Governance & Leadership - Inspire Education Group

Governance & Leadership - Inspire Education Group Governance & Leadership Executive Team Rachel Nicholls Chief Executive Officer Ed Thomas Chief Operating Officer Sarah Young Chief Learning Officer Alex Owen Chief Financial Officer David O’Garr Vice Principal - Curriculum James Whybrow Vice Principal Apprenticeships & Higher Education Jane Spurgin Governance Director Corporation Members David Pennell Chair of the Corporation CEO Burghley House Preservation Trust David is the CEO of the Burghley House Preservation Trust Ltd, the Charitable entity that owns and operates Burghley House, Estate and its associated business activities and events. David is a qualified Chartered Surveyor with a business management background who has specialised in strategic land and business management for landed estates with complex portfolios and business activities. David grew up in Norfolk and studied an Agricultural Business Management degree at Wye College in Kent. During his career he has worked in Estate Management roles at the Goodwood Estate in Sussex and Arundel Castle in Norfolk. David joined Burghley in 2009 and in the last 5 years in particular, David and his team have delivered over 70 new residential units, open market and affordable homes, and has retained a large percentage of those built, as well as managing and upgrading the existing portfolio of let property to a high standard and adding new revenue streams across multiple business platforms. Burghley works closely with County Councils, local district councils, parish councils, community groups and stakeholders to ensure that Placemaking as a value is at the core of their activities. Burghley, as a significant sized property owner, works in collaboration with the local stakeholders and parties so that the benefit to the local economy, design, delivery, health and wellbeing of each development is ensured, but also that the ability to consider the longer-term place we are so heavily invested in is protected for the long term. Burghley has significant large-scale projects that it is planning, managing and working on for the future, which will have an impact on Stamford and the local area. It works with all the local and national providers of health, education, power and infrastructure to ensure that the best possible outcomes are achieved. David lives in Stamford with his wife and three children and takes an active role in coaching at Stamford Rugby Club. Angie Morris Vice Chair of Corporation; Chair of Curriculum & Quality Committee and Remuneration Committee; Member of Finance & Resources Committee Angie is a significantly experienced professional that has held a number of Board and Committee roles ranging across a wide span of the public sector. These include Housing, Care and Further Education. Up to its recent merger she sat on the main Board of Longhurst Group, one of the largest Housing Groups in the Midlands and East of England. The Group had a portfolio of over 24,000 homes delivering a wide range of Care and Support services, with over 12000 employees, and operating in 48 local Authority areas and an annual turnover of £156 million. Angie chaired the People Remuneration and Nominations Committee and sat on the Finance and Treasury Committee up to the end of April 2026 Angie sat on the board of a locally based charity in Peterborough that supports adults with Learning Disabilities to access arts and drama and the local community. Angie ran a successful Health Care Consultancy for many years, providing a wide range of services to a number of NHS and Local Authority organisations and Charities, particularly Hospices across the UK. This included providing coaching and mentoring to senior leaders, chief executives and chairs of boards as well as redesigning services and pathways, supporting transformational change programmes and identifying organisational challenges and opportunities (including finance and governance). Prior to this she had an extensive career in the NHS and Social Care, latterly working in Peterborough for over 10 years both in primary care and the communities in senior positions. She has significant experience in Safeguarding and Health and Social Care regulation. She joined the Board of Peterborough Regional College in 2019 prior to its merger with Stamford College and the subsequent formation of IEG. She is currently the Vice Chair and Chairs the Curriculum and Quality Committee and the Remuneration Committee. Having previously chaired the Finance and Resources Committee she is currently a member of this committee and a member of the Governance and Search Committee. Angie is a passionate advocate of the importance of high quality education opportunities to enhance health and wellbeing for peoples lives. Suneel Appan Co-Chair of Finance & Resources Committee Suneel joined the IEG Corporation Board at the start of September 2023 bringing with him recent experience in the energy and decarbonisation sectors, based on a history of procurement and engineering. With a home extension and renovation ongoing he is picking up a selection of new skills but also continuing to find time for his passion of culinary experimentation (scotch eggs being his signature savoury snack). Tammy Banks Member of Curriculum & Quality Committee Tammy Banks career has focused on improving outcomes for children and young people through trauma-informed practice, safeguarding excellence and syste m change. A former Peterborough Regional College student Tammy brings a rare combination of lived experience, operational insight and governance expertise to the role. As founder and Director of Transform Your Training, Tammy believes fundamentally in the power of education to change lives, her trauma-informed methodology has won multiple awards for innovation and impact. Her profile includes Chair or Children's Services Sunderland, six years as a Lay Member on the House of Commons Committee on Standards, Tedx Speaker, Fellow of Westminster Abbey. Tammy is known for connecting seeking creative solutions to complex problems processes so that strategy, practice and the voices of young people are aligned to achieve both immediate and sustainable impact. Andrea Beesley-Hewitt Member of the Audit Committee Steve Bull Member of the Curriculum & Quality Committee Steve Bull is an experienced education leader with over 20 years’ experience across secondary education, further education, and initial teacher trai ning. He is currently Director of Strategy and Development at Inspire+, a Lincolnshire‑based education charity. Steve has led curriculum development, quality assurance, safeguarding, and the delivery of teaching‑focused apprenticeship provision in schools, FE colleges, and universities. Steve has held a range of associate roles including a PGCE and International PGCE Assessor/Examiner and Regional Advocate for the Association of PE (afPE). Steve is particularly passionate about inclusion and social mobility, and the role that education plays in creating opportunity, progression, and improved life chances for learners from all backgrounds and ages. He has worked extensively with students, apprentices, trainee teachers, and education professionals to remove barriers to achievement and to support inclusive, high‑quality pathways into employment and further study. As a governor, Steve brings a strong commitment to equity, learner success, and effective governance. David Cashmore Co-Chair of Finance & Resources Committee David is a retailer with a 40-year career in the industry, starting as a management trainee with Marks and Spencer, and progressing through to store m anagement working in locations throughout the UK. His retail career moved on to work with the Burton Group and Austin Reed; ultimately leading to him establishing a new retail business for a major men’s tailoring manufacturer, Berwin & Berwin, based in Leeds. As the Retail Director he managed all aspects of retail operations and buying & merchandising, operating in stores and concessions throughout the UK and Ireland, retailing brands such as Ted Baker, Paul Costelloe, Ben Sherman and Jaeger. In addition, being a division of a manufacturer, he was actively engaged in the clothing production lifecycle, from the cloth selection, to manufacturing (in China, Vietnam and Hungary) and on to the shop floor. Since retiring from full time employment, David has pursued voluntary roles serving the local community. As such, he is a Magistrate, sitting on the Northamptonshire bench, and along with regular court sessions, he works with the Magistrates Association visiting local junior schools to give them an insight into the judiciary. He is Chair of Volunteer Action (Oundle) which provides transport and befriending services across East Northamptonshire, and also Chair of the local Parish Council. David lives in Glapthorn, near Oundle, with his wife, Anne. They have two grown-up daughters, and one grandchild. In his spare time, David enjoys golf, gardening, travel and has a specific interest in 20th Century military history. Nicholas Crippa Member of Curriculum & Quality Committee Professor Sir. Les Ebdon Chair of UCP Council Professor Sir Les Ebdon CBE DL is a widely recognised leader in the field of education and social mobility. He served for six years as Director of Fai r Access to Higher Education when he was the independent regulator for HE. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and an award-winning Analytical Chemist, he has published over 270 refereed publications. He has enjoyed highly successful periods as Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Plymouth and as Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Bedfordshire. He has played various national roles in higher education including chairing the University group Million+, for five years, served as a Board member of Universities UK and the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association, as well as chairing the Association of Universities of the East of England for five years. He was awarded a CBE in 2009 for services to national and local higher education and in 2018 was knighted for services to social mobility and higher education. In 2011 he was appointed HM Deputy Lieutenant of Bedfordshire. Wealth Joseph-Igoro IEG Student Governor (Stamford College) Tony Keeling Chair of Audit Commitee; Member of the UCP Council Tony joined the Royal Air Force in 1987 as an Apprentice technician before qualifying as an engineer officer in 1999. With many years spent at the front line deploying on global operations and exercises, Tony also has experience of working in areas of safety, finance, equipment procurement, and international collaboration. Jenny Pelling Member of the Curriculum & Quality Committee Jenny is the Director of Skills and Strategy, at Kaplan, which is a global education business. With over 20 years of experience in vocational training and professional education, she possesses considerable expertise within apprenticeships, skills and the broader education sector. Jenny’s governance track record includes being a Governor for Kaplan International Pathways, four years to date, and a seven-year tenure as a School Governor in Bedfordshire. Deeply committed to equity in education, she serves as a judge for the Multicultural Apprenticeships and Skills Awards and sits on the Advisory Panel of the Association of Apprentices. Before her career in education, she worked in Brussels and in London as a solicitor, then joined a law school where she was a Director, working with clients across England and developing legal apprenticeships. Having grown up in Cambridgeshire, Jenny is personally driven to support the prosperity of the region. She joined the Inspire Education Group Board to leverage her strategic insight and life-long dedication to social mobility, ensuring that every learner has a clear pathway to success. Emily Pettitt Staff Corporation Member Emily is the Assistant Head of Faculty for Uniformed Services and Travel & Tourism at Peterborough Colleg e.  She spent 10 years working as a Prison Officer before moving into teaching, bringing valuable real-world experience to her role and supporting students in preparing for their future careers. Outside of work, Emily is a keen runner and is currently training for both a half marathon and an ultramarathon. Gemma Roger Member of the Finance & Resources Committee Gemma is a Partner at Moore, a respected local accountancy firm. She joined the practice (then Moore Stephens) in 2010 after earning a first-class Mas ter of Mathematics degree. Gemma qualified with the ICAEW in 2013 and ascended to the role of Partner in 2024. Specialising in the Education Sector, Gemma delivers expert accountancy, audit, and advisory services to a varied portfolio, including owner-managed businesses, charities, and education clients. In March 2024, Gemma joined the IEG Corporation Board and Audit Committee, driven by a strong commitment to enhancing group oversight and contributing to strategic discussions and decision-making. Steve Saffhill Staff Corporation Member Steve is a Lecturer in Sport at Stamford College. He started as a lecturer in 1994 and has taught in both Higher Education and Further Education envir onments. His experience includes the management of the curriculum and leading the development of HE provision. Steve also worked externally for QAA as a subject Reviewer and for Pearson as a Standards Verifier. This work led Steve to be offered a role as Educational Consultant specialising in Curriculum Design and the implementation of new technologies. In his spare time, Steve loves nothing more than being involved in hockey and golf. Vishy Srinivasan Member of the Audit Committee Vishy Srinivasan is a recognised leader in sustainable finance with over two decades of global experience spanning real estate and infrastructure. In his current role at the UK’s National Wealth Fund, Vishy has been instrumental in shaping and structuring landmark investments in the built environment sector and in natural capital. Vishy has previously founded and led an investment advisory firm Ananya Capital Advisors and has held senior leadership roles at JLL and Cushman & Wakefield. Vishy's career over the last two decades includes rich experiences in investing, lending and in advising and working with governments, global private sector firms, institutional investors, PE funds and family offices on transactions cumulatively exceeding £16bn. across the UK, Europe, and Asia. As a Member of the IEG Corporation Board and the Audit Committee, Vishy draws on his financial acumen, governance insight, and strategic foresight and aims to strengthen sustainability, accountability, and long-term value creation principles within the Group’s growth and investment strategy. Vishy has a MBA from Warwick Business School and is a Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. Rebecca Stephens Member of the Finance & General Purposes Committee Jonathan Teesdale Co-opted member of the Curriculum & Quality Committee I have been fortunate to have lived in the Stamford area my whole life, with the exception of brief periods away to work, study and travel. Being a Governor of IEG feels particularly poignant, as I undertook my first teaching placement at Stamford College many years ago! After teaching A Level, GCSE and BTEC Business and Finance, PE and IT, I returned to Stamford in 1995 to run Copthill Independent School as Headteacher and recently as Principal. I still teach regularly and remain passionate about education in all forms and for all age groups. My particular areas of interest are environmental education, outdoor learning and activities, which provide such beneficial challenges for students of all ages to learn about themselves and prepare for adult life. Outside of work I enjoy looking after the farm smallholding and lead an active life running, walking and extreme camping in remote places! I remain committed to bringing my experience and enthusiasm to the Inspire Education Group as it moves forward in the coming years. Need assistance? Contact the Governance Director Any communication will be handled in complete confidence. Jane Spurgin jane.spurgin@ieg.ac.uk 07803 001 067 Key Documents & Corporation Board Meetings We support employers to develop their people and their organisations. We strive to make a positive contribution to the prosperity and wellbeing of our diverse communities. Quick Links Employer Engagement Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Governance & Leadership IEG Strategy: Be Bold, Be Brave, Be Exceptional Published Documents Inspiring Sustainability News & Blogs Subsidiaries Peterborough College Stamford College University Centre Peterborough Stamford Gas Training Anglia Professional Training Cookies Policy Get in Touch Park Crescent, Peterborough, PE1 4DZ Website by i3MEDIA