Independent Governor and Higher Education Lead Governor
Paul joined the governing body in August 2024 as an Independent Governor and a member of the Curriculum and Quality, and Higher Education Committees.
Paul is a retired academic from the University of Plymouth. During his 32 years at Plymouth, he held a variety of senior posts including Head of the School of Tourism and Hospitality, Dean of the Faculty of Social Science and Business, Director of Academic Partnerships, and Academic Registrar. He was awarded a personal chair in 2009 in Tourism Management and has authored textbooks and academic papers. His main research area looked at the linkages between tourism and crime. As Director of Academic Partnerships, Paul was responsible for over 10,000 students studying for a Plymouth award but based in the University’s partnership network. This included institutions in Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Greece, as well as in the region. From 1999, Paul was also active with the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and took part in over 50 reviews as a specialist peer reviewer for the QAA.
Paul has always had strong links with partnerships and worked with South Devon College in the early 1990s to establish one of the first Foundation Degrees in Tourism that also enabled students to transfer onto honours degree programmes. On retirement in 2022, Paul was made an Emeritus Professor of the University of Plymouth and continues to support the university voluntarily.
Paul has lived in Brixham since 1992, and both his grown-up daughters undertook their 16-19 education at the College. He is a passionate believer in the transformative benefits of education, at any age.
