Joining the Governing Body in September 2016 with more than eight years’ experience of being a Governor in Further Education, Graham was appointed as Chair in July 2019 after serving as Vice Chair in 2018/19.

In addition to chairing the Board of Governors Graham chairs the Search and Governance Committee.  He is a member the Remuneration Committee and of the Quality, Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee.

Graham relocated to Exeter in 2016 following his retirement as Clerk to the Governors and Company Secretary of St Mary’s University, London. Up until 2010 Graham’s career was spent in higher education administration including Exeter, Plymouth, Southampton Solent, Surrey and Chichester Universities. He then worked for the Higher Education Statistics Agency on two national data-related projects.

In addition to his involvement with South Devon College Graham is a Trustee of a local charity and is a member of a specialist Scrutiny Panel for the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner.

Jane was invited to join the Governing Body in September 2017, following the merger of Devon Studio School (where she was a Sponsor Governor) with South Devon College. She became Chair of the People & Resources Committee in September 2018 and Vice Chair of Governors in July 2019. Jane is also Chair of the Remuneration Committee.

Jane is Executive Chief Nurse and Deputy Chief Executive at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. She qualified as a nurse in 1985 and specialised in critical care and emergency medicine. Over her 35 year NHS career she has held a range of clinical, management and education roles in the UK and the USA. Jane holds a Master of Science (Nursing) qualification and a Master of Arts (Education) qualification. Her professional interests include quality and safety standards, safeguarding and education. Jane is an Associate Professor of Exeter & Plymouth Universities and she is also Chair of the Local Workforce Action Board for Devon’s Sustainability and Transformation Plan.

Lee Soden – Vice Chair of Governors

Lee joined the Governing Body in June 2017 and is Designated Governor for Health & Safety. He is also a member of the People & Resources Committee and Remuneration Committee.

Lee recently retired from working at a strategic level in the NHS, private sector and in Higher Education. As Director of Estates and Facilities for Canterbury Christ Church University he was responsible for developing over £150 million of new University buildings in addition to managing all support facilities services with a budget of over £19 million and an income of over £12 million. During this time he developed a “student first” focus for the student experience plan for all Estates and Facilities student facing services.

Lee is now a resident of Torquay and is keen to contribute to his local community in a voluntary capacity. He is particularly keen to support students in developing their skills.

Laurence Frewin – Principal and CEO

Laurence was appointed as Principal & CEO in September 2019 and is a member of the Search & Governance Committee, the Quality, Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee and the People & Resources Committee.

Prior to his appointment as Principal, Laurence joined South Devon College as Vice Principal Corporate Services in February 2010, bringing a strong background of strategic leadership and management in the private sector and in school education as a Business Manager in both primary and secondary phases. In 2015 he also became Deputy CEO for the College. During the last 10 years he has led cross college ambitions in sustainability and equality and diversity, as well as College professional and business support areas of Learner Services, Estates, Finance, Human Resources, IT & Systems, Commercial Catering & Retail and Information Services and bidding for additional external funding to diversify College income and enable further responsiveness and success. These bids have included in excess of £30m of new capital grants.

Having achieved a Certificate in School Business Management in 2004, some of his notable achievements at South Devon College have included overseeing the delivery of the £9m University Building; £7m South West Energy Centre, oversight of the funding and development of the £10 million South Devon UTC in Engineering, Water & the Environment; £3m South Devon College Sports Centre; and the new £17m Hi Tech & Digital Centre whilst sustaining the College in Good Financial Health and successful achievement of Investors in People Platinum in 2017.

Rory Gilbert – Chair of the Audit Committee

Rory joined the Governing Body in June 2017 and serves on the Audit Committee. He previously served on the People & Resources Committee (2017/18).

Rory is the Financial Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa for Spirent Communications plc. Spirent is a leading Global Communications company with offices in the USA, Europe and Asia; at the Paignton office they specialise in test and measurement equipment for the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) markets.

Rory has worked in commercial organisations since qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young 25 years ago. He has a wealth of commercial experiences and a clear understanding of sound decision making in a competitive environment. He has extensive experience of risk management and internal control as well as a sound grasp of the importance of good corporate governance. Rory completed an MBA with the Open University in 2007.

Rory is a keen supporter of vocational education for young people and adults and is keen to develop people within organisations and organisational growth within our local community.

Philip joined the Governing Body in June 2016 and is Chair of the Quality, Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee. He is also a member of the Remuneration Committee and attends FE Academic Board as Designated Governor for Teaching, Learning and Assessment.

Philip is a Visiting Research Fellow at Plymouth University and an External Examiner for the University of Brighton. He is also an External Verifier for the Duke of Edinburgh Award. These activities follow his retirement in February 2017 as Associate Head of School (Teaching and Learning) and Academic Director of the University Hotel School in the School of Tourism and Hospitality. Prior to joining the University of Plymouth as a Senior Lecturer in 2000, Philip was Head of Centre, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport at South Devon College.

Philip was awarded a PhD in Education from the University of Exeter in 2003 and an MEd in Professional Development from the College of St Mark and St John. He is the author of vocational textbooks and has published many research and conference papers. Philip has also served on a number of external bodies and was Vice Chair of the Cruise Research Society from 2009-2014. He has been a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality since 2002 (and a member since 1980).

Philip has lived in Paignton with his family since 1987 and is fully supportive of a College of Further Education that places itself at the heart of its community.

Jon joined the Governing Body as a Co-opted Member of the People & Resources Committee in November 2017. He became a Governor in September 2018 and was appointed as Designated Governor for Higher Education in September 2019. He serves on the Search & Governance Committee, Audit Committee and Quality, Teaching, Learning & Assessment Committee (which incorporates the HE Committee). He is also a Trustee for the Friends of South Devon College Students.

Jon is a retired Consultant Physician from Torbay Hospital. He has held posts in education and training at a local and a regional level and was appointed to roles in the Peninsula Post Graduate Deanery from 2006 – including Head of School for Post Graduate Medicine and subsequently Associate Dean. Jon has held management roles at Torbay Hospital and has thus been responsible for significant budgets. In addition to being a staff governor for a 3 year term of office, he has chaired committees and has experience in selection and interviewing up to board level.

Jon has been an examiner and then Chair of Examiners for the PACES (Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills) for the Royal College of Physicians for 17 years. During this time, he also contributed to examination standard-setting committees.

Jon has lived in Torquay with his family for more than 25 years. He is keen to give something back to the local community, and in particular, support learners at South Devon College in pursuing the career paths of their choice.

Mark Waldron – Designated Governor for Safeguarding and Prevent

Mark joined the Governing Body in October 2015. He is a Member of the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee and as Designated Governor for Safeguarding and Prevent attends the termly meetings of the College’s Learner Safeguarding & Wellbeing Group.

Mark is a Detective Inspector within Devon and Cornwall Police. Having previously been a Force Incident Manager (FIM) and Tactical firearms commander he currently works from Police headquarters in Exeter in the Modern Slavery Police Transformation Unit (MSPTU). He has been a police hostage and crisis negotiator for over 12 years and has 15 years’ experience working within the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). His roles have included DI on the sexual offences and domestic abuse investigation team and Senior Investigating Officer on large drugs trafficking investigations.

Mark has very close connections with the college working with our positive interventions team and the Dedicated Safeguarding Lead to provide advice and guidance on a range of safeguarding matters. He is also part of the uniformed public services teaching team within the college.

Judy joined the Governing Body on 01 March 2019 and is a member of the Audit Committee and the Quality, Teaching, Learning & Assessment Committee (which incorporates the HE Committee). She is also the Designated Governor for Equality and Diversity.

Judy started her professional career as a university lecturer and later held leadership roles within a range of public sector and commercial organisations. These included posts in the Education Directorate of a County Council, Strategic Services of a London Borough and with a national commercial services firm. She is currently employed by the University of Plymouth, where she oversees a regional leadership development programme for medical consultants and other clinicians. Judy also still undertakes management consulting and executive coaching assignments.

Judy has a wide range of governance experience, having been a Governor at a Grammar school and a Member for a Multi Academy Trust. She is also a Trustee of the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, where she chairs the Governance subcommittee. Judy is keen to facilitate the sharing of information, expertise and good practice.

Judy lives in Torquay with her family and believes South Devon College’s vision is ambitious, exciting and aligns with her own wish to see increased links with local communities, businesses and employers.

Tracey joined the Governing Body on 01 March 2019 and is a member of the People & Resources Committee.

Tracey has been the Community Development Manager for Torbay Community Development Trust Ltd/Torbay Council since 2005. Prior to this role, Tracey spent 18 years working in international development.

Tracey brings a wide range of governance experience from previous Trustee roles for a number of different charities. In particular, experience of visioning, financial oversight, quality assurance, HR policy-making and project management.

Tracey lives in Torquay with her family and is passionate about the role of South Devon College in transforming the lives of its learners and the area as a whole.

Whilst Tracey believes the College already aligns its provision well to the needs of the community, and has strong engagement with local businesses and stakeholders, she believes its excellence and scale of activities could stimulate the area to even greater aspirations.

Kate joined the Governing Body in March 2020 and is a member of the People & Resources Committee.

Kate is the Joint Chief Executive of Cosmic, one of the leading social enterprises in the South West. Kate’s focus on social mobility through education, inspiration and support means that her values align very closely with those of the College.

Kate specialises in the strategic use of digital to transform business processes. She is passionate about ensuring businesses use the full range of digital services available to them to give them the edge they need to thrive, particularly in the rural economy. She regularly delivers lectures across the UK and internationally on digital transformation. Her previous career in Civil Engineering enabled her to work extensively in both the UK and overseas.

Kate is a member of the board at Plymouth Marjon University, a steering group member and digital lead for the South West Cyber Security Cluster and a steering group member of Tech South West. Kate is also a STEM ambassador in Schools and a Qualified Winter Moorland Leader and Outdoor First Aider, leading young people on Ten Tors and Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions.

Kate has won a number of awards for her work including: Finalist for National Women in IT Awards – Inspirational Women in IT and Finalist for Venus Awards – Women in STEM Awards and is listed on the WISE100 Social Leader of the Year.

Joe joined the Governing Body in September 2017 and initially served on the Audit Committee. He is now a member of the People & Resources Committee.

Joe graduated from the University of Wales with a degree in economics and chose accountancy as a career. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants having qualified with Deloittes in 1977. He spent 30 years of his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers ; 20 years of which as an equity partner. Joe retired from the PricewaterhouseCoopers partnership in 2004 and continues to work as a turnaround and strategy consultant.

For over 30 years Joe has specialised in leading, advising and assisting businesses encountering challenges. Including acting as a board member in both an executive and non-executive capacity. He has undertaken a very large number of assignments ranging from small owner managed to multi- national businesses covering a wide range of industries.

Joe is now semi-retired and living in South Devon. He is keen to use his knowledge, skills and attributes to support the ambitions of South Devon College in a challenging financial and a changing educational environment.

Dave Wildman – Staff Governor (Academic)

Dave was appointed to the Governing Body as the Staff Governor (Academic) in November 2017 and is a Member of the Quality, Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee. He also serves on the Audit Committee.

Dave joined the College as a teacher in 2012 following a PGCE placement during 2011-12. Since 2015, Dave has been the Programme Co-ordinator for A-Levels at South Devon College. He teaches across different age groups and levels, from GCSEs and A levels to foundation degree. This means he is well placed to support the work of the Governing Body in ensuring high standards of academic performance.

Dave is passionate about the College and, in particular, supporting students and staff to achieve the best that they can. Before teaching Dave worked in numerous areas of employment, including customer service, before returning to education in his mid-twenties. Away from the classroom, Dave completes research into local history projects and enjoys geocaching on the moors with his dogs.

Matt Green – Staff Governor (Support)

Matt joined the Governing Body in January 2014 and is a member of the People & Resources Committee and the Search and Governance Committee. He served on the Governing Body’s Audit Committee from 2014-2018.

Matt is Head of Commercial Services at the College and has a wealth of experience in the catering and hospitality industry. After completing an advanced GNVQ in Hospitality & Catering at City College, Plymouth, Matt progressed to work at the prestigious Michelin starred Gidleigh Park in Chagford, Devon.

Prior to arriving at South Devon College, Matt worked for a National Leisure Company as a Brand Manager where as part of a team he developed concepts across 50+ Leisure Centres in the UK and wrote standard operating procedures that were implemented across the group. He then took up the role of Regional Food and Beverage Manager in which he was responsible for key sites in different regions including the South West.

Matt lives in Paignton with his wife Sarah, and son, Noah. He enjoys participating in sport and playing the guitar. He is also an FA coach and manages the Stoke Gabriel U13 Football Team. He is a keen Torquay United supporter.

Eli is studying A Levels in Law, Biology and Geography and is planning to apply to university to read Geography. He was elected as the Student Union President in July 2019 and will serve on the Governing Body as the FE Student Governor from 18 July 2019 to 31 July 2020.

In addition to attending full governing body meetings, Eli is a member of the Quality, Teaching, Learning and Assessment (QTLA) Committee. He also serves on FE Academic Board and the College’s Equality, Diversity, Access & Participation Committee, both of which, report through to the QTLA Committee.

Liz Lyons – HE Student Governor

Liz Lyons is a second year Foundation Degree Bioscience student, and previously studied at South Devon College on an access course. She was elected by HE students as the University Centre’s Lead Student Representative in November 2018 and was re-elected in June 2019. She will serve on the Governing Body until 31 July 2020.

In addition to attending full governing body meetings, Liz is a member of the Quality, Teaching, Learning and Assessment (QTLA) Committee. She also serves on HE Academic Board which reports through to the QTLA/HE Committee.

Sally trained and qualified as a solicitor in Edinburgh, before qualifying in England and joining Michelmores in 2003 where she has been a partner since 2008.

In her role as a transactional lawyer, Sally’s work for local authorities includes regeneration schemes (residential and mixed use), infrastructure projects, funding agreements and the securing of loans and grants. These transactions involve her working with project teams comprising instructing officers and other professional consultants and require her to find practical solutions, negotiate with the private sector and deliver key objectives within what are often challenging timescales.

In addition to her role as a transactional lawyer, Sally is part of the trainee recruitment team at Michelmores. She regularly presents to law students attending open days, interviews trainee applicants, mentors and supervises the firm’s trainees. She has also been instrumental in setting up a work experience programme for A Level law students attending a local Academy.

In 2017 Sally launched WIN (Women with Impact Network) which aims to provide a forum in the region for organisations and businesses to exchange ideas with a view to developing good practices and a strong employer brand in the South West which attracts, develops and retains high calibre talent in the region.

Dave joined the Governing Body as a Co-opted Member of the Audit Committee in June 2020.

Dave is a Chartered Accountant, Chartered Certified Accountant and a Partner at Thompson Jenner LLP where he is Head of Audit. He has a wide range of internal and external audit experience within the commercial, charitable and educational sectors.

Dave also has current experience of governance as a Trustee for Headway Devon and as a Director of Kingsmead Academy Trust where he sits as a Governor on the Finance, Strategy & Personnel Committee. Dave is also a Director of Factor P Community Interest Company – a ‘Think Tank’ where he shares the directorship with two psychologists from the corporate and clinical sectors.

Lisa Keay – Head of Governance

Lisa was appointed as Clerk to the Governing Body in April 2016 having clerked school governing bodies for more than five years. During this time she supported and advised governors in a wide range of settings including a church primary school and nursery, a special school, an ‘all through’ Academy, a community college and a pupil referral unit. Before taking up this post, Lisa was also Company Secretary for the SENtient Trust.

From January 2012 to January 2016, Lisa served a four year term of office as a parent governor for her local federated primary school. She therefore appreciates the world of governance from a governor’s and a clerk’s perspective. She is passionate about promoting good governance as she believes this is key to sustained improvement within the education sector.

Prior to developing a professional interest in governance Lisa was a Research Officer employed by the Dartington Hall Trust. Prior to that she was a Junior Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham where she taught and supervised undergraduates in the Philosophy Department whilst completing her PhD in political philosophy at the University of Leicester.

In her spare time Lisa enjoys reading, cycling, running, hiking and holidaying with her family.