Having attended Newcastle College of Arts and Technology between 1988-1992, Neil has spent the last 36 years in the Building services industry, specialising in the commercial/industrial air conditioning and refrigeration sector . Of those 36 years Neil spent 20 of these running HLA Services Ltd a successful business employing over 100 people, based on Boldon Business Park.
Following Neil’s exit from the business in March 2023 he established Option3 Logic Ltd, a consultancy providing mentoring to SME business leaders in sustainability, growth and exit strategies.
Neil has also been a trustee of Grace House children’s charity for 8 years where he currently holds the position of Vice-Chair.
Neil is passionate about apprentices, especially in the building services sector and is currently working with a number of organisations to improve the delivery of apprenticeships in the North East.
Gary has been involved with marine engineering since the 1970's when he joined the UK Merchant Navy. After graduating from the then South Shields Marine and Technical College he worked for Canadian Pacific Ships until leaving in late 1980's at the rank of Chief Engineer on tankers and bulk carriers.
He moved ashore into a shore based chemical production plant and then as Technical Superintendent in a UK based tanker company.
Gary returned to join South Tyneside College as Lecturer in the early 1990’s, and he undertook various roles before coming Head of Faculty, when he has created national maritime Further and Higher education programmes since 1998. He led the UK development team for the introduction of the Electro-Technical Officer STCW programme in 2008. His final position was in the role of Principal of the South Shields Marine School where he served until 2018.
Gary is active in a wide range of advisory roles within Higher Education, both in the UK and overseas, and currently serves on the Board on a number of local, national, and international maritime associations that deliver maritime training and education, and assessment.
After gaining a Business Studies degrees in 1981 Clive has spent his career in finance. Initially in banking and then into Local Government, starting off in Tyne and Wear CC, where he qualified as an accountant in 1985, before moving to the Education service at North Tyneside Council. In 1989 he moved to the NHS and worked in several local NHS bodies before finishing his career at the NHS Business Services Authority responsible for the provision of all financial services to a business with a turnover in excess of £36bn.
Throughout his career he has been involved and delivered major change programmes, mergers and consolidations, and developing new accounting and reporting practices. He is a qualified in PRINCE2 project management processes and has continued an intensive leadership development programme. Since retiring in 2019 Clive has been assisting in the strategic planning of a Housing organisation working in the Housing benefit exempt sector.
He is a past president of CIPFA in the North East and a member of the national Technical Information Service. Clive is also a member of the Cramlington LV MAT and Lay Chair of St Marks PCC.
If you require any further information about the College's Board of Governors or any corporate or governance queries, please contact Neil Longstaff, Director of Governance on 0191 427 3903 or email neil.longstaff@tynecoast.ac.uk
After gaining a degree in occupational psychology Donya joined the graduate training programme at Marks and Spencer and worked throughout the UK in a variety of retail management roles. In 2001 she joined Jaguar/Land Rover as their Diversity Manager and then moved into Ford Motor Company where she worked internationally as an HR Director in South Africa, North America and continental Europe, finally being appointed to the Executive Leadership Board as Vice President of Human Resources for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Leading large international teams, negotiating with a wide range of Trade Union partners and controlling significant budgets has provided her with a wealth of experience. Donya has a particular interest in coaching and mentoring senior managers.
Lindsey Whiterod oversaw a rapid rise in education standards at South Tyneside College, where she was Chief Executive from 2009, by introducing a new focus on vocational qualifications.
Her resolute and forward-thinking approach to provision ensured courses and resulting qualifications targeted real jobs, a policy that won the approval of many within the North East business community and education inspectorate Ofsted, which graded the college good with some exceptional features. In 2012, it was the only North East College where standards of provision were identified as rising.
Her influence on South Tyneside Colleges academic resurgence was such that she was made an OBE for services to education in the New Year Honours List in 2013, and later made a CBE in the New Year's Honours List in 2018.
Lindsey's achievements included overseeing capital refurbishment and estate rationalisation programmes in excess of £21m, part of which was a £4.5m upgrade to the colleges world-famous South Shields Marine School and the development of its globally-renowned brand into new markets in countries such as China, India and Bangladesh.
Significantly, she also ensured the college was rated financially outstanding by the Governments Skills Funding Agency.
With a mission to provide outstanding educational opportunities, we will benefit learners and the communities we serve. Doing so will satisfy our vision to grow further as a world-class educational facility, operating with a focus that develops the potential of all.
Following these paths will allow us to play a key role in ensuring the long-term prosperity of our region, through the creation of skills that drive economic growth.