Governance

Appointed as an independent Governor in 2010 and as Chair of the Corporation in January 2016, Alex has had a successful career in the Royal Navy and the commercial aviation sector. Having been a Director of a global IT company, then Chief Executive of a US-based company, Alex moved to join Smiths Detection UK Civil Businesses (a division of Smiths Group plc (FTSE 100 Company) as its President, also serving as a Director of Smiths Military Division. He continues to undertake consultancy work in defence.

He is currently Managing Director of the Armed Forces Major Events Team for North East Lincolnshire and Armed Forces Champion for North East Lincolnshire Council and is the lead organiser of the local Armed Forces Day event. Previously a Justice of the Peace and a local councillor, he served as Mayor and Chairman of North East Lincolnshire Council in 2014/15. He also holds other public service appointments and trusteeships.

You can contact the Chair of the Corporation direction via email: chair@franklin.ac.uk

Alan became a governor of Franklin in 2016 just over a year after retiring as Group Director of Finance at the Grimsby Institute (GIFHE). During his nineteen years at the Institute, he gained extensive experience and knowledge of the F.E. sector.

Whilst at GIFHE, he was the link person organising college funding for the Institute charity, St Andrews Hospice. Having retired, he is now a voluntary driver for a Louth based organisation, transporting and accompanying patients to doctors and hospital appointments throughout the county and beyond.

He is also a trustee of a local charity which runs the leisure centres, swimming pools, libraries and Grimsby Auditorium. In his spare time, he enjoys watching sport, is a Grimsby Town FC season ticket holder and also enjoys live music.

Joshua was formerly a student and returned to Franklin College in his capacity as a governor in April 2017, currently sitting on the Remuneration and Resources Committees.

Joshua is a Partner and Head of the Dispute Resolution department at Wilkin Chapman LLP, the region’s leading law firm, advising business and individuals on a range of property-related and commercial disputes utilising all forms of dispute resolution including court proceedings, arbitration, mediation and expert determination.

In his spare time Joshua spends time with his young family, following and watching the Mighty Mariners and playing the guitar.

Until her retirement, Sabine worked in the education and training sector for 25 years. She is a qualified teacher and has always enjoyed studying, which culminated in her gaining a master’s degree in Education Leadership and Management. Her years of working first as a teacher and then as a manager helped to provide the guidance and support that Governors are expected to give to the college staff and students. Being a member of the Corporation is a fantastic way of staying in touch with this ever-changing environment. She particularly enjoys meeting the staff and students at various events throughout the year.

She enjoys travelling, cooking for family and friends, listening to all kinds of music and reading books in her first language, German. In 2018, Sabine became a grandma for the first time, which is undoubtedly the best job in the world!

Greg has a wealth of experience in the education sector, being a former Local Leader of Education (LLE) and a retired primary executive head teacher, based in a school which was the first in the area to convert to a standalone academy. He is a Director of the Lincoln Diocesan Academy Trust and is Chair of the Finance Committee of the Trust. Greg is also a member of the governing body of a local secondary academy with special responsibility for pupil behaviour and is a local community leader. In his spare time, he is Chairman of the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Model Engineering Society.

Greg was appointed as an independent Governor in July 2015, and has a particular interest in teaching and learning within Franklin Sixth Form College. He sits on the Search, Remuneration, and Quality, Teaching and Learning Committees and is Chair of the Resources Committee.

Katie was born in Grimsby, where she lived until the age of 11, before emigrating with her family to South Australia.

She completed her secondary education in Australia and had her first taste of employment there, before returning to the UK in 1990.For the past 32 years, she has worked as a dental nurse/manager at a local dental practice. Having gained her dental nursing and dental radiography qualifications she went on to study for a degree in Business Studies from Lincoln University which she obtained in 2002. In 2013, she took over the ownership of the dental practice and for the past 10 years has worked hard to improve and grow it as a business. Running the practice has been very rewarding and has given her a greater understanding of finance and business management strategies, as well as experience of compliance and inspection processes and procedures. She has four children, two of whom attended Franklin College. When not at work she enjoys cooking, entertaining and crafting.

Jerry has been an independent Governor since 2015 and is the Chair of Governors at a Grimsby primary school, having overseen its transition to a standalone primary. He is also Chair of a Multi-Academy Trust which now includes over twenty schools and has previously served on the governing body of a local secondary school. He therefore understands the continuing needs of students throughout their education. In addition, Jerry was appointed as a National Leader of Governance in 2015 and has recently been appointed by the Department for Education as Chair of an Interim Executive Body to manage a three-school Federation classed as “of concern”.

In his working life, Jerry is the founder and Managing Director of a training company, has been a management consultant working for many large blue-chip food companies, and has held senior positions within the food manufacturing industry.

His interest in careers advice and guidance for young people has led him to become lead Governor for the College in this field. He is also the Safeguarding Link Governor, sits on the Search, Remuneration and Resources Committees and is Chair of the Quality, Teaching and Learning Committee.

Louise has worked in education since 1992 and since 2016 has worked at York College as the Director of Data and Information Services. In her role, she oversees a fantastic team, covering admissions, student data, curriculum, timetables, exams, and reporting services.

Starting out at Grimsby College, where she stayed for 22 years, she has also worked at the Newcastle College Group (NCG) and the DN College Group.

Louise is a real geek when it comes to data and has seen a lot of changes since she started her career when everything was on paper. She has seen the introduction of everything which has brought us to the computerised systems of today.

Outside of College, Louise loves walking and has recently joined the Ramblers Association. She lives in Grimsby with her husband and daughter.

Claire holds a BA in Business Management and specialises in obtaining value for money in public spending. 

She has worked for North East Lincolnshire Council for eight years in services including Youth Offending, Safeguarding, and Education, and is currently the Commissioner for Children’s Social Care. She focuses on finding the right homes for the area’s most vulnerable children and her work gives her a good understanding of the varied challenges that children face.  

Previously, Claire volunteered as Chair of a pre-school charity for ten years where she oversaw five ‘Good’ Ofsted ratings, generated a significant increase in turnover, was active in staff recruitment and management, and gained extensive experience across strategic, operational and financial activities. 

She is an active member of the community and volunteers for her local scout association, and as an appropriate adult for Young People in custody. Claire has recently joined the local foster panel, assessing the suitability of foster carers. 

Paul’s career is in project management. Prior to this, he spent over 15 years as an engineer, specialising in piping & mechanical design. He enjoys learning new skills and has undertaken multiple qualifications over his career, some at higher education (HNC) level, and most recently has completed several distance learning courses, including mental health first aid and an OU course in project management.