Governance

Paul Deane

Principal and Chief Executive

Paul is the Principal and Chief Executive of Grantham College. He has over 20 years proven experience of successful leadership in Further and Higher Education. Paul, originally an economics graduate from Manchester University, began his career in the private sector in retail buying & merchandising in London before completing a MSc in Software Development at Huddersfield University which led to work in computer aided manufacturing across Europe. Paul then worked in local government before settling in further education in Leeds where he completed an MBA at Leeds University. Paul has worked in a number of FE & HE institutions and joined Grantham College in 2013. Paul is a former national board member of JISC, the organisation that provides digital solutions for UK education and research. 

Chris Turner

Chair of the Corporation

Chris joined Pearson Education in February 2016 to take-up the role of Head of English and Maths before settling into his current role supporting curriculum development across 40 General Further Education and Sixth Form Colleges in the East of England. He has a background in the employment, enterprise and skills sectors with over 25 years experience.Chris has worked in both senior operational and quality related roles for some of the largest educational providers in the UK. He lives in Grantham and is the father of three daughters, one of whom currently attends Grantham College

Michael Ward

Vice Chair of the Corporation

Since returning to the Midlands, after living and working in the South of England and London, Michael has lived in Ropsley for over ten years. Michael’s extensive career in finance included Finance Director roles in blue chip engineering  companies. In 2008 Michael moved to the charity sector and served as Chief Operating Officer for the RSPCA followed by Director of Resources at Lincolnshire YMCA. Since retiring , Michael has been actively involved in community work in Lincolnshire, including Chair of Ropsley Parish Council, Treasurer of the  Parochial Church Council and is a governor for the Pilgrim School.  Enjoying their retirement, Michael and his wife have also taken the opportunity to travel extensively, including trips to Japan and New Zealand. As well as being a qualified Accountant with over 40 years of experience, Michael has a degree in Agriculture and a Masters Degree in Finance.

Ann Treacy

Chair of Finance & Resources Committee

Ann joined the College as a Governor in 2022.  

Ann is a qualified accountant with over 20 years post qualifying experience and sits on the Audit Committee of a Further Education College in Nottinghamshire as an Independent Board Member. 

Ann currently works for Lincoln Diocese as their Director of Finance & Deputy Diocesan Secretary supporting the Bishop of Lincoln and the parishes within greater Lincolnshire. 

Previously Ann worked in the further education sector for a number of years in senior roles.

Carolyn Dewhirst

A retired teacher and formerly a lecturer at Grantham College. I have one Son and many interests including Metal Detecting and indoor and outdoor bowling. I am a volunteer Mansion Guide at Belton House and also do volunteer work at Harlaxton Manor. I have had a love of poetry all my life and enjoy both reading and writing it.

Nick Jones

Retired business consultant and operations manager, specialising in performance and productivity improvements with global enterprises.

Allison Webb

Chair of Standards Committee

Allison Webb serves as the Director of Business & Community Engagement at Lincoln Bishop University providing strategic leadership for academic partnerships, apprenticeships and community learning.

Allison ensures that the University has outstanding relationships with key partners, including Grantham College, maintaining the diverse portfolio of collaborative partnerships and apprenticeships as well as a developing remit to broaden access and develop inspiring opportunities for learners from the community local to Lincoln Bishop University.

Allison’s career spans roles in residential care for young people, schools, local authority services and higher education. She has led initiatives for businesses, social economy organisations, students and learners, with a particular focus on high quality, personalised services for young adults. Her association with Grantham College started in 1998 when she managed the Careers and Guidance Centre in the town.

Since joining Lincoln Bishop University in 2012, Allison has overseen the development of careers, employability and enterprise services, community initiatives such as the establishment of the Ermine Library and Community Hub, social purpose initiatives, commercial services as well as various funded external contracts delivering to both businesses and members of the community.

Batul Dungarwalla

Batul, born in London after her family, Ugandan Asians were expelled from Uganda in 1972 by dictator Idi Amin. She works in London as the National Head of Inclusion, Diversity and Youth Policy at The Prince’s Trust as well as leading the contracts for International Fundraising.

In 2013 she moved back to Lincolnshire, near Grantham to be with family and was CEO of a large advice charity until mid 2018 when she left due to ill health.

After a long period of recovery and wanting to work part time for a while she worked at Stamford College as a Business Economics and Sociology lecturer as well as a fundraiser for a small international charity raising money for women and girls to access fresh water in India.

Batul now works full time again at Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service, the local infrastructure and volunteer involving organisation for South and East Lincolnshire and largest deliverer of social prescribing services in the county. She is the Senior Area Officer responsible for funding and part of the Senior Leader Leadership team.

She is also developing work on youth representation on boards to ensure good governance and board diversity and has recently recruited the first young person in the county to sit on a PCN board (Primary Care Network, NHS) for Boston PCN as pilot for further work across Lincolnshire.

Helen Lockham

We moved back to Grantham earlier this year.  I am married with a large, extended family. Family is important to me and I support my grandchildren whenever I have the opportunity.

I have a passion to enable each student to be able to have the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and understanding in order to achieve their goals.  I attended College in adulthood, after having my four children, in order to gain A levels to be able to attend University.  

I hope that I can contribute to the governance of the College using my varied skills. Having been a teacher and a headteacher (Primary) at a variety of different schools across the UK, I moved to Cyprus and joined an all-through school as Head of Primary and Preschool.  Immediately before my retirement I worked at a selective Secondary School in Cyprus, working with students studying for their A levels. 

I like to spend my free time exploring nature and finding out about new places within the UK.  I love to cook vegetarian meals from many cultures and bake my own bread.

Jane Taylor-Holmes

Clerk to the Corporation

Jane joined the College as Clerk to the Corporation in September 2017. She is a legally qualified (LLB honours degree), is a qualified solicitor (non-practicing) and has extensive governance experience.

Prior to joining the College Jane worked as Company Secretary in the NHS (for over 10 years) and prior to this worked as a solicitor specialising in employment and charity law.

Jane is also a Governor at a primary school and has five children who keep her busy!

Frank Fitzgibbons

I re-located to the East Midlands to take up a role for Belvoir Fruit Farms (now Belvoir Farm Drinks)as production manager in 2003 becoming Executive Operations Director in 2006. I have worked in manufacturing and operational roles throughout my forty five year career mainly in the food and drink industry. Majority of my career has been spent working for S.M.E.’s contributing and developing them to meet their potential in terms of growth and profitability. I retired in June 2024. I now spend my time with family, taking mini-breaks, pottering around the garden, walking, and my involvement through syndicate membership of thoroughbred horse racing. I am originally from the Merseyside area and have also lived and worked in the North Wales area.

Louise Smith

Staff Governor

Appointed 30 March 2021. Louise sits on the standards committee.

Sarah Ellis

Staff Governor

Appointed 7 November 2023. Sarah sits on the standards committee.

Cameron Ford

Lay Governor

The Senior Post Holder Employment and Remuneration Committee

Cameron has been a Lay Governor of Grantham College for over ten years.  He is a Chartered Director and Fellow of the Institute of Directors having been Ambassador for Human Resources, Skills and Recruitment for the East Midlands.  He has held senior leadership roles in the recruitment industry for over 25 years and is the owner of a local business, Reflect Recruitment Group, providing professional services to local businesses and organisations across the East Midlands.  He is actively involved with the Association of Labour Providers Member Council, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and chairs HR Professionals Forums and grant awarding bodies across the East Midlands. 

Nick Manoussakis

Lay Governor

Nick is married with two children. He lives in Grantham and is financial controller for an international company. Previously, he was Finance manager at Fenland Foods of Grantham. He has been on the College Corporation since 2010.

Mos Kalbassi

Lay Governor

Mos joined the College Governors team before Incorporation. He is a qualified as Food Technologist and is a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology and a Chartered Scientist. He chaired the Finance and General Purposes Committee before becoming Chair of Governors in 2013. He is married with two children and lives in Grantham. As well college duties, Chairman of Parkinson’s Uk, Grantham Branch, member of the Lincolnshire LEP Food Board, Member of the Rotary Club of Grantham, he also represents Lincolnshire Governors on the AoC East Midlands Regional Committee.

Mike Argyle

Lay Governor

Chair of Audit Committee