Governance

Since joining the City of Portsmouth College as Principal & CEO in June 2022, Katy has led the College to achieve an Ofsted overall effectiveness judgement of 'Good' and the lifting of the financial notice to improve (FNTI) issued by the Department for Education. This was achieved against the backdrop of the merger between Highbury College and Portsmouth College in August 2021.

Katy has 25 years’ experience of working within further education, including 15 years at a senior level, working with several of the south’s leading colleges. She was previously Principal and CEO of Strode College in Somerset, where she oversaw the implementation of T levels in 2020 and led significant growth. Katy’s experience covers both vocational and technical education, as well as A Levels and T Levels. She has successfully led a large apprenticeship provision, opened new learning campuses and overseen a wide range of capital development and improvement projects.

She is currently a trustee at the awarding and assessment organisation VTCT and a member of the Association of Colleges’ Curriculum Development Policy group. She has also been a Chair of Governors for a secondary school, a representative for FE on the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership’s Skills Advisory Panel, a business coach and a member of the Education and Training Foundations Technical steering group. She loves travelling, cooking and spending time with her family and friends.

Prue has extensive experience in the post-16 sector including working previously at Highbury College as Deputy Director of the Faculty of Environment and Technology. After which she was a Learning and Skills Improvement Adviser and Ofsted Inspector.
Prue is a Chartered IT Professional. she is a trustee of Rowlands Castle History and Heritage Centre and was Chair of Governors at Rowlands Castle St Johns Church of England primary school.
Prue is a member of the Audit and Learning & Quality Committees.

A Highbury College alumni, Huw studied mechanical engineering in Portsmouth prior to working with PALL Europe for 29 years, nine of which as their UK Managing Director.
More recently Huw was CEO at Portsmouth Engineering Training Association (PETA) where he developed a broad understanding of the apprenticeship marketplace.
Huw is a member of Learning & Quality, Search & Governance and Remuneration Committees.

Mark is responsible for the strategic development of UK education partnerships at the University of Portsmouth and has responsibility for the Institute of Professional & Flexible Learning. He works with schools, further education and sixth form colleges to establish mutually beneficial relationships.

Mark is the chair-elect of the Helena Kennedy Foundation, a national charity that promotes equality of opportunity, enabling disadvantaged FE students to realise their potential by supporting them through higher education into fulfilling careers.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and of the Royal Society of Arts. His knowledge of the FE sector, where he previously worked as a senior leader, means he is very well placed to support the College’s mission and objectives.
Mark is a member of the Learning & Quality Committee.

Ashley is a Highbury College alumni and more recently, was a governor at Portsmouth College.
He worked at IBM for more than 35 years leading various finance, operational and support functions at both UK, European and global level as well as managing a series of change management projects.
Ashley is a Citizens Advice Bureau trustee and until recently was a director of Shaping Portsmouth. He is also a member of the Southsea Castle Rotary Club.
Previously, Ashley captained Portsmouth and Hampshire at volleyball, and has only recently stepped down as one of their national coaches.
Ashley is a member of Audit and Remuneration Committees.

After a career in the hospitality industry, Alex returned to Portsmouth, his home town, where he retrained as an accountant and worked in the construction industry including a number of years as CEO of the family construction business. He now heads up a finance team in the IT sector.
Alex is a member of Finance & Resources Committee.

After a career in construction and engineering, Graham joined Highbury College as a Plumbing and Building Services lecturer taking on the role of Head of Construction before joining another college and becoming Vice Principal.
Graham has extensive experience in the post 16 education sector and is particularly interested in lifelong learning, employer engagement and apprenticeships.
Graham is a member of Finance & Resources Committee and is the Health & Safety Lead Governor for the College.

OBE
Following a 38-year full time career in the FE sector, including 22 years as principal & CEO at Sparsholt College and Sparsholt College Group during which time he and led the college’s development both in terms of provision and facilities as well as the merger with Andover College. Since 2021 Tim has worked on a part time commissioned basis as an FE adviser for the FE Commissioner’s office in the DFE working with may FE colleges across England.
During 2024/25 Tim has also been Interim Chair of the board of governors at a large FE College in the west of England.
Tim is an active volunteer in other roles including being a parish councillor and Trustee of various charities including Winchester Action on the Climate Crisis where he chairs the renewable energy action group. In addition to being Vice-Chair of Corporation, Tim is a member of Finance & Resources and Learning & Quality Committees.

Chair of Finance & Resources and Remuneration Committees
Anne joined the University of Portsmouth in March 2021 and is currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) responsible for the strategic leadership of educational matters and oversight across the University. Prior to this Anne worked at the University of Hertfordshire, initially as a lecturer in History and subsequently as Dean of the School of Humanities.
Academia is her second career. She previously spent twelve years working in the City trading interest rate and foreign exchange derivatives.
Anne is a member of Search & Governance Committee and chairs Finance & Resources and Remuneration Committees.

Chair of Learning & Quality Committee
Shirley worked as a senior manager in the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) liaising with colleges regarding funding rules and the delivery of further education programmes over a 25 year period.
Shirley was a School Governor for 20 years, where she became Chair of Governors for Purbrook Park School and Chair of the Schools Forum for Hampshire.
Shirley chairs Learning & Quality Committee and is a member of Audit and Remuneration Committees. She is also the College’s Safeguarding Lead Governor.

CBE, Chair of Corporation
Rob is CEO of the Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB), the industry association for the UK’s qualifications and assessment industry for FE and Skills. Prior to this he was Delivery Director at the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), where he was responsible for the delivery of Apprenticeships and Technical Qualifications for England for 6 years.
Rob started his working career as an engineer in the Army, finishing his service as HR Director and a member of the Army Board.
In addition to being Chair of Corporation, Rob chairs Search & Governance Committee and is a member of Finance & Resources and Remuneration Committees.

Following his studies at Portsmouth College, Shahalam graduated with a degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Portsmouth.
He is a qualified chartered accountant and currently works as a Senior Finance business partner at BAE Systems.
Prior to joining the City of Portsmouth College Corporation, Shahalam was a governor at Portsmouth College. Shahalam is a member of Finance & Resources Committee.

Chair of Audit Committee
Pauline works for BDO LLP leading on Further Education and apprenticeships, advising on aspects of FE including merger due diligence, IBRs and audits. She has worked for various funding agencies in FE for 30 years and advises independent training provides, colleges and universities.
Pauline chairs Audit Committee.

Debbie was elected by staff to Corporation as staff governor in July 2025. Debbie works in the Data Services Team and is a member of Finance & Resources Committee.

Mike has recently retired as Deputy Director of Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council and is responsible for Education. Prior to this he was an Area Director for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Learning and Skills Council, responsible for the funding and planning of post-16 education and training in Portsmouth and South East Hampshire.
Mike chairs the Solent Maths Hub Strategy Board and the Portsmouth Virtual School & College Governing Board and is a board member of the Portsmouth Education Partnership Strategic Board and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership.
Mike is a member of Learning & Quality Committee.

Lyndsey was elected by staff to Corporation as a staff governor in March 2023.
Lyndsey is Curriculum Manager Hair Beauty & Catering at the Highbury Campus.
Lyndsey is a member of Learning & Quality Committee.

Aston was elected by students to Corporation as student governor in December 2024. Aston is studying an extended diploma (Level 3) in IT. Aston is a member of Finance & Resources Committee.

Robbie was elected by students to Corporation as student governor in October 2025. Robbie is studying A levels at the Sixth Form Campus. Robbie is a member of Learning & Quality Committee.