Governor Profiles

Colin Machin

Colin is currently a Lecturer in Computer Science at Loughborough University, a post that he has held for almost 30 years. Over much of his teaching career, Colin has come into contact with people with sight loss. One of his research interests is connected with improving access to web and other electronically-based material. Outside work Colin's main interest is photography, both for pleasure and competition, locally, regionally and nationally.

Tony Warren

Tony graduated from Cambridge University in Maths and Physics and has an MBA. He has taught both in school and further education. He has been College Principal since 2003 and previously held a number of senior management jobs in mainstream further education. He is also a member of the RNIB Corporate Management Team and keen to involve the College in “One RNIB”. Outside work his interests include reading and Italian.

Steve Churton

Steve is currently the Head of Professional Practice, Boots UK. He graduated from the University of Manchester with a BSc (Pharmacy) Honours Degree, and has experience in business development, strategic planning and change management. He has recently been elected to the office of President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, and he is a trustee of several charitable organisations working to improve patient health outcomes through pharmacy research and education programmes.

Geoff Jackman

Geoff graduated with an MSc degree in Disability Management at Work and Rehabilitation in 1988. He spent 37 years in Education and Training at the then RNIB Vocational College until his retirement as Vice Principal/Acting Principal in 2004. One of his main responsibilities was student services. He is a Trustee with Voluntary Action Charnwood serving on sub-committees with particular interest in Human Resources and Policies. Geoff is a keen birdwatcher with a particular interest in bird song. His other interests include reading, walking and the countryside in general. His is a member of Leicester Tigers Rugby Club.

John Kershaw

John became a governor in 2006 when he retired as Acting Director of Adult Social Care for Leics County Council. In this role he developed contacts in Connexions, the NHS and PCT. The department was one of the few in the country to obtain and retain a top 3 star rating. John has many interests including travel, sport, conservation, food and wine and literature. He enjoys walking particularly in the Lake District and North Yorkshire. His favourite places include Cornwall and especially the Isles of Scilly.

John Ramm

John works as a freelance IT consultant. He is married with four daughters. John has been a member of the RNIB national Board of Trustees since 2005. He got on to the Board via the RNIB UK Assembly, where he represents the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust, which used to be the Retinoblastoma Society. He was Chairman of the Retinoblastoma Society for three years and became interested in that through his third daughter.

James Cook

Jimmy has been a governor at the RNIB College in Loughborough since 1997. Before retiring Jimmy was an elected member of municipal councils in the Edinburgh and Lothian areas from 1962 – 1996. Between 1974 and 1982 he was the Chairman of the Lothian and Borders Fire Board, and between 1990 & 1999 Chairman of the same authority’s Police Board. Jimmy is currently a member of the RNIB Trustee board, Chairman of RNIB Scotland, and Chairman of the Lothian community transport services. Jimmy is also a member of the Edinburgh Royal Blind Asylum. In his spare time Jimmy is a keen Heart of Midlothian football club fan and enjoys researching the history of the national league of the blind.

Steve Rankine

Steve has been a Governor since June 2008. He graduated from Lancaster University in 1979 having completed a B.Sc(Hons) in Environmental science. He then went on to complete a PGCE in 1982 as well as achieving the Chartered Institute of Management Accountancy qualification in 1990. Steve also has an MBA. Steve is currently the Deputy Principal and chief financial officer at Loughborough College. When not working Steve is a big Leicester Tigers fan and enjoys Hill walking and climbing as well as watching films.

June Murray

June is the Assistant Principal for Programmes at the college and attends Governors’ meetings in that role. June graduated from Lanchester Polytechnic in 1978 with a BA (Hons) in Applied Social Science. In her spare time June enjoys reading, visiting galleries, museums and National Trust Properties.

Andrew Duxbury

Andrew attends Governors’ meetings as the College’s Assistant Principal (Business & Finance), with responsibility for College finances, premises, health & safety, catering, adaptation and transcription and administration. As well as being a chartered accountant he is NEBOSH qualified in health & safety. In his spare time he runs a charity for children from separated families and an under 11’s football team.

Graham Owen

As College Head of Care Graham is a governor ex officio. Graham originally qualified as a General Nurse, specialising in Neurodisability. He has thirty years experience in the Care sector, including: Independant Specialist Colleges, a residential special school and as a manager of a ‘Registered’ Care provision.
Graham is very much a family man whose interests include ancient machinery, gardening and beekeeping.

Deborah McManamon

Deborah has been the Clerk to the Governing Body since joining the RNIB in May 2006. Prior to working for the RNIB Deborah held a similar position in the London Borough of Hackney and also worked in the training and development team for the Natwest group. Deborah is also Clerk at RNIB Vision School, Rushton & RNIB Sunshine house in Northwood. Outside of work Deborah has recently taken up digital photography and is an enthusiastic baker, assisted by her two boys who are expert tasters!

Lesley Ansari

Lesley has had a varied career starting off as a materials scientist for British Gas and is now training and development officer at Human Rights and Equalities Charnwood working on the Hate Incident project. In between she has acquired considerable experience in the equalities field through being a trade union branch secretary and equality adviser and trainer for Acas. Lesley has served a 4 year term as a lay member (2005 – 09) on the General Teaching Council for England and has been a governor at Garendon High School for over 10 years, currently holding the position of Vice-Chair.

Andrew Rowell

I graduated from Nottingham University in 1988 with a degree in law and have been in the legal profession ever since, specialising in employment law for the past 12 years. I am now a partner in Spearing Waite, a Leicester firm of solicitors.

I am married with two teenage children, and most of my time away from work is orientated around family and sporting activities such as tennis, cricket (coaching an under 15s club team), swimming and supporting the Leicester Tigers.

Pat Dyson

Pat is currently working with Mencap as National Manager, Education. She has responsibility for providing national strategic direction and professional leadership for the delivery of Mencap`s post 16 provision through the three Mencap colleges of Dilston, Lufton and Pengwern. Prior to this Pat was RNIB National Post Compulsory Education and Training (PCET) Manager from June 2006. Pat is a practising Ofsted Additional Inspector in post 16 LLDD provision and is a Council Member for the National Bureau for Students with Disabilities (SKILL).

Pat undertakes voluntary work in her spare time as a member of the Soroptimist Fylde and is currently working towards a Masters in Professional Studies with a focus on special educational needs.

Parin Hirji

Parin began her career as a chemical engineer. She then gained a PgDip in Training and HRM, amongst other teaching qualifications and took teaching, training and consultant contracts, including 7 years as an Associate Inspector for the Adult Learning Inspectorate. She is currently a governor at Mountfields Lodge School, where her two daughters attend. She has extensive knowledge and experience of engaging with stakeholders and local communities, organisational development, diversity, learning and teaching, and quality assurance.