Governance

The Governing Body of Coleg y Cymoedd is made up of 20 Members drawn from a number of diverse areas, broadly representative of the community it serves.

The Governing Body is made up of people from business or public life and will bring with them a range of skills / expertise that is important to the development and future of Coleg y Cymoedd.

The Governing Body is responsible for:-

a) The determination of the educational character and mission of the institution and for oversight of its activities;

b) The effective and efficient use of resources, the solvency of the organisation and the Corporation and for safeguarding their assets;

c) Approving annual estimates of income and expenditure;

d) The appointment, grading, suspension, dismissal and determination of the pay and conditions of service of the holders of senior posts and the Governance Officer;

e) For setting a framework for the pay and conditions of service of all other staff;

A range of Governing Body information, including minutes of meetings is available to view by appointment in the Executive Office, Nantgarw Campus.

For more information, please contact Jennifer Owen, Governance officer , Coleg y Cymoedd, Heol y Coleg, Parc Nantgarw, Cardiff. CF15 7QY or email jennifer.owen@cymoedd.ac.uk

Meet the Governors

Dr Paul Smart – Chair

Committee Membership: Resources, Remuneration (Chair), Search (Chair)

Having graduated with a BSc and PhD in Engineering, Paul commenced his career in Operational Research in the gas and steel industries. He subsequently joined the UK manufacturing plant of an International Cosmetics company where he worked as both a Production Manager and Head of Human Resources. He then took a role in the company’s headquarters as UK Human Resources Director for Operations, Supply Chain, Finance and IT. After 37 years with the company Paul has now retired but still works part-time as the company’s Pension Liaison Manager and as a Pension Fund Trustee.

David Price

Committee membership: Resources

David’s professional interests focus on the development and application of performance systems, business intelligence, risk management, regulation, and governance in further and higher education.

Since 2017 he has worked primarily as an independent consultant, executive coach, and interim manager, including periods as Chief Executive of ColegauCymru and Director of The Open University in Wales. His last permanent role was as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Strategy & Performance) at Cardiff Metropolitan University. David has also held governance roles with charities and local authorities, alongside his role as a Governor of Coleg y Cymoedd.

Catherine Thomas – Community Member

Committee membership: Resources (Chair), Search, Remuneration

Catherine is an HR professional. She has worked in Higher Education for seventeen years, having previously worked in the private, voluntary and public sectors.

Vacancy

Committee membership: Resources

Fran Green – Community Member

Committee membership: Audit, Curriculum and Quality

Fran has over 40 years’ experience in the Further Education sector. Firstly, as a full time student studying hairdressing and beauty therapy in North London and more latterly as a part time evening student, attempting to learn Spanish.

Having qualified, Fran worked in the hair and beauty sector as both a stylist, and salon manager and enjoyed working closely with people, both clients and staff, a passion which has continued through her career. During this time, she was invited to undertake a few hours’ part time teaching at her old college and eventually became a full time teacher.

In 1988, following the Tottenham riots, Fran crossed the bridge and relocated to South Wales, to take up a position as Senior Lecturer in Afan College, Port Talbot, thinking she would only stay three years in Wales at the most! During her first years, she had, for a Londoner, the difficult task of pronouncing Welsh place names and enrolled in classes, eventually achieving level 3 conversational Welsh.

During her employment many promotional opportunities have arisen both within her own field and as a manager, culminating in Fran becoming Assistant Principal for Quality. This position has taken her through two Estyn inspections and the Pandemic. Additionally, Fran has been an active Peer Inspector with Estyn, and has assisted them on several inspections for both FE and ACL enabling her to gain a wider spectrum and experience of the educational arena in Wales

Chris Joseph – Staff Member

Committee membership: Resources

Chris is Head of IT Services at Coleg y Cymoedd, with over 31 years of experience. Starting as temporary IT assistant in 1994, Chris has advanced through key roles, multiple college mergers and led major IT infrastructure projects, ensuring smooth transitions for staff and learners.

As a senior leader, Chris drives strategic planning, procurement, and the implementation of critical IT systems. An active member of the management team and various working groups, Chris is recognised for strong professional relationships, commitment to staff development, and a focus on enhancing learner outcomes.

Andrew Diplock – Business Member Vice-Chair

Committee membership: Resources (Vice-Chair), Search, Remuneration

Andrew has worked for many companies in both corporate and SME sectors, built a business from start up to a successful exit. He now devotes his time to helping other businesses start and grow as both an angel investor and business advisor. He also advises Welsh Government as a member of the Ministerial Taskforce for the South Wales.

Roxanna Dehaghani – Business Member

Committee membership: Resources.

Roxanna is a Reader in Law at Cardiff University where she undertakes research and teaching in criminal law and justice and leads on generating impact from academic research. She has worked in higher education since 2014, gaining her PhD from the University of Leicester in 2018. She previously studied for an LLB in Law at Queen’s University Belfast and an LLM in Forensics, Criminology and Law at Maastricht University, the Netherlands.

Kate Owen – Local Authority Member

Committee membership: Curriculum and Quality.

After graduating with a BA combined Honours in English Literature and Philosophy and a PGCE in Secondary English and Drama, Kate has taught in secondary schools in South Wales since 1998 as a teacher of English and R.E. Head of English and Drama and for 8 years as an Assistant Headteacher with responsibility for Wellbeing and Safeguarding.

Alun Williams – Business Member

Committee membership: Audit

A Chartered Manager and a Chartered Procurement and Supply Professional, Alun has over twenty years of management and senior management experience within local government, Welsh, Scottish and UK central government departments and agencies, voluntary, community and social organisations and the private sector. Educated at both Ysgol Maes Garmon in Denbighshire and Ysgol Friars in Bangor, Alun gained his Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and Management from the University of Bedfordshire in 1992 and returned to education to gain his Master of Public Administration (MPA) graduating from Robert Gordon University’s Aberdeen Business School in 2009. Currently Managing Director of Cardiff based Arfon Consulting Ltd, Alun lives in Caerphilly and is a parent governor at his daughter’s secondary school and splits his working week between home, Cardiff and London.

Clare Wheatstone – Business Member

Committee membership: Audit

Clare is a Qualified Accountant who, over the past 25 years, has worked in a variety of industries including theatrical, retail and asset finance.

Clare is currently working for a large multinational company whose principal business is the sale of beauty and haircare products, cosmetics and fragrances. Clare has worked for the company for over 15 years and is currently UK & Ireland Chief Accountant whose primary responsibilities include accounting compliance and advisory.

Richard Edmunds – Local Authority Member

Committee membership: Curriculum and Quality

Richard (Ed) Edmunds is Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Corporate Director of Education & Corporate Services. Ed joined the Corporate Management Team in July 2018 and has more than 30 years’ experience in Local Government, 15 of which have come at a senior leadership level.

Ed’s current role involves leading the Council’s Corporate functions such as Finance, HR, IT and Legal as well as overseeing the Local Education Authority functions and 87 Schools.

Peter Wright – Business Member

Committee membership: Audit (Chair), Search

Peter has worked in the Financial Services Sector for over 40 years across the UK with a specialism in supporting small and growing businesses. He was previously Head of Investments at Finance Wales. He now fulfils a number of consultancy/ NED roles, including being the Entrepreneur in Residence at Coleg y Cymoedd as well as being a Governor.

Jonathan Morgan – Principal

Committee membership: Curriculum and Quality, Resources, Search

Robert Evans – Community Member

Committee membership: Curriculum and Quality (Chair), Search, Remuneration

Rob has worked in further education for 30 years as a Head of Department and Deputy Principal. He has also been an Estyn Peer Inspector for 20 years.

Philip Thomas – Staff Member

Committee membership: Curriculum and Quality

James – Student Member

Committee membership: Curriculum & Quality

James is currently serving as President of the Student Council at Coleg y Cymoedd, having been elected by his peers for the academic years 2024/25 and 2025/26. He is also a Learner Ambassador. Now in his second year of study at Coleg y Cymoedd, pursuing the Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment, James aspires Aelodaeth pwyllgor: Cwricwlwm ac Ansawdd Ar hyn o bryd mae James yn gwasanaethu fel Llywydd Cyngor Myfyrwyr Coleg y Cymoedd, ar ôl cael ei ethol gan ei gyfoedion ar gyfer y blynyddoedd academaidd 2024/25 a 2025/26. Mae hefyd yn Llysgennad Ddysgwr. Nawr yn ei ail flwyddyn o astudio yng Ngholeg y Cymoedd, yn dilyn Diploma Estynedig Lefel 3 BTEC Pearson mewn Adeiladwaith a’r Amgylchedd Adeiledig, mae James yn anelu at barhau â’i astudiaethau ym Mhrifysgol

to continue his studies at Cardiff University and eventually qualify as an architect.

He is a driven and emerging young leader, who has earned the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards and successfully completed both the Duke of Edinburgh Young Leader Programme and the Scouts Young Leader Programme. He continues to volunteer regularly with the 1st Sirhowey Scouts Pack as a Young Leader, demonstrating his commitment to youth development and the community. To help finance his studies, James spends his summers working as an open water lifeguard

Seren – Student Member

Committee membership: Curriculum & Quality

Seren is currently studying A-Levels: Art, Psychology, Welsh baccalaureate and health + social care at Coleg y Cymoedd. Their goal in life is to become a teacher.

Having had experience of being in Care, Seren can provide an important viewpoint of some of the challenges our learners may be facing.

Lynne Wakefield – Business Member

Committee membership: Audit (Vice-Chair)

Gareth Reynolds – Community Member

Committee membership: Curriculum & Quality (Vice-Chair)

Gareth’s career has been immersed in learning, starting with a PGCE (PE) in 2005 at the then UWIC Cyncoed Campus. He has held various roles, including nine years as Head of Department at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College and interim Associate Head of a secondary school.

Since 2019, he has worked as a Curriculum Development Manager at Pearson, supporting FE Colleges, University Centres, Local Authorities, Sixth Forms, UTCs and IoTs provision in South West England, South Wales, and the Channel Islands. He later became Product Lead for Sport and Physical Activity, combining his passions with an applied, technical, specialist, and digital portfolio. In early 2023, he took on the role of Senior Product Manager for Digital Transformation.

Continuing learning he gained MSc in Sports Coaching as a mature learner and recently completed an alternative MBA. Gareth also sits as a Trustee for a MAT in England. He is a former CIMSPA Professional Development Committee member, and a former international karate athlete and coach.

James Dunn
(Co-opted)

Committee membership: Audit

Helen Lawless (Co-opted)

Committee membership: Curriculum and Quality

Helen is a Head of School at Coleg Gwent and has worked in education for nearly 34 years and takes a learner centred approach to every aspect of her job. In her current role as a Head of School, she is responsible for curriculum development and quality assurance in the areas of Hairdressing, Beauty Therapy, Theatrical and Media Make Up, Complementary and Spa Therapies, Aesthetics, Hospitality and Catering and Travel and Tourism and manages over 30 staff. Helen is actively engaged in the PAN Wales Group where all college managers for the sector meet termly to discuss and share good practice and she is also part of the All Wales Qualification Reviews with Qualifications Wales – she also has strong links with local employers and other colleges in the UK. Helen and her teams are heavily supportive and involved in Inspiring Skills Wales and UK/World Skills competitions and is passionate about improving the learner experience for young people.

Paul Janes (Co-opted)

Committee membership: Resources

Paul has primarily worked in IT/Systems commencing with a job as Help Desk support for the DHSS at Gabalfa, Cardiff. Following that he became Systems Analyst a Caerphilly County Borough Council and also studied part-time at University of Glamorgan obtaining a Higher National in Computing.

After nearly 10 years with Caerphilly he joined Lakewood Computers Systems for 3 years as an Application Consultant. Finally he joined Cardiff Metropolitan University as Senior Business Analyst where he also studied part time obtaining a distinction in MSc Information Systems.

Paul retired from full time work in December 2015 but has continued to work part time as a 1-2-1 mentor in Adult Community Learning with Aneurin Leisure Trust in Blaenau Gwent.

Vacancy (Co-opted)

Committee membership: Resources

Alexandra Roberts (Co-opted)

Committee membership: Curriculum and Quality

Alexandra began her career in Higher Education Recruitment and Outreach in 2010. With over a decade of experience supporting local communities and disadvantaged groups in accessing Higher and Further Education and training, Alexandra has worked with individuals from all walks of life, across Wales and the UK more broadly.
Alexandra studied as an Actor at the University of Wales Trinity St Davids, before joining their Widening Access Team, and later moving to the University of South Wales. With a passion for the transformative potential of life long learning, Alexandra advocates for fair Access and Learner voice.

Claire Hall (Co-opted)

Committee membership: Audit

Claire qualified as a registered nurse in 2008 after completing a BSc in Adult Nursing at Cardiff University. She has since achieved an MSc in Specialist Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting) and a PGCert in Education for Healthcare Professionals from the University of South Wales.

Throughout her nursing career, Claire has gained experience in both secondary and community settings.

Most recently, she has taken on the role of Placement Experience and Improvement Manager at Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW). In this capacity, Claire collaborates with Higher Education Institutions, health boards, trusts, and the independent sector across Wales.

Her work focuses on ensuring undergraduate healthcare students benefit from diverse, high-quality placement experiences, ultimately contributing to the development of a healthcare workforce prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of modern practice.

Membership of Committee

Curriculum and Quality Committee

Rob Evans (Chair)

Jonathan Morgan

Richard Edmunds

Philip Thomas

James (Student Member)

Seren (Student Member)

Kate Owen

Gareth Reynolds (Vice-Chair)

Fran Green

Helen Lawless (co-opted)

Alexandra Roberts (co-opted)

Search Committee

Paul Smart (Chair)

Andrew Diplock (Vice-Chair)

Jonathan Morgan

Peter Wright

Rob Evans

Catherine Thomas

Resources Committee

Paul Smart

Andrew Diplock (Vice-Chair)

Catherine Thomas (Chair)

Roxanna Dehaghani

Jonathan Morgan

Chris Joseph

David Price

Paul Janes (Co-opted)

Vacancy (Co-opted)

Vacancy

Audit Committee

Peter Wright (Chair)

James Dunn (co-opted)

Lynne Wakefield (Vice-Chair)

Clare Wheatstone

Alun Williams

Fran Green

Claire Hall (co-opted)

Remuneration Committee

Paul Smart (Chair)

Andrew Diplock (Vice-Chair)

Rob Evans

Catherine Thomas

Calendar of Meetings

Corporation Board (Governing Body)

Monday 22 September 2025

Monday 15 December 2025

Monday 23 March 2026

Monday 29 June 2026

Curriculum and Quality Committee

Monday 10 November 2025

Monday 2 March 2026

Monday 1 June 2026

Search Committee

Monday 1 September 2025

Monday 3 November 2025

Monday 2 February 2026

Monday 11 May 2026

Resources Committee

Monday 17 November 2025

Monday 23 February 2026

Monday 18 May 2026

Audit Committee

Monday 24 November 2025

Monday 9 February 2026

Monday 8 June 2026

Remuneration Committee

Monday 2 February 2026

Become a Governor

Coleg y Cymoedd welcomes applications from interested parties who wish to be considered for membership of the Governing Body.

Please email a copy of your CV to:- Jennifer Owen, Governance officer jennifer.owen@cymoedd.ac.uk and complete the on-line application form, click here