Member of the following Committees:
Responsible for the overall strategic leadership of the College
David joined Gateshead College as Principal and Chief Executive in June 2021, having previously held the position of Vice Principal at West College Scotland, one of the largest educational institutions in the country.
With over 20 years’ experience at a senior level in further education, David’s career also spans roles across the wider public sector and he currently holds non-executive Board positions for the Scottish Funding Council and Beamish Museum. He is also a qualified accountant. David is a passionate advocate of lifelong learning and the ability that it has to create opportunities and change lives for the better. He is also an eternal optimist, being a supporter of Hamilton Academical football club.
Independent Governor
Safeguarding and Mental Health Link Governor
Contact me at [email protected] or via my colleague Nicola Taylor, Director of Governance and Compliance at [email protected]
Learner Voice and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Link Governor
Aneela Ali is MBA, CMI, and ACCA qualified, equipping her with a robust skill set in strategic leadership, financial management, and organisational transformation. Her MBA in Senior Leadership has played a pivotal role in shaping her into an all-rounded strategic leader, providing her with the ability to align organisational goals with innovative strategies, foster collaborative environments, and drive sustainable growth across diverse sectors.
As the Finance and Corporate Services Director at the North East Chamber of Commerce, Aneela brings a wealth of knowledge from the finance, commercial, and strategy sectors. Her commitment to the North East is reflected in her roles on the finance boards of NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) and The Glasshouse, where she contributes to the region’s economic and cultural development.
Aneela’s career includes her role as Commercial Lead for Ancillary Sales at London North Eastern Railway (LNER), where she developed innovative revenue strategies and led transformative projects. Her work has consistently demonstrated strong expertise in financial planning, strategic leadership, and organisational optimisation. Passionate about Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), Aneela is dedicated to creating equal opportunities for all. She actively promotes inclusivity in both her professional and community roles and serves as the link governor for Learner Voice and EDI at the college, ensuring that diverse perspectives are heard and valued. She also utilises her finance and commercial expertise as a school governor, contributing to governance and fiscal responsibility.
Outside of work, Aneela is a dedicated Newcastle United supporter and enjoyed playing football in her younger years. She has a keen interest in photography, staying fit, charity work, and travelling the world.
Board Development Link Governor
Martin Hedley has extensive experience in healthcare, aviation, and banking industries. Martin brings a wealth of knowledge in Executive Coaching, Leadership & Governance and Life Sciences. His professional background includes roles such as Managing Director of Vision Achievement Ltd, Board Chairman of Royal Surrey County Hospital Pharmacy Ltd, Senior VP of Citibank, VP of JPMorgan Chase where he has developed strong skills in leading global change programs, customer experience improvement, operational excellence, Executive Coaching, Transformation, Leadership, Business Strategy and Talent Development.
In addition to his professional experience, Martin is passionate about improving patient safety and community outcomes. He is actively involved in supporting people’s development needs in the healthcare and life science industries, from getting people involved to hiring, developing, and industrial transitions.
Member of the following Committee:
Martin worked for British Gas as a Service Engineer from 1975-1985. Following this he worked for the GMB Trade Union for from 1986 – 2010 undertaking a number of roles including Regional Officer, Head of Research, Health and Safety, and Media and Communications.
From 1986 – 1994, Martin completed a BA (Hons) with the Open University.
Martin left GMB in 2010 and was the Constituency Office Manager for Ian Mearns MP until July 2020.
Martin was elected as a member of Gateshead Council in 1984 and served in various roles including Deputy Leader for six years, before being elected as Leader of the Council in May 2016.
As Leader of the Council, Martin is involved in several national and regional bodies. He is Deputy Mayor of the North East Combined Authority, where he serves as a Member of the Cabinet and the Lead Member for Transport. Martin is also a member of the LGA City Regions Board. He has held the role of Chair of the Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust since 2020, which encompasses four secondary and 45 primary schools.
Martin is currently leading on the regeneration of Gateshead, particularly Gateshead Quays – a £400m investment including an International Convention and Exhibition Centre and a 13,000 seat arena.
As Member Peer with the LGA, Martin has recently participated in a Corporate Peer Challenge at a national local authority.
Martin is married with one daughter.
Lisa Crichton-Jones has extensive executive level HR experience having held executive posts in the NHS for over twelve years. In addition to being an experienced unitary board member, Lisa brings a wealth of knowledge across a wide range of people issues including development of people strategy, leadership, organisational development, recruitment, retention, workforce planning, equality and diversity and training and education. Lisa now works as a strategic engagement lead, working with NHS HR Directors across the northern region, supporting them and their teams to be the best they can be. She also practices as an independent executive coach and mediator and enjoys mentoring aspirant HR directors. Lisa is a management member of a local community benefit society near to where she lives, seeking to develop a community resource hub for the benefit of local residents and others.
Digital Link Governor
Darren has extensive experience in Digital, Data and Technology Transformation, working in Central Government healthcare and national scale service delivery for over 20 years, Darren brings a wealth of knowledge in national scale Digital, Data and Technology services along with the implementation of Transformation Programmes and Organisation Strategy and Organisation Design. Their professional background includes roles such as Executive Director for Digital, Data and Technology, Transformation Programme Lead, Programme and Project Manager, where they have developed strong Leadership, Transformation and Strategy Development skills.
In addition to their professional experience, Darren is passionate about passionate about promoting social inclusion and social mobility. They are actively involved in work to increase social mobility within the North East and specifically supporting opportunities into technology roles.
Carol has extensive experience in education both as a teacher, a teacher educator and a university lecturer. Carol brings a wealth of knowledge education policy and, through her research, in children and young people’s career aspirations. She is a published author and has written textbooks for a number of publishers. She has also published a children’s picture book about robotic exploration of space.
In addition to her professional experience, Carol is passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion. They are actively involved in the Association for Science Education and the Great North Maths Hub, and are also a governor at a secondary school.
Sustainability Link Governor
David has extensive experience in finance, strategic growth and governance, David brings a wealth of knowledge in fundraising, budgetary control, corporate governance, and analysis. His professional background includes roles such as Corporate Director at Barclays, Corporate Finance at E&Y and for the last 14 years CFO at Kitwave Wholesale group plc, where he has developed strong skills in stakeholder relationship management, strategic planning, leadership, and project management.
In addition to his professional experience, David is passionate about supporting the British Heart Foundation and encouraging people to think about good heart and mental health.
Employment Edge for Everyone Link Governor
Eamonn Toland has a background in Internal Audit, where he has worked for the majority of his career. The last 28 years of which have been at the DFS Furniture Group, where he is currently the Senior Controls Manager.
Eamonn lives with his wife and two children who are progressing in their respective careers through education and continued learning. Living in the same borough as the college allows Eamonn to build relationships and support our local community through education.
Eamonn is passionate about the importance of lifelong learning and development and education’s pivotal role in this, having recently completed a Masters qualification in Senior Leadership.
Inclusion is incredibly important to Eamonn, and within the DFS Group, Eamonn is a member of the DFS Group’s Inclusion Council and also Chairs the Group’s Disability Inclusion Network.
Outside of work, Eamonn is a volunteer motorcycle rider, driver, and fundraiser for the Northumbria Blood Bikes Charity.
Eamonn looks forward to assisting the college in providing outstanding learning opportunities for our students, which will help them achieve their full potential.
Planning and Performance Link Governor
Maria Craig has extensive experience in Governance, Risk and Assurance within both the Public and Private Sector. Maria brings a wealth of knowledge in Internal Auditing, Risk Management and Internal Control. Their professional background includes roles such as Director of Internal Auditing, Director of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors, Independent Audit Committee Member and Chair of the Professional Certifications Board of the Global Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). Through these roles Maria has developed strong skills in strategic planning, leadership and project and change management.
In addition to their professional experience, Maria is passionate about equality and professional development for all, learning for life and spending quality time with family and friends.
Careers and Special Educational Needs Link Governor (delivered through the Curriculum and Quality Standards Committee)
Peter Francis has extensive experience in tertiary education leadership. He brings knowledge and practice of curriculum and portfolio planning, quality assurance, student outcomes, experiences and support, employability and enterprise, mental health and wellbeing, recruitment home and overseas, regulation and governance, partnerships and TNE, and resource management.
Peter was Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Birmingham City University (2021-23), and before that, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (2015-21), Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning and Teaching (2013-15), and Acting Dean of the School of Arts and Social Sciences at Northumbria University. As a criminologist, Peter performed various leadership roles at Northumbria University, including, Head of Department of Social Sciences, Head of Department of Arts, and Director of the Community Safety Research Unit.
As a criminologist, Peter has acted as a Senior Advisor to the Home Office, undertaken research and evaluation that has impacted regionally and nationally, and supervised doctoral studies on subjects spanning youth crime, harm, policing, victimisation, and criminal justice. Peter continues to write and research. His textbook – An Introduction to Criminal Justice (with Pam Davies) – was published in May 2025 by Sage Publishing.
As an educationalist, Peter has supervised doctoral studies on employability, bullying, mental health and wellbeing. Between 2019-23, he led a collaborative R&D project exploring mental health analytics funded by the Office for Students’ Mental Health Challenge Competition. Peter continues to support organisations with various aspects of educational strategy, research planning, and governance.
Dan has extensive experience in Special Educational Needs in post 16 and Higher Education. Dan brings a wealth of knowledge in SEND, people management and education.
Their professional background includes roles such as:
where they have developed strong skills in inclusive education, SEN, alternative assessment, leadership, coordination and operational development.
In addition to their professional experience, Dan is passionate about Gateshead College’s strategic plan and its commitment to the learners, staff and the community it serves.
Interested in becoming a Governor?
We have a vacancy for an Independent Governor.
Jennifer Boyle brings a wealth of knowledge in corporate governance, particularly in relation to the NHS and public sector. Jennifer is a qualified accountant by background and worked as an external auditor for Deloitte LLP before joining their healthcare governance team. She is currently the Company Secretary for Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust.
Sarah McCourt is Head of Communications, Marketing and Customer Information at Nexus, the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. She leads an award winning multi-disciplinary team, shaping some of North East England’s most recognisable brands.
She has worked in the region in communications and marketing roles for almost 20 years, the majority of that in the housing sector.
Sarah was previously Head of Communications and Marketing at both Gentoo Group and then Karbon Homes, specialising in brand development, reputation management, communications, and engagement.
Starting her career in a regional marketing role at both NCJ Media and Gazette Media Company, Sarah is passionate about the North East region where she works and is raising her young family.
Victoria Beattie has extensive experience in redevelopment, construction, and estate planning. Currently Head of Estates at the Port of Tyne one of the most innovative, progressive and efficient deep-sea ports in the UK linking the North to the rest of the world.
Their professional background includes roles such as former Director of Property and Assets and a Chartered Quantity Surveyor. She has over 30 years experience in the Construction industry working in both the private and public sectors. She has worked as a Private Quantity Surveyor on large scale developments, headed up multi stakeholder collaborative projects and ran a multi-disciplinary design team. In her role a Director of Construction she was responsible for a 650 direct workforce covering all trades and professions as well as health and safety, commercial, procurement, stores, customer contact centre and bid writing teams.
She has also been a Non-Executive Director of Byker Community Trust a social housing provider, a member of the Constructing Excellence Climate Change Group and works hard to bring new opportunities to local area.
In addition to their professional experience, Victoria is a member of the RICS, Constructing Excellence and NAWIC boards and has a real passion for building a more diverse sector. She is committed to inspiring young people, helping university students and mentoring young women in the industry to retain their skills in the sector. Victoria is actively involved in Youth Justice, Enterprise Advisor and Schools initiatives.
Chris Forster has extensive experience in Energy & Sustainability in the Built Environment. He brings a wealth of knowledge in Sustainability and Energy Management to his role at the Colleges as our Co-opted Governor (Sustainability). Currently Chris is an Associate Director of Sustainability at Turner & Townsend where he is responsible for developing decarbonisation projects and programmes for public and private sector clients. His remit includes leading on heat decarbonisation and heat network projects across the UK, where he and his team provide strategic, commercial and technical advisory services.
Chris is a Charter Engineer (CEng) with the Charter Association of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and is involved with the organisation as a committee member and mentor, he is passionate about embedding Sustainable thinking and outcomes into organisations and in supporting individuals gain skills and knowledge needed to tackle climate change at a national and local level. He is passionate about lifelong learning and is currently undertaking a Doctorate looking at the climate risks associated with energy infrastructure.
Director of Governance and Compliance
See our Board and Senior Post Holder Declarations of Interest.