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 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

Nigel Bayford – Chair

Committee membership: Resources (Vice-Chair)

A Land Surveyor & Cartographer originally from London, Nigel moved to Aberdare in 1974 to work on Spoil Heap Investigation Surveys post Aberfan disaster.  Nigel is now retired following a successful 29 year career in Sales and Marketing of Land Surveying and Geo-Positioning Instrumentation with Leica Geosystems. Leisure interests include membership of The National Trust, architectural and industrial heritage, travel, the visual arts and walking.

Dr Paul Smart – Vice Chair

Committee Membership: Resources (Chair), Remuneration (Vice-Chair), Search (Vice-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.

Catherine Thomas – Community Member

Committee membership: Resources

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

Sheila Davies – Business Member

Committee membership: Resources (Vice-Chair)

With over 25 years as an experienced Director in the fields of local and regional government, strategic planning, economic development and strategy, Sheila recently retired as Regional Director for Cardiff Capital Region City Deal, where her remit was to organise and prepare for the implementation of the £1.2bn Deal (the largest in the UK) between UK Gov’t, Welsh Gov’t and the ten South East Wales authorities, to drive forward the economic growth of the region.

Mark Harding – Community Member

Committee membership: Curriculum & Quality (Chair), Remuneration, Search.

Mark started his Education career in 2003 as an Engineering Assessor/Tutor at Gorseinon College. At that time Mark had completed an Engineering apprenticeship and qualified as a teacher. Since qualifying, Mark’s career evolved from teaching Engineering, IT, English and Maths to becoming a curriculum leader at Gower College Swansea in 2009. During this period Mark studied part time evenings at Cardiff Metropolitan University to attain an MA in Education. In August 2011, Mark gained employment at Coleg Gwent as Manager for Essential Skills holding responsibility for literacy, numeracy and wider employability skills across all of its five campuses. In 2015, Mark was promoted to the post of Head of Skills having responsibility for the Maths and English curriculum across the College. Mark is also governor at Aberdare Community School.

Richard Fullylove – Staff Member

Committee membership: Resources.

As Strategic ILT Manager at Coleg y Cymoedd, Richard is responsible for establish a meaningful digital vision and transformation at the college. With a highly creative background, over the last 20yrs Richard has been involved in many Welsh Government, UK wide, and European initiatives aimed at the adoption of digital technologies in edcuation, and the development of staff digital capabilities within the Further Education sector. As well as leading on the design and production of online learning solutions, resources, systems and business services for a wide range of commercial and academic partnerships. He is also a keen artist, martial artist, and cyclist.

Andrew Diplock – Business Member

Committee membership: Resources, 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.

Dave Bull – Business Member

Committee membership: Audit (Chair),  Search

Dave runs a small accountancy practice specialising in local small businesses as well as teaching for a number of firms that train student accountants to pass their professional exams. He has lived in the area for 30 years with his wife and his two now grown children.

Gaynor Davies – Local Authority Member

Committee membership: Curriculum and Quality.

Director of Education and Inclusion Services, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council.

Margaret Lippard – Business Member

Committee Membership: Resources

Margaret has a legal background having work in a series of small law firms – in Central London in human rights, in rural Somerset in agricultural affairs and in Cardiff in conveyancing and probate.  She became a foster parent, taking up social work in the Rhymney Valley.  After subsequent forays as an outside caterer and working for a national charity she spent ten years as a health services commissioner and manager.  Margaret has also been active in local school PTAs and Communities First  programmes. She was invited to join the steering committee setting up the charity Right from the Start twenty –five years ago and has been involved ever since, being Chair for the last ten years.

Lee Bolderson – Business Member

Committee Membership: Audit

Sian Farquharson – Community Member

Committee membership: Curriculum and Quality

Siân has worked in Post 16 education for over 20 years and most recently been a Senior Leader in a very successful FE College delivering full time Post 16 provision, A ‘levels, vocational and Apprenticeships. She has worked in both England and Wales with the majority of time spent in Wales. During her time in Wales from 2006 – 2012 she was Head of Work Based Learning at Coleg Llandrillo.  Sian is currently Challenge Advisor at the Education Achievement Service (EAS) for South East Wales with a specific focus on Post 16 Challenge and Support.

Peter Wright – Business Member

Committee membership: Audit (Vice-Chair)

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.

Karen Phillips – Principal

Committee membership: Curriculum and Quality, Resources, Search

Karen is a human resources professional and joined the FE sector as a deputy principal in April 2008. Prior to joining the sector, Karen was the Chief Executive of Capital Law LLP, a commercial law firm based in Cardiff and London.

Robert Evans – Community Member

Committee membership: Curriculum and Quality (Vice-Chair)

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.
Rob is currently employed by Qualifications Wales where the role involves explaining the curriculum reforms in Wales to colleges and universities across the U.K.

Tiberiu Dancovici – Staff Member

Committee membership: Curriculum and Quality

Tiberiu teaches GCSE Maths at Coleg y Cymoedd. He previously worked in land surveying, youth work and as a learning support assistant with learners with additional learning needs before becoming a qualified teacher.

Mali Morgan – Student Member

Committee membership: Curriculum & Quality

Gareth Hughes – Student Member

Committee membership: Curriculum and Quality

Kevern Kerswell – Business Member

Committee membership: Audit, Curriculum and Quality

Cllr Joy Rosser

Committee membership: Audit

Cllr Joy Rosser was elected to the Council in 2012 and has subsequently served as a member on Scrutiny Committees, Licensing Committee, Glamorgan Archives, and South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority.  She joined the Cabinet in 2015, initially with responsibility for Prosperity, Wellbeing and Communities and since 2017 has held the portfolio for Education and Lifelong Learning.  A member of Central South Consortium Joint Education Committee and currently is chair of Rhondda Cynon Taf’s School Budget Forum, Central South Consortium’s Advisory Board and the LA Governors Committee, Joy is also Governor of two Primary Schools.
Cllr Rosser has worked in the private and public sectors and has over 30 years experience of working in the Voluntary Sector and was employed as Finance Manager for a Community Arts charity for 21 years.  Since retiring in 2016, she has continued to advocate for the arts, and is extremely active in her community.  She founded Trealaw Village Trust in 2009 and utilising her wealth of experience of fundraising and managing community activities, continues to raise funds for art projects for all ages and abilities.  In 2011, in recognition of her advocacy and volunteering roles she was a finalist in Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council’s celebrations to mark the centenary of International Women’s Day.

Become a Governor

The College is currently looking to recruit independent governors and co-opted Committee members. Details of the vacancies and the appointment process can be found in the enclosed brochure.

Please forward a copy of your CV to:- Jennifer Owen, Governance officer , Coleg y Cymoedd, Heol y Coleg, Parc Nantgarw, Cardiff. CF15 7QY or email jennifer.owen@cymoedd.ac.uk

Governor Recruitment Information Pack  Download (pdf)

Governor Eligibility Declaration  Download (doc)

Governor Equality and Diversity   Download (docx)