Vice Chair of the College Board
Gillian was born and bred in Sunderland. She has lived in the city all her life except for six years when she lived in Cambridge – first graduating with an MA in Economics from Jesus College and then working as an economics consultant before moving back to the North East in 1991.
Since then Gillian has worked both in Local Government and the Civil Service in senior roles in economic development, further and higher education. Gillian was formerly the North East Regional Director for the Skills Funding Agency (now ESFA) and also the Regional Director for the Association of Colleges (AoC) between 2014 and 2017.
Gillian is currently employed part time by New College Durham overseeing and coordinating the involvement of colleges – including The Northern School of Art – in the OfS-funded “FutureMe” project which aims to increase participation in Higher Education amongst underrepresented young people and adults. In a voluntary, non-executive capacity Gillian is a Trustee on the board of a number of charities – including Beamish Museum, Sunderland Culture and the Forge – a community arts education organisation based in Stanley, Durham.
Gillian has a daughter – Rosie – who is currently studying for a Foundation Diploma in Art & Design. She is married to Ray, a soldier who served for 30 years in the Royal Artillery. In her spare time Gillian is most often to be found at Penshaw Equestrian Centre riding, grooming or mucking out her horse – Shelby.