Corporate Governance
The Corporation is the overarching body that governs the day-to-day operations of the College. The Corporation Board, which is a non-executive committee, meets at key stages throughout the academic year.
The board is made up of 12 external members, two staff members (one teacher and one professional services staff member), two student members and the Principal.
Our Governors
Principal and CEO – Helen Odhams
Professor Alex Neill - Chair of Corporation
Alex was appointed to the Board in September 2014 and is a member of the Finance and Standards Committee and the Capital Project Committee.
Alex graduated from Cambridge University with a PhD in 1990. He was appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Southampton in October 2012, and University Vice-President in 2016; in this role he leads the development and implementation of the University’s education strategy.
He has previously held academic appointments at Universities in the UK and USA.
Alex is a Member of the Council of the Royal Institute of Philosophy and other memberships include British Philosophical Association, American Philosophical Association and American Society for Aesthetics.
Gary Cooper
Gary is a Governor of the Corporation. He is also a member of the Audit Committee. He originally joined the Corporation as a Governor in 2008, retiring from the Board in 2013 but continuing as a co-opted member of the Employment and Personnel Committee until 2018. He was re-appointed to the Corporation as a Governor in 2018. He is also Health and Safety Governor Champion for the College.
Gary retired from the Police in 2015 having served in both the Metropolitan Police Service and Hampshire Constabulary for a combined period of over 30 years. He first became involved with the College while he was the Chief Inspector in charge of policing the New Forest district. He is now a security consultant and provides advice and guidance for international sports teams and event organisers.
Both his children went to the College and now have successful careers. His daughter is a doctor working in Birmingham and his son is a reservist soldier and local businessman.
James Hiley-Jones
James was appointed as a member of the Board in July 2015. He is chair of the Audit Committee and is a member of the Governance and Search Committee. He is also the Governor’s representative for the Students’ Union.
James is currently the Managing Director of Greenclose Hotels and is responsible for the day-to-day running of three hotels in the group, which employs around 300 staff. He was formerly the General Manager of Carey’s Manor where he was responsible for the daily running of the hotel.
James is committed to developing the skills, knowledge and understanding of all age groups but particularly young people. He is well known locally as a promoter of young talent. His son and daughter were both students at the College.
Lisa Bell
Lisa has worked at the College for 20 years and is Head of Curriculum for Early Childhood, Health Studies and HE. She holds various professional qualifications which include a BA (Hons) Education from the University of Southampton, Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Winchester and is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE.
Vicky Essex
Vicky was appointed to the Board in December 2022. She is a member of the Quality and Curriculum Committee. She is the Headteacher of Greenwood School with responsibility for the strategic leadership of the school. She has been fortunate enough to be part of the governing bodies of a number of secondary schools as well as currently serving as part of her own management committee.
Magdalena Baugh
Magdalena was appointed to the Board in July 2023 and is a member of the Remuneration and Resources committees. Magdalena is a Chartered Accountant and currently works as a CFO in the insurance industry. Her career in the accountancy/finance profession extends over more than two decades and as part of her role she provides critical commercial and financial advice to her fellow executive team and board members. Outside of her job, Magdalena is a mentor to aspiring young women, a big advocate of diversity in STEM skills and a mum to a teenage girl.
Jenny Jenkin
Jenny was appointed to the Board in March 2023. She is a member of the Quality and Curriculum Committee. During her 30 plus years’ career in HE she has navigated a wide range of complex and testing leadership and governance challenges and has a passion for of diversity, equity and inclusion and supporting teams to manage change in a volatile and complex world. She is now a leadership coach and consultant working across Universities, charities and with small businesses in the region.
Dante Dunbabin
Dante is a Student Governor and the Student Union President. Dante is studying A Levels in Government and Politics, History and Astrophysics and is a member of the Governors Resources Committee.
Davina Hawkins
Davina was appointed to the Board as a Governor in July 2015. She is Vice-Chair of the Employment and Personnel Committee. She was an Adult Student Governor from 2007-2008 while she was an Access to Higher Education student at the College.
She then completed a degree in Applied Biology (Health) at Bournemouth University, graduating in 2013 and using her degree to work for Hildon Ltd. Davina also holds a NEBOSH qualification in Health & Safety. She completed her PGCE through School Direct in collaboration with the University of Southampton. Davina currently works as a secondary school science teacher at The Bishop of Winchester Academy.
Ian Fry
Ian was appointed as a member of the Board in March 2018 and also chairs the Audit Committee. He is a Chartered Accountant and a member of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and Chartered Accountants, Australia and New Zealand. Ian is currently the Finance Director of the Greenclose Hotels Group where he is responsible for finance, commercial and IT functions.
Before this he was Head of Business Performance at Southampton Airport. Before that he was Company Secretary of the Kenwood Appliances Group. His career in the accountancy/finance profession extends over more than three decades and has included both private and public sector roles across a variety of sectors.
Caroline Cooke
Caroline joined the Corporation in December 2020 and is a co-opted Governor member of the Standards and Finance Committee. She is currently Head of Library and Student Services at AECC University College and part of the Senior Management Team.
Caroline is a trained teacher and librarian.
Xing Li
Xing was appointed to the Board in July 2021 as the Professional Services Staff member. She is the Transnational Education Manager, Learning and Quality. Xing joined Brock in 2005 as a British Council Chinese teaching assistant on a one-year contract.
She has now worked at the College for 15 years in roles including teacher, International Officer and TNE Manager. Xing is a member of the Employment and Personnel Committee and the Standards and Finance Committee.
Rob Dunford
Rob was appointed to the Board in December 2021 and is a member of the Standards and Finance and Capital Project Committees. Rob currently works for BCP FuturePlaces, the urban regeneration company for Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council, working on a major programme to deliver new residential and commercial development in the area based on a long-term stewardship model. He previously worked for 8 years in the Dorset and Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnerships, delivering multi-million capital investments into economic development projects across the region, supporting new skills, transport and digital infrastructure.
Earlier in his career he spent 10 years working in Further Education, including senior roles focused on work-based learning, innovation and employer engagement. Rob was also an independent Board Director of Poole Housing Partnership between 2015-2020. Rob is a Law graduate from the University of Birmingham and is a qualified project and programme manager.
Shaun Williams
Shaun was appointed to the Board in March 2022 as a member of the Employment and Personnel Committee. He is currently Executive Director, Engagement and Advancement, at the University of Southampton.
Shaun has previously worked as a Director of Corporate Affairs at Carlton Communications plc (ITV), Guardian News & Media, and Leonard Cheshire Disability; as CEO of the tv and film producers’ trade body PACT; and as a Non-Executive Director at NHS Blood and Transplant. He is a former newspaper reporter, BBC television director, and ITV producer.
Jerry Ede
Jerry was appointed to the Board in March 2023 and is a member of the Standards and Finance Committee. He is a Brock alumnus and a KPMG Chartered Accountant. Jerry recently retired – his last role being with Birkenstock UK, where he was Finance Director for five years. Before this, he built his career in the drinks industry, where he spent 25 years working for William Grant & Sons and Bacardi Martini in a variety of senior finance roles. These included three finance director roles covering the UK as well as Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He has led two global transformation programmes, implementing IT systems and improving operational processes. Jerry has broad commercial experience, having sat on boards in the UK, France and Portugal as a non-executive director.
Becoming a Governor
Are you interested in becoming a Governor? We are currently seeking applications from people with diverse backgrounds who are interested in the role.
As a Governor you will play a key role in the future of Brockenhurst College. You will receive regular training and an induction programme to support you in your position.
Correspondence for the attention of Governors can be sent to Brockenhurst College. It will then be forwarded to the relevant board member.
Committee & Board Terms of Reference & Minutes – Until Summer term 2023
Corporation
Minutes
Academic year 2020-2021
Minutes Corporation Part I 01.12.2020
Minutes Corporation Part I 02.03.2021
Minutes Corporation Part I 06.07.2021
Academic year 2021-2022
Minutes Corporation Part I 02.12.2021
Minutes Corporation Part I 08.03.2022
Minutes Corporation Part I 05.07.2022
Academic year 2022-23
Audit Committee
Minutes
Academic year 2020-21
Minutes Audit part I 17.11.2020
Minutes Audit Part I 09.02.2021
Minutes Audit Part I 08.06.2021
Academic year 2021-2022
Minutes Audit Part I 17.05.2022
Minutes Audit Part I 18.11.2021
Minutes Audit Part I 08.02.2022
Academic year 2022-2023
Standards & Finance
Minutes
Academic year 2020-21
Minutes S&F Part I – 12.11.2020
Minutes S&F Part I – 22.06.2021
Minutes S&F Part I – 11.02.2021
Academic year 2021-22
Minutes S&F Part I – 16.11.2021
Minutes S&F Part I – 10.02.2022
Minutes S&F Part I – 21.06.2022
Academic Year 2022-2023
Employment & Personnel Committee
Minutes
Academic year 2020-21
Minutes E&P Part I – 08.10.2020
Minutes E&P Part I – 26.01.2021
Minutes E&P Part I – 13.05.2021
Academic year 2021-22
Minutes E&P Part I – 07.10.2021
Minutes E&P Part I – 03.02.2022
Minutes E&P Part I – 12.05.2022
Academic year 2022-23
Minutes E&P Part I – 06.10.2022
Minutes E&P Part I – 02.02.2023
Committee & Board Terms of Reference & Minutes – starting Autumn term 2023
The new meeting structures are currently taking place and so there are no minutes or terms of reference to be published. Once the meetings have happened, and the terms of reference have been agreed, they will be published here.
Corporation
Quality and Curriculum Committee
Resources Committee
Strategy, Governance and Search
Working Group – Estates
Audit
Remuneration
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Contact
For more information about the Corporation, its structure, or for information about the meeting dates, agendas and minutes, contact:
Clerk to the Corporation
Lynn Payne
Please contact via the Corporation Administrator.
Governance
Brockenhurst College
Lyndhurst Road
Brockenhurst
Hampshire
SO42 7ZE