College Governance

Paul Assinder, a local resident, joined the College Governors in January 2019 following a long career as a CEO and Chief Finance Officer in the healthcare and technology sectors, both in the UK and overseas. He served on the College Corporation in the role of Vice Chair for 3 years before being appointed the Chair of Corporation in January 2025 following the departure of the previous Chair. Paul is a highly experienced chair who has served on major organisations’ boards in both executive, non-executive and chair roles for over 30 years. Doubly qualified as an accountant, with a degree in economics, he trained and worked with Ernst & Young Co in the UK before later moving into the Healthcare Sector. Now semi-retired, he was until 2022, CEO of a local NHS Trust and prior to this, he held the position as European CFO for the major US genomics company. In addition to Chairing Solihull College and University Centre, Paul chairs both a local NHS Trust and a prominent West Midlands health charity. Paul is committed to excellence in education and was for many years, a respected lecturer at the University of Wolverhampton and with others, has written and presented a remote learning MBA module on economics for a national Academy provider.

Rebecca joined Solihull College & University Centre in 2016 as Assistant Principal, becoming Vice Principal for Curriculum and Quality in 2019 and appointed as Principal and Chief Executive in 2022. Rebecca started working in the further education sector as an hourly paid lecturer in Business and Management and has over 20 years’ experience, with expertise in curriculum and quality. She joined Ofsted as a part time inspector in 2015. Rebecca is a passionate ambassador for further education and was awarded a Doctorate in Education for her research on FE senior leadership.

A former student of Solihull College and University Centre, Susie later returned as a lecturer and member of the Management Team. She is founder of a local, award-winning recruitment business, growing it from start-up to over £1 million turnover and leading it to become the first UK recruitment business to achieve ‘Diversity Assured’ status. An active member and former Vice President of Solihull Chamber since 2001, Susie received the President’s Achievement Award in 2023 and received an Honorary Fellowship from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation in 2024. Passionate about people, education and employment, Susie believes learning and meaningful work can transform lives, organisations and society. She brings her business experience and personal commitment to her role as Governor, alongside her responsibilities as Chair of the People and Performance Special Interest Group and Link Governor for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

As Head of Quality for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation, I am deeply passionate about driving excellence at Solihull College. My 20 years in post-16 education, including six years here, give me a comprehensive understanding of our operations and strategic needs. I’m dedicated to preparing students with the work-ready and industry skills they need, a core mission for the college. As a staff governor, I will bring an informed perspective on quality assurance, curriculum development, and the student experience to the board, ensuring decisions genuinely enhance our nurturing environment and strong industry partnerships for everyone’s benefit.

I have over 28 years’ experience in Further Education and since retiring in 2024 I have become an independent educational consultant for the further education and skills sector. Starting as a lecturer in Travel, Tourism and Business, I then moved to managing teacher education provision before specialising in quality assurance and improvement, finally progressing into a senior leadership role within a large GFE College as Vice Principal Curriculum and Quality. My experience covers leading improvements within a wide range of provision types for both young people, adults and students with high needs. I have a Master of Science in Educational Leadership and have more recently obtained the National Professional Qualification in Executive Leadership.

Sarah is Head of School of Management at Coventry University. Her career spans 18 years in senior marketing positions in industry and since 2006 she has worked both in FE and HE sectors. Her passion in education is about transforming the lives of individuals, organisations and society.

Helen has over 30 years’ experience in the further education and skills sector. In January 2024, she retired from a large multi-site college group where she was Deputy Principal responsible for quality improvement and assurance, higher education and student services. Helen’s expertise includes teaching, learning and assessment across all types of provision within the sector including education for young people, apprenticeships, higher education, international and special educational needs. Since 2016 she has been working for Ofsted as a part-time inspector.

Ravi is a Strategic Partnership Manager at HS2, working with government, industry and public sector organisations to develop strategic partnerships and support the delivery of major infrastructure programmes. He has extensive experience in digital technology, innovation and programme management, having worked across sectors including digital infrastructure, life sciences, 5G, cyber security, digital health and smart cities. Throughout his career, Ravi has worked closely with government departments, universities, health organisations, local authorities and businesses, with a focus on building partnerships, delivering complex programmes and supporting innovation. He is passionate about education, skills and creating opportunities for people and communities. Ravi is also an experienced mentor and life coach and has volunteered for over 20 years with charities, human rights organisations, and community and faith groups. He brings this breadth of experience to his role as a Governor at Solihull College & University Centre.

Tony has a wide range of experience in financial services, operations and the recruitment sector – including at Board level and having run his own businesses. He has also served as a Trustee at the Family Care Trust, a local charity involved in helping adults with learning difficulties into work. Tony also served as a governor at Dudley College for 6 years.

Gerard is an experienced senior leader with extensive expertise in estates, operations, and governance within the education sector. He currently serves as Trust Lead of Estates at Kingsbridge Education Trust, where he provides strategic oversight of estates across nine schools. His career in Estate management, spans 25 years in the public and private sector. His background in local government and engineering provides a strong technical and commercial perspective, enabling him to offer informed challenge and support as a governor. Gerard is passionate that every person has the opportunity for self-improvement without any barriers to education.

Dr Mehreen Mirza is a higher education professional and is currently a Head of School of Law & Social Sciences. She has worked at several universities in a range of academic and leadership roles, and led numerous cross-institutional projects, for example, in partnership with employers, focusing on employability and enterprise, to support students into positive graduate outcomes in work or further study. Mehreen has recently completed her term of office as Honorary Chair of the UK Council of Deans of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, and previously served on the Advisory Group of the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Sociology, Anthropology and Politics. She was Vice-Chair of the HEA Sociology Subject Group. She believes in the transformational power of education and is committed to the provision of high-quality education. Mehreen continues to research on inequality, identity, and higher education.

With a career spanning senior roles across central government, regulators, and top-tier consultancies, Dave brings a unique blend of strategic insight, financial acumen, and deep regulatory expertise to the UK’s infrastructure and energy sectors. His experience includes being part of the National Grid price control and Regulation teams, as Head of Regulatory Finance at Ofgem, as a Senior Civil Servant at Defra and as a consultant with PwC Strategy& and Agilia Infrastructure Partners. Dave is leading the development of National Gas Transmission’s regulatory strategy, driving the evolution of the regulatory framework for hydrogen and natural gas to meet future energy needs. At Agilia, he advised on some of the UK’s most innovative projects-supporting the commercial strategy for Small Modular Reactors with Great British Nuclear, assessing the viability of tidal energy in the Severn Estuary, and guiding Portsmouth Water on the first new reservoir project in over 30 years. At PwC Strategy&, he led regulatory finance engagements for high-profile clients such as bp (on carbon capture), DESNZ (on nuclear valuation), and Cadent (on the future of gas), while partnering with Ofwat on the PR24 price control. He also worked with National Gas and National Grid to navigate complex regulatory reporting and system transitions and evaluate the RIIO-ED2 final determination. At Defra, Dave was the finance Lead reshaping agricultural subsidies into an environmentally focused £2.4bn p.a. Future Farming programme and was instrumental in delivering the COVID food parcels initiative, under intense political and public scrutiny. He led Ofgem’s regulatory finance team and was part of the RIIO-1 leadership team, overseeing financial oversight across electricity and gas networks, while driving transparency, investor confidence, and policy reform. At National Grid, he was responsible for advising on the financial impact and feasibility of proposed initiatives in order to help maximise value under RIIO.

I am currently in my first year studying Level 3 Media and have been a student at Solihull College & University Centre for one year. During my time at college, I have gained valuable work experience with the NEC Media Team and helped organise the successful Revibe SWAP Shop initiative. Outside of my studies, I enjoy creating digital artwork and illustrations, which allows me to express my creativity and develop my design skills. As a Student Governor, I am passionate about having a student voice and making a positive difference within the college community. I am committed to helping to ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Amirun is a risk and governance specialist with over 16 years’ experience within financial services focusing on the development and oversight of risk and governance policy and frameworks. Having held senior positions in risk and corporate governance, including the role of Company Secretary for Al Rayan Bank – one of the UK’s ethical, Sharia compliant banks, Amirun is currently Head of Operational Risk for Europe Arab Bank. She is also Chair of Governors at Tiverton Academy providing oversight and challenge to ensure effective decision making, across multiple elements, including Teaching and Standards, Health and Safety, Safeguarding and Pupil Premium as well as Performance and Appraisals.

Louise is Director of People & Organisational Development and Board member at Energy & Utility Skills, responsible for people, organisational resilience and health & safety. Working across the sector, she has played a key role in establishing the award winning Energy & Utilities Inclusion Commitment and sector wide Inclusion Measurement Framework. A Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, Louise is a senior HR leader and executive coach with over 25 years of experience working within HR, diversity and related roles. Louise is an Ambassador at Women’s Utilities Network (WUN) and a member of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Industry Leaders Group.

Cheryl is currently Director of Operations and a member of the Executive Committee at a regional Building Society. She has significant experience in leading operations and transformational change within financial services, after working in the sector for many years. Having previously been a Board Member for a Birmingham-based charity and as a mentor to other charitable organisations, Cheryl is committed to continually supporting local communities. Cheryl is keen that individuals and businesses have access to a range of education and learning opportunities that can benefit them personally and professionally.

Shaun Staff, a Solihull resident, is Group Head of Brand & Communications at Azets, an international accountancy and business advisory group operating across the UK, Ireland and the Nordics. He leads the group’s brand, communications and reputation strategy, advising senior leaders on corporate communications, stakeholder engagement, organisational change and building brand equity. With a background spanning professional services, financial services and technology, Shaun has extensive experience in strategic communications, governance, brand development and leadership. He is passionate about helping organisations build trust, communicate with clarity and create strong connections with the communities they serve. > Shaun joined the Governing Board of Solihull College & University Centre in 2026 and is proud to support the College’s mission to provide outstanding education and opportunities across the region.

Harrison works as a Platform Engineer for the digital consultancy firm BJSS. He has several years of experience in the private sector as well as the public education sector in roles that include Digital & Technology and Strategy & Risk. After completing an apprenticeship through a College, he also gained a BSc in Information Technology and an MSc in Cyber Security alongside his employment in the public sector. Harrison will bring a diverse perspective on the education sector, gained through both personal experience within education and subsequent professional experience.

A Chartered Accountant, Tony leads an Internal Audit Team for a large Building Society, responsible for its Finance, Treasury and Risk functions. Tony has previous experience of external audits of businesses in the financial services, telecommunications, residential construction and manufacturing sectors.

I am honoured to accept responsibility for the position of HE Student Governor of Solihull College & University Centre. I will strive to ensure tasks are completed meticulously so both students and staff at our college can thrive while aiming to make myself and those who have supported me proud of the accomplishments we achieve working together.