Governance

Hereward’s Board of Governors ensures that the work of the college delivers the best possible experience for the learners whilst working with the statutory framework applicable to FE colleges. It holds the Senior Leadership Team to account, offering support and challenge, whilst ensuring that the best interests of the learners are central to the work and development of the college.

Governors can be contacted through Yvonne Doherty, Director of Governance yvonne.doherty@hereward.ac.uk


JOIN OUR BOARD

We are looking to attract local business or community leaders to join our corporate board as full or co-opted members.

Given the varied, yet specialist nature of our provision, we would welcome applications from individuals with experience gained from a range of appropriate professional backgrounds.

These include SEND, safeguarding, teaching, auditing and legal occupations. This expertise could have been gained through professional roles linked to social care for young people, residential provision, legal frameworks and related sector policy development.

We are also seeking to increase the diversity on our board to better reflect our student cohort and the wider community in Coventry and Warwickshire. Applications from local community leaders, particularly from diverse backgrounds, would be well received.

Candidates do not necessarily need to have boardroom experience as we will support them with a full induction process.

Find more information on the brochure, which you can download below.

Pat retired from her role of Executive Principal of Sense College the end of March 2023. In this role Pat had strategic responsibility for two post-16 Independent Specialist Colleges, which work with students with special educational needs and disabilities. Throughout her career Pat has undertaken a number of non-executive roles in local and national disability charities alongside her employed roles. In addition to being Chair of Hereward College, Pat is also Chair of Governors for New College Worcester.
Pat`s employment history is 27 years in the public sector, in civil service and local authority senior management roles, with a further 18 years` experience in the voluntary sector working in local and national charities. Additional roles undertaken include freelance part-time inspection roles for the Adult Learning Inspectorate and Ofsted, inspecting post 16 specialist education and employment provision.

Stephen Brand is a chartered management accountant with extensive experience in commerce and industry, the public and not for profit sectors.  For the last 20 years he has worked in interim management and management consultancy, providing services to clients from SME to PLC. He brings knowledge of business and financial management, risk management, compliance, and governance. Stephen has been a Governor since 2017 and is also Chair of the of the Audit Committee.

Simon Bray works within the field of regulation for Health and Social Care and brings 20 years experience to the role. He is passionate about regulation and its importance in driving improvement for people who use services. He sees his involvement at Hereward as a valuable and exciting opportunity to be part of supporting our students.

Martin Cumella is a specialist on programme development and funding in education and training within the UK and internationally.
He started his first company, Dundas Consultancy Services, in 1989 and has worked with the further education sector for over 30 years.
He has had a range of governance roles and is a former chair of governors of Newham College of Further Education in east London. He was awarded the ‘National Centre for Diversity Corporation Board Member of the Year in 2016.’

Paul Cook has worked in further education for over 25 years with ten of those years as a college principal. Over his many years of service he has worked in some of the country’s highest performing colleges as a teacher, advanced teaching practitioner, head of facility and in a variety of senior management roles. Paul has research interests in the effective methods of securing sustainable employment for learners with disabilities and holds a master’s degree in education. Paul also represents the interests and aspirations of thousands of learners with SEND as the director for employment for Natspec, an organisation that represents over 100 education and training providers for learners with special and additional needs and disabilities. He was appointed to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire as a Member (MBE) in the Queen's birthday honours in 2022 for services to young people with special education needs and disabilities.

Simon Crick has a personal connection with the goals of the College. He is an experienced accountant having worked across many different public services including at Board level for most of the last 20 years. He is a qualified executive coach and enjoys working with people to enable positive change.

Simon has been a Governor since 2020 and is also a member of the Audit Committee. 

Mark Crook qualified with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy at Walsall MBC in 1996, and has worked within a range of public sector organisations over the past 24 years, including the Learning and Skills Council, BECTA and North Warwickshire Borough Council. Having moved to the University of Warwick in March 2016, Mark has been part of the Executive Management Team at Warwick SU since October 2017, and is Company Secretary for the Union and its two subsidiary companies. Mark is also a governor for King Edward 6 College in Nuneaton and a Trustee of the Students Union Superannuation Scheme. Mark has been a Governor since 2020 and is also a member of the Audit Committee.

Hayley Hillyard is a qualified accountant with financial and audit experience. She previously specialised in public sector grants audits and education audits. She served as an independent governor prior to becoming a co-opted member of the Audit Committee.

Ian Meaton is a member of the college staff, who is a dedicated individual putting the needs of students first. Ian’s background in IT, provides knowledge and expertise working to ensure that students have access to the technology and resources they need to succeed. In his role as a staff governor, Ian embodies a deep sense of integrity and passion for creating a supportive, inclusive environment for all students. He is not afraid to provide support and challenge in meetings where improvements could be made. Ian has been a Governor since 2022.

Louise Miervaldis has been a serving member of staff at Hereward College since 2006. With a DTTLS qualification specialising in Learning Disabilities, she has developed a wealth of knowledge in her 14 years of teaching. Louise has an Honours Degree in Social Studies and has used her knowledge to develop and deliver a PHSE curriculum for the Foundation Pathway. Louise has been a Governor since 2022 and is also a member of the Quality and Standards Committee.

With a passion for improving the lives of young people, Naomi has an established career specialising in the regulation of health and social care. Naomi joined the Board in 2023 and is also a member of the Quality and Standards Committee.

Krushant Sonecha is a qualified Chartered Accountant with 25 years’ experience working as a Senior Finance Director in Blue Chip FTSE250 organisations (Rolls Royce and Capita). Krushant is currently working as Divisional Finance and Corporate Services Director within a Skills, Education and Employability Services business. Krushant has been a Governor since 2020 and is also a member of the Audit Committee.

Chris Todd is a consultant and interim manager in the Further Education sector.  He has over 20 years relevant experience and has worked in general further education and independent specialist provision.   Chris has been a Governor since 2018 and is also Chair of the of the Quality and Standards Committee.

Natalie Williams has worked in Education for over 16 years, starting in secondary, moving into further education and more recently working in local authority education. Natalie has immense passion for improving the lived experiences and progression for children and young people with special needs and disabilities. Natalie has been a Governor since 2022 and is also a member of the Quality and Standards Committee.