Dr Claire David
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Dr David has worked for more than ten years in the NHS as a clinical psychologist working within an inpatient service for people with intellectual disabilities.
Dr Simon Conner
Consultant Educational Psychologist
Dr Conner is an independent educational psychologist with a background of delivering high quality psychological advice and support to schools, young people and families.
Jenny Quinn
Consultant Occupational Therapist in Sensory Therapy
An experienced occupational therapist working in a wide range of areas including secure services, specialist learning disability services and the higher education sector. Jenny has an interest in sensory processing and is also an advanced sensory intergeneration practitioner.
Paul Cook MBE
Chief Executive Officer
Paul Cook has worked in further education and care for more than 25 years, including 18 years as a senior leader. During his career he has worked in some of the country’s highest performing colleges and care providers.
Paul has research interests in the effective methods of securing sustainable employment for adults and young people who have additional needs and disabilities. He 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.
Paul was appointed to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire as a Member (MBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2022.
Rosie Herbert
Deputy Principal
Rosie Herbert is the strategic lead for all aspects of curriculum and quality, including teaching and learning, quality improvement and curriculum management.
Rosie has been involved in the further education sector for over 25 years with a broad range of experience, having had responsibility for both academic and business support functions throughout her career. Rosie started her working life as the Education Officer at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester and has a keen interest in all aspects of the arts.
Simon Shackleton
Director of Technical Resources, Estates and Facilities
Simon Shackleton is responsible for managing and maintaining the buildings and land owned by the college, centralised learning resources, information communications technology (ICT), telecommunications and infrastructure, and the co-ordination of health and safety.
Miranda Coles
Vice Principal Finance & Resources
Miranda Coles is the strategic lead for Finance, Funding, Management Information Systems, Exams and HR. Miranda has been involved in the further education sector for over 20 years and has had responsibility for business support and capital project functions throughout her career.
Kerry Smith
Director of Quality
Kerry Smith is the strategic lead for Admissions, Employment Services, Progress Coaches and the Aspire Provision. With over 20 years of experience in the further education sector, Kerry brings a deep and nuanced understanding of behaviour management and Specialist Educational Needs (SEN) to her role on the Senior Leadership Team.
George Trow (Chair)
George Trow is a highly experienced further education leader who spent almost 15 years as a Principal and Chief Executive of two large general further education colleges – Rotherham College from 2002 to 2010 then Doncaster College from 2010 to 2015.
He had previously been a head of department at the former Henley College in Coventry and also taught at colleges in Birmingham, Cheshire and Northampton following his earlier career working in the hospitality industry.
George also has extensive boardroom experience in further education, having served as a national board member and audit committee vice-chair at the Association of Colleges and as a governor, audit committee chair and vice chair of the corporation at Coventry College.
Other voluntary roles have included being a board member of the Shadow National Growth Board at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Deputy Lieutenant of South Yorkshire.
Chris Todd (Vice Chair)
Chris Todd is a consultant and interim manager in the further education sector. He has more than 20 years’ relevant experience and has worked in general further education and independent specialist provision.
Chris has been a governor since 2018.
Barney Angliss
Barney is an independent consultant, a tribunal representative and expert witness in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities who researches and writes on experiences of disability in childhood. Barney has years of leadership experience in alternative provision and local authority management and was an SEN co-ordinator in secondary schools for 15 years.
Barney is autistic, he trains teachers in autism awareness and occasionally speaks about identity and representation at conferences and in parent support groups.
Barney is a member of the Quality & Standards Committee.
Andrew Bowley (co-opted)
Andrew presently works as Head of Inclusion, Safeguarding & Wellbeing at the British Judo Association.
He lives in the Wirral but works two days a week at British Judo's head office and national training centre at the University of Wolverhampton, Walsall Campus.
Andrew worked previously for Barnardo’s for 28 years, including more than 15 years as Manager with the Training and Consultancy Service.
During his tenure with Barnado’s, he acted as Interim Head of Safeguarding to Chelsea Football Club, where he had oversight of their safeguarding services. In his most recent role, Andrew was Head of Safeguarding for Aston Villa Football Club.
He is an Everton season ticket holder and spends too much time buying music vinyl and going to concerts.
Stephen Brand
Stephen Brand is a chartered management accountant with extensive experience in commerce and industry, as well as 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 SMEs to PLCs.
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 Audit Committee.
Paul Cook MBE (Principal & CEO)
Paul Cook has worked in further education for more than 25 years, including over a decade 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. 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
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.
Hayley Hillyard (Co-opted Governor)
Hayley Hillyard is a qualified accountant with financial and audit experience, having 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.
lan Meaton (Staff Governor)
Ian Meaton is a dedicated member of the college’s IT team, whose knowledge and expertise helps ensure that students have access to the technology and resources they need to succeed. In his role as a staff governor since 2022, 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.
Louise Miervaldis (Staff Governor)
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.
Michelle Nisbet
Pen portrait to follow
Naomi Paterson
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 Chair of the Remuneration Committee and also a member of the Quality and Standards Committee.
Martin Reed
Pen portrait to follow
Jennifer Rohde
Pen portrait to follow
Natalie Williams
Natalie Williams has worked in education for more than 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 Chair of the Quality and Standards Committee.
Roy Gregory
(co-opted)
