolnshire-based accountancy firms Peach & Co. and Dexter and Sharpe.

In additional to being a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Peter has a first-class BSc (Hons) Degree in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University, an MSc in Professional Accountancy from the University of London and an MBA from Warwick Business School.

Claire Renwick is a strategic higher education leader with extensive experience in commercial knowledge exchange, international partnerships, and enterprise education. She has led complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives across universities, delivering sustainable income growth and improved student outcomes . Claire brings strong governance awareness, data-informed decision-making and a collaborative leadership style to Board discussions . She is committed to partnership development, widening participation, and aligning curriculum with regional skills needs . Claire offers expertise in strategy, risk, income generation, and stakeholder engagement, and is passionate about supporting organisations to thrive in a competitive and rapidly changing landscape .

Charlotte Watson is an accomplished senior leader and communications strategist with over a decade of experience driving engagement, brand development, and organisational impact across public, private, and third-sector organisations. Currently serving as Supplier Engagement Manager at Anglian Water, Charlotte plays a pivotal role in strengthening supplier relationships, embedding sustainable practices, and supporting strategic procurement initiatives across the UK.

Previously, Charlotte was Deputy Chief Executive at the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, where she was instrumental in leading the Chamber’s events, marketing, international trade, and funded project portfolios. Her tenure also included serving as Head of PR, Marketing, Communications and Policy, where she successfully positioned the organisation as a key voice for the region’s business community through strategic lobbying, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement.

Charlotte brings specialist expertise in strategic communications, brand management, stakeholder engagement, and public affairs. Her earlier roles include Marketing Manager at Waldeck, where she led internal and external communications for a UK-wide B2B engineering consultancy, and prior positions in copywriting and content development, underscoring her strong foundation in messaging and audience engagement.

Beyond her professional career, Charlotte is deeply committed to education and community development. She currently serves as a Governor (Non-Executive Director) at Lincoln College, where she is Vice Chair of the Performance & Quality Committee, sits on the Higher Education Committee, and acts as the Designated Safeguarding Governor Link.

Kerrin completed 30 years Policing service in December 2022 after almost 5 years as Assistant Chief Constable with Lincolnshire Police, in the UK. Her service spanned across 5 police forces and included a 12 month secondment with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to Baghdad, Iraq. A posting she describes as the turning point in her policing career and also the best and worst year of her life. 

She has a background in a variety of disciplines at all levels of her career from operational uniform, CID and specialist roles which included over 20 years as Hostage Negotiator, undertaking national and international responsibilities in this capacity. From developing policy, training curriculum to operational deployments in hostile environments. Plus reviewing New South Wales Police effectiveness in the Lindt Cafe terrorist siege. 

As a Chief Officer, Kerrin was responsible for National policing (NPCC) portfolios on Professionalising Investigations (PIP) and Progression and Leadership under Race Religion and Belief portfolio; within this role she worked alongside others to develop the ‘Future Supers’ programme aimed at developing career progression opportunities for minority police colleagues, and the Women of Colour in Policing (WoCiP) network to enable women of colour to thrive within the service. 

Life beyond policing sees Kerrin developing her consultancy portfolio as a Senior Selection Specialist working for Judicial Appointments Commission and College of Policing alongside other organisations. She is a public speaker focusing on leadership, diversity and organisational culture. Kerrin undertakes a number of Non Exec Director roles; Chair of the Board of Trustees for YMCA Lincolnshire, Governor Lincoln College and Senior Associate Fellow with the Police Foundation. 

Kerrin has been bestowed with a number of awards particularly in respect of Leadership and Diversity. In 2021 she was honoured with the Queens Police Medal from HM Queen Elizabeth II for services to policing and diversity. 

Kerrin is married, no children, a million godchildren, loves life, adventure, travel, music and socialising.

Philip Yeung is an experienced educator and academic leader with a career spanning secondary, further, and higher education. Beginning as a teacher of music, he progressed into leadership roles before moving into FE and subsequently into the university sector.

Philip holds an MA and an EdD from the University of Leeds, specialising in educational leadership, innovation, and digital learning. Since 2017, he has taught across a vast range of programmes at the University of Leeds, the University of Bath, and Lincoln Bishop University.

At Lincoln Bishop University, Philip has held many departmental and institutional leadership roles, including Deputy Head of Programmes and Associate Dean International. As Head of Online Learning, he leads the strategic development of online and flexible learning, oversees a suite of education-related programmes, and directs the university’s approach to the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE).

Philip is an active contributor to the wider sector. He is a member of the Universities Association for Lifelong Learning (UALL) and serves on the board of the Teacher Education Policy in Europe (TEPE) network.