Became a college Governor in July 2014. A Qualified Accounting Technician and Chartered Accountant. In 2016 was elected as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Has over 44 years public service experience, spending 25 years at Newcastle City Council where he became Chief Internal Auditor and Head of risk management and insurance. George left to become an Inspector with the Audit Commission delivering over 50 assessments across all areas of the public sector (Police, Fire, NHS and Local Government) across England. Currently applying his skills on a number of Boards and Committees across the Tyne and Wear area;
Internationally he has worked with the Shanghai Municipal Reform project, with the Crown Agents and trained Chief Internal Auditors from Nigeria, Tanzania, Malawi, and Georgia. Had four tours of Bosnia to develop proper financial procedures and train their staff to deliver effective Internal Audit. Undertook two projects in Macedonia developing anti-corruption hotlines and training programmes for the staff operating them.
Starting her career in nursing, both as a general nurse and midwife, Sheila gained a Masters of Business Administration in 2004. Within the NHS, she has held several strategic roles, designing and implementing a number of key systems to improve NHS services in the region. Sheila has a particular interest in the field of cancer services.
Bio coming soon.
Malcolm graduated from York University in 1973 with a degree in History/Education, and stayed to complete a PGCE. He began his teaching career in secondary schools in South Tyneside, during which time he was awarded a School Teacher Fellowship at St Chad's College, Durham University. After completing a Masters in Education at Durham, Malcolm moved into educational administration at Newcastle and South Tyneside LEAs, working in fields such as adult and further education, school governance, school workforce development, succession planning and Ofsted inspections.
He also contributed to several national organisations in an educational advisory capacity such as the BBC Schools Broadcasting Council, the National Institute for Continuing Education and the National Employers Organisation for School Teachers.
Malcolm gained his Doctorate in Education from Newcastle University in 2001, in the field of school governance. He has worked as a lecturer in Continuing Education for Durham, Newcastle and Sunderland universities, and currently contributes to the education programme for the Joseph Cowan Centre for Lifelong Learning, Newcastle.
He is married, with four children. Now retired, he spends his time part-time lecturing, researching and sitting as a magistrate.
Bio coming soon.
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.
Bio coming soon.
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.
Bio coming soon.
Mark Overton is a retired Consultant in Public Health who spent much of his career working in South Tyneside.
He combines vast professional expertise, including that of strategic planning, with an intense interest in Further Education, and combines both within a single focus directed towards removing inequalities in health and education.
Mark is dedicated to using his skills and role of governor to progress the education of all young people who attend the college.
The married father-of-two, who lives in Monkton, South Tyneside, is also a governor at a secondary school and at a primary school in South Tyneside.
In 1991, he studied for a one-year Certificate in Management at South Tyneside College, a qualification he used as a foundation course and from which he began his successful and rewarding career.
Bio coming soon.
Colin is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He worked for KPMG from 1974 until 1997, becoming a partner in 1987. He then moved to Newcastle Building Society as Finance Director until 2006, when he became its Chief Executive, a position he held until his retirement in March 2010.
For several years, Colin has been involved with charitable organisations, including as a co-opted member of the Finance Committee of UK Community Foundations, the umbrella organisation for all CFs in the country; Treasurer of The Community Foundation, serving Tyne and Wear and Northumberland, and a trustee of Headway Arts, a charity based in Blyth, which uses performing arts as a means of inclusion for disadvantaged and less able people. He is also a former chairman of the MEA Trust.
Wendy has worked in education and training for over 30 years. After working in industry in the private sector, she completed her teaching qualification and began work for a training provider delivering programmes to young people and adults.
She moved on to working at the North East Chamber where she stayed for 11 years – her final role being as Commerce Area Manager - before leaving to join the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). After the disbandment of the LSC, she worked in the public sector, focusing on all aspects of strategic skills and employment across the North East region including, traineeships, Apprenticeships, adult learning, offender learning and European Social Funded provision.
Wendy is currently employed with the North of Tyne Combined Authority with responsibility for managing the devolved Adult Education Budget. With a wealth of experience across post-16 education and training, Wendy has a particular focus on creating and maximising learning opportunities for young people and adults.
Bio coming soon.
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.
Jackie Watson has a wide knowledge and working practice of Education at all age groups and levels. As a qualified teacher her expertise includes: Early Years settings, Primary and Secondary teaching, right through to further and higher education for South Tyneside Council and Northumbria University.
Her diverse experience includes front line Community Development in her early career to later running, developing and managing services to support Children, Young People and their families. She managed a number of different settings and Borough wide projects such as Community Centres, Children's Fund, Extended Schools, Early Years and Children's Centres.
As a strategic manager for Children and Young People's Services she worked closely with Headteachers in Schools, Social Care and Health, Training Agencies and Charities to develop co-ordinated approaches to supporting those most in need, both locally and regionally.
She has a strong commitment to finding ways to engage and enable young people to meet their full potential, believing strongly in developing support and trust with the whole family to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Married twice, she has five adult daughters and eight grandchildren. Now retired, much of her time is spent supporting them as well as supporting her local branch library as a Trustee and volunteer. Her main interest is in providing alternative therapies to support health and wellbeing.
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.
Lindseys 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.
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
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.