Meet the Governors

Corporation Chair

• Committees - Search and Governance (Chair) / Finance, Resources, & Projects Committee / Remuneration

David was appointed as Chair in December 2023.  He is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants.

David is Managing Director of Ashtree Property Limited with a property rental portfolio in Derwentside. Until his 'retirement', David was Regional Director of the Audit Commission and carried out many corporate governance and audit reviews of public sector bodies. 

Married with two children and four grandchildren, his interests include football, holidays, DIY and volunteering. 

Principal and Chief Executive

• Committees - Search and Governance / Curriculum, Quality, & Inclusion Committee / Finance, Resources, & Projects Committee

As Principal and Chief Executive, Chris is responsible for the overall performance of the College in all aspects of its operations.  As a member of the Board of Governors, Chris leads on the development of the College's strategic priorities and ensures they are delivered.

Chris started his career as an NHS Graduate Financial Management Trainee, where he qualified as an accountant (CIPFA). Chris left the NHS in 2005 and moved into an audit role at KPMG specialising in the public sector and education, where he led a range of internal and external audits.  This is where his love of the education sector developed and since then, he has occupied a number of high profile roles in a variety of educational contexts.

Chris has worked at Derwentside College since 2014, firstly as Director of Finance and latterly, as Principal and Chief Executive.

Chris is married with three sons and enjoys spending time in the gym and getting outdoors for long walks.

Corporation Vice Chair & Independent Governor

• Committees - Curriculum, Quality, & Inclusion Committee (Chair) / Remuneration

Dr Guy Brown joined Northumbria University in 1999 having worked in the private and public sector in strategic marketing and economic development roles, including projects for BBC TV and RTE.

As a senior lecturer, Principal Lecturer, Programme Director, Head of Department and Associate Dean in Newcastle Business School, Guy led a number of corporate and trans-national education partnerships with organisations including BAE Systems, Nexus, Fenwicks, Newcastle Building Society, Northumbrian Water, Zurich Finance, BMS, Kaplan, QA Higher Education, NHS, and a number of local authorities across the North East.

In 2015, Guy joined the Northumbria University Senior Management team as Director of London Campus, leading Northumbria's London Campus, which is home to 5000 students. In 2022 this role was combined with the University-wide Dean of Students role. Guy has also led university wide strategic projects including distance learning, Covid teaching plans, work based learning, apprenticeship pedagogic principles, recognition of prior and experiential learning, VLE, and student cost of living.

He is Vice Chair of the University Education Committee and is externally the Chair of the London Higher Centres Network, and a local Primary school Chair.

Guy continues to teach on a range of leadership, leader identity, and organisational behaviour modules. His principle areas of research relate to learner journey, educational technology, and organisational innovation. his doctorate relates to aesthetics and their impact on organisational innovation.

Corporation Vice Chair & Independent Governor

• Committees - Remuneration Committee (Chair) / Search and Governance

Sarah was appointed to the Board in February 2024.

Sarah is the Director of Legal & Commercial Services and Company Secretary at NTW Solutions Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust. NTW Solutions provides non-clinical services to the Trust including estates & facilities management, procurement, finance and workforce support. As a qualified solicitor Sarah advises NTW Solutions and the Trust on governance & risk and contractual and commercial matters, as well as managing a portfolio of other operational and professional services.

Prior to working in the NHS Sarah was a partner at Ward Hadaway, a firm of solicitors based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Sarah worked with clients across the UK, from the public, private and voluntary sectors, advising on mergers & acquisitions, commercial agreements, governance and constitutional matters and procurement law.

Sarah is originally from the North West of England and has lived in the North East for 25 years. She is married and enjoys hill-walking, yoga & Pilates and trips away in her campervan. Sarah has a keen interest in local and wider history.

Senior Independent Governor (SIG)

• Committees - Curriculum, Quality, & Inclusion Committee, Search and Governance

Stuart Corbridge was Vice Chancellor and Warden of Durham University from 2015-2021. Before that he was Provost and Deputy Director of the London School of Economics and Political Science. Professor Corbridge started his academic career in 1981 at Huddersfield Polytechnic. Stuart later worked at Cambridge University (1988 to 1999) and LSE (2001-2015), as well as three times in the USA.

Stuart’s academic interests were centered on international development and state-society relations in eastern India. From 1997 to 2007 he worked in India and Nepal on several action-oriented research projects supported by the UK’s Department for International Development. Professor Corbridge now works on education policy development.

Stuart was once a keen and very average footballer. More recently, he has served on the Boards of BALTIC in Gateshead and Stray Aid in Coxhoe. From 2017-22 he was Honorary President of NEPACS. Current interests include road cycling, golf and trekking.

Independent Governor

• Committees - Audit & Risk (Chair)

Matt was appointed to the Board in February 2024.

Matt is Director of Finance and Business Development at Healthworks Newcastle, a registered charity supporting people of all ages to live longer, healthier and happier lives.

Matt is a Chartered Accountant (FCA) and worked in audit before moving into financial leadership roles in first the public and then the third sector.

Matt has lived in the area with his wife and three children since 2010. He enjoys getting out and exploring the surrounding countryside, and while he hasn’t forgotten his home team down south will often be found with the family at Gateshead FC (Heed Army).