Board of Management

Ian took up post of Chair of the Board of Management on 1 August 2018. Previously a Board Member at John Wheatley College he has been a Board Member of Glasgow Kelvin College since its formation in November 2013. During this time he has Chaired the Human Resources Committee, the Audit and Risk Committee and since August 2016 has been Vice Chair of the Board.

Ian, a graduate of both the University of Glasgow and the University of Stirling brings over 30 years of experience of working in FE/HE to the Board. He started his career as a Maths teacher and then moved to Bell College in Hamilton as a Computing Lecturer, spending his subsequent career entirely in FE/HE. Within Bell College he held positions of Senior Lecturer in Computing, Director of Quality and finally, in the run up to the merger of Bell College and the University of Paisley to form the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), Acting Vice-Principal. After the formation of UWS he was Campus Director of the Hamilton Campus and until his retirement in 2014, Director of College Partnerships. Ian played a significant corporate role within the University as Chair of the University’s Collaborative Forum, its Student Disciplinary Committee and as Vice-Chair of its Student Experience Group.

With this considerable experience of both Education and Governance, Ian hopes to lead the Board in its role of constructively challenging and supporting the Senior Management of the College in its work of providing appropriate educational opportunities to the communities of North and East Glasgow.

Originally from Wishaw but having lived in the nearby small village of Bonkle for 30 years, Ian is married with two grown-up children both of whom are Chartered Accountants. His main hobby is Bridge which he plays competitively in national competitions within Scotland. He also enjoys keeping fit, travelling and supporting Motherwell FC.

Derek’s early working life began with 15 years’ service in the Royal Air Force and as an avionics development engineer with Marconi Avionics. A graduate of the University of Stirling and the Open University, he began his 19 year career in further education as a Lecturer in engineering, progressing to Curriculum Manager, Head of Faculty and then Senior Management at Cumbernauld College and New College Lanarkshire.

Derek’s life was changed by his first year in the classroom. A challenging year but one that ignited his passion for Learning & teaching and instilled a pride in an education sector which gives everyone a chance to change their lives.

Derek took up the role as Principal of Glasgow Kelvin College on 1 August 2019.

Marion Allison is currently the Head of the Community Learning and Development (CLD) Standards Council for Scotland, the professional body for people working and volunteering in youth work, adult learning and community development. She leads the organisation across all business areas including the registration of professional practitioners, approval of CLD academic courses in the college and university sectors, professional learning and the overall strategic direction of the organisation. She works with a wide range of professionals from the public, voluntary and private sectors with partnership programmes across the United Kingdom and beyond.

Marion brings over 20 years’ experience of working within CLD and Education and is a Member of the Institute of Directors and a Board Trustee at Impact Arts. After graduating with an Honours Degree in Commerce from Glasgow Caledonian University, Marion undertook post-graduate study in Community Education at the University of Strathclyde. She was worked all over Glasgow in various youth work roles before moving to South Lanarkshire Council where she managed two large youth centres. Most recently Marion completed her doctoral study into young people, enterprise and social capital at the University of Stirling. She hopes that her contributions to the Board will support new opportunities for the college, its students and surrounding communities.

Marion lives in South Lanarkshire with her teenage son. She is a football fan and her main hobbies are travelling, keeping fit and spending time with family and friends.

Born in Dublin, Colm has lived and worked in Glasgow since 2007. Colm has worked in education throughout his career, firstly as secondary school teacher, then as HE lecturer in the University of Strathclyde and currently as FE lecturer at Glasgow Kelvin College.

Colm aims to ensure that the views and needs of the College teaching staff are represented on the Board and aims to make a positive contribution to the future development of the College. His priorities would also include maximising the democratic participation of staff and students in College planning and governance, as well as contributing to the College’s work in increasing the successful participation in education of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

In his spare time he enjoys reading and walking and spending time with his family and daughter. Colm is a native Irish Gaelic speaker.

Steven Caldwell, originally from Paisley, studied Law at University, he then changed his career direction to pursue a profession as an accountant.

Steven began his journey by undertaking a training contract as a Chartered Accountant with Audit Scotland. In 2017 he successfully qualified as a Chartered Accountant and decided to join one of the prestigious 'Big 4' accountancy firms, where he continued to specialise in public sector audits.

In 2021, Steven took on a new role as an Audit Manager to which he manages a diverse portfolio of clients, including not-for-profit entities and universities.

Steven's focus for the work of the Board is centred around the success and growth of the College. He believes that the College's ability to achieve its full potential, benefits not only the students and staff but also the wider community. With his passion for education and deep knowledge of the sector, Steven is confident in his knowledge and experience to help the Board and College in the achievement of its objectives.

During his leisure time, Steven indulges in his love for travel, aspiring to visit his 30th country this year.

Dr Elaine Clafferty is a chartered electronic and electrical engineer with a doctorate in engineering education. She is currently a senior lecturer and year tutor at Glasgow Caledonian University and specialises in electronic and electrical engineering, software development, learner transition, widening access to education and the student experience.

Elaine was born in Edinburgh and brought up on the south side of Glasgow, she continues to live in south east Glasgow. She attended Glasgow University and, after graduating, worked in the electronics industry. After a 10 year career break during which she raised her four sons Elaine returned to education on a part time basis to update her skills before working in a series of part time and temporary roles leading to a full time post as a lecturer in analogue electronics at Glasgow Caledonian University. Elaine has held a number of educational leadership roles including Year Tutor, Student Success Centre Director, Head of Learning and Teaching, and Associate Dean of Learning, Teaching and Quality in the university’s technical schools. Elaine voluntarily works for her professional body, the Institution of Electrical Engineering and Technology (IET) participating in and chairing their engineering degree accreditation panels across the UK and beyond.

Elaine’s aim is to work with other Board members and the College’s Senior Management Team to contribute to ongoing improvement in the learner journey at Glasgow Kelvin College. This will lead to more people successfully completing qualifications that open the door to the good jobs and life chances that they deserve. Elaine brings a passion for the best experience for every student, her own track record in this area, and knowledge of what is happening in the wider education sector.

Elaine is very interested in diet and healthy eating and grows her own fruit and vegetables in her garden. She also buys lots of kitchen gadgets! Elaine’s four sons were educated in the Gaelic Units of Sir John Maxwell Primary and Hillpark Secondary schools.

Marie Docherty was born in Paisley, however, has resided in the East End of Glasgow throughout her entire life. With an impressive professional tenure spanning 44 years, Marie initially pursued a career as a Civil Servant. However, since 1996, she has dedicated herself to the Third sector, specialising in providing Employability Advice & Guidance to the local community. Presently, she holds a position with a registered charity located in the North East of Glasgow. In this role, Marie manages lifelong learning projects that cater to vulnerable groups, including the long-term unemployed, young parents, families affected by addictions, and Asylum seekers/refugees.

Marie's commitment lies in supporting the Board's efforts to ensure that educational opportunities are accessible to all. Drawing upon her deep connection to the community, she views her primary contribution as the ability to gather valuable feedback on the desires and needs of the people. This information enables her to work collaboratively with the College in delivering learning opportunities that are readily available to everyone.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Marie immensely enjoys spending quality time with her family, particularly her grandchildren. Additionally, she harbors a passion for football, actively following matches both as an enthusiastic spectator and an attendee.

Born in Glasgow, Rob developed a career in organisational development, education, learning technologies and contract, programme and project management. In his current role he specialises in relationship management, educational technology and software, programme and contract management, training and product embedding.

Rob brings a wide range of experience in the public and private sector and knowledge of technology, education and service development to Board activities.

In his spare time, Rob enjoys karate, reading and going to the gym. He is a former Lieutenant Colonel in the army reserves with thirty years’ service and operational experience.

Carol Goodwin has navigated a diverse career path marked by a keen focus on both finance and fitness. Beginning her journey in the realm of finance, Carol later transitioned into the field of fitness, leveraging her expertise to embark on a journey of coaching and education.

Her career evolution led her to assume the role of Curriculum Manager within Sport at Glasgow Kelvin College, where her dedication to fostering an enriching college experience for both students and staff shines through. Carol's areas of specialism lie in sports education and management, where she brings a wealth of practical experience and academic insight to the table.

As a member of the Board, Carol's aims are clear: to elevate the College experience by promoting a cohesive environment where students, staff, and the community intersect harmoniously. She champions transparency, honesty, and open-mindedness, valuing diverse perspectives and fostering an atmosphere of collaboration.

In addition to her professional endeavours, Carol's love for sports extends into her personal life, where she actively engages in athletic pursuits, reflecting her passion for the field. Her commitment in driving positive change within the academic and sports spheres alike, she is dedicated to making a meaningful impactful and enriching the lives of those around her.

Originally from London, Dermot has lived in Glasgow since 1997.

Dermot has a doctorate in Mathematics, specialising in pure mathematics, and since graduation has worked as an actuary for various companies, consultancies and the UK Government. He is currently the Company Actuary with the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland. Dermot has also spent time teaching at London School of Economics where he studied for a Masters in Population and Development.

In his spare time Dermot enjoys various sports, although he admits he’s more of a spectator now. He has climbed several Munros and has a few more in his sights over the next couple of years. Dermot has also had the chance to appear on both radio and television a number of times, discussing topics related to demography and population.  Alongside his hobbies Dermot also supports the Glasgow based charities Citywise Mentoring and Pollockshields Community Food Point.

Dermot brings with him a wealth of Risk Management experience and is keen to help improve the lives of, and opportunities available to, the people of Glasgow.

Born in Scone, Perthshire, John began his career in the recruitment industry and has worked in a variety of roles in Higher Education. He is currently Director of Continuous Improvement at the University of Strathclyde.

As a member of the Board of Management, John aims to work with other members and the College’s senior management team to contribute to the ongoing success of Glasgow Kelvin College.

John likes keeping fit, going to the gym and running. He also enjoys socialising with friends and is a keen supporter of St. Johnstone Football Club.

Jennifer Lavery is from the south side of Glasgow, now living in the east end. After attending University, she began her career working in call centres before taking up a role in the Ministry of Defence’s Joint Personnel Administration Centre (JPAC).  Whilst there, Jennifer worked in many departments including a payroll adviser, pensions adviser, IT Helpdesk operator, process management officer and finally a business support officer.  JPAC required its workers to be nimble and cross-department trained. 

Jennifer is currently employed with Glasgow Kelvin College as a Digital Skills Developer and sits on the Board of Management as an elected staff representative.  In her position at the College she was instrumental in the initial rollout of the MS Teams training. Additionally, the role encompasses Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and continuous training and development of varied Microsoft packages and of lean and automated processes. 

Jennifer’s interests are in film making, live stream production, and audio production, and in her spare time she assists in running a community theatre company as a technical advisor

Born in Paisley and brought up in Glasgow, John’s career began in banking before moving into policing, moving through the ranks from supervisory positions to senior management roles. Serving in Liverpool, London and Glasgow and with significant experience in investigations John was responsible for divisional policing and public contact centres and qualified as a police gold incident commander contributing to the planning and operations to deliver safe 2012 London Olympics and 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and other major sporting events. John has also worked with Ministers, civil servants and partners and is responsible for the introduction of new, reforming legislation for the recycling industry.

Throughout his career John developed a wide range of skills and interests including staff development, recognition and reward, performance and stakeholder relations and management. Although now retired from policing John remains involved in pension and financial wellbeing and has a keen interest in emergency planning and resilience.

John hopes to support Board colleagues and College leaders to make a real difference for learners to have the best educational experience and be the best they can be. He has a background in coaching and mentoring and hopes to use these skills to support learners.

In his free time John is a keen, if not very good, golfer who enjoys travelling both at home and abroad.

Born and raised in Glasgow, Heather began her career in Strathclyde Regional Council where she took the opportunity to study and develop a career path in Public Administration, gaining entry to the Institute of Personnel and Development (IPD). This led to more senior positions in South Lanarkshire Council at Head of Service level in Planning and Economic Development, Enterprise Resources and Finance and Corporate Resources. These involved responsibility for a number of functions including Personnel, Estates Management, Audit and Risk Management, Community Planning and Performance Management and Improvement.

Heather aims to contribute constructively to the scrutiny and governance processes of the College. To assist in setting the strategic direction and ultimately make a positive difference to those communities served by the College. Heather will bring a positive ‘can do’ attitude and a willingness to help improve the quality of life for those most in need in Glasgow.

In her spare time, Heather enjoys the occasional house renovation project. Heather has studied Spanish both in Scotland and in Spain. She also enjoys keeps fit and hopes to complete the West Highland Way later in 2020. Heather is also involved in a voluntary capacity with both Barnardo’s Children’s Charity and the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

Ryan Donachie is originally from Barrhead, Ryan's educational journey began with an HNC in Radio Broadcasting from West College Scotland.

His career path has been diverse, starting with a brief stint in retail before training as an event first aider, where he provided first aid coverage at some of Glasgow’s most notable venues and events. He then joined the Scottish Ambulance Service, beginning as a Scheduled Care Coordinator and later becoming an Emergency Medical Dispatcher.

Ryan decided to return to education, enrolling at Glasgow Kelvin College. He currently is the Student President of Community, Welfare, and Sustainability, where he represents and advocates for the student body’s interests and views. His goals for his tenure on the Board are ambitious and student-focused. He aims to collaborate closely with the college's Board of Management, faculty, and staff to enhance the student experience. His priorities include ensuring that all students complete their courses with positive experiences and developed skills, increasing student engagement, and encourage involvement in college activities.

Outside of his professional life, Ryan enjoys spending time with his Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Sapphire. He is an avid gamer, enjoying both PC and console games with his partner and friends. Additionally, Ryan has a keen interest in international politics, with aspirations to work for the United Nations one day. He has a niche interest in Scottish political history and often attends, to watch debates and sessions at the Scottish Parliament.

Ryan Donachie’s diverse background, combined with his passion for student welfare and community engagement, makes him a valuable addition to the Glasgow Kelvin College Board, where he is committed to making a positive impact.

Chantell currently is the Student President of Learning and Teaching at Glasgow Kelvin College. She aims to improve the student learning experience, advocate for diverse teaching methods, and promote a positive, inclusive environment, whilst prioritising student well-being and mental health. Her focus is on securing resources for student success, and encouraging collaboration among board members, lecturers and students.

Prior to returning to education, Chantell spent five years in debt management and three years in health care before discovering her passion for animal welfare while volunteering at a local veterinary practice. This led her to pursue academic achievements in L5 Applied Science, SWAP Life Sciences, and SWAP Access to Medicine, fuelling her goal of a career in veterinary medicine.

In her free time, Chantell enjoys family time and hill walking in Glencoe. Her interest in veterinary medicine has also sparked a passion for pathology.

Maree Shepherd is currently employed by Glasgow Kelvin College as a Library and Flexible Learning Officer and serves on the Board of Management as a Unison Representative. Originally from Inverness, Maree has dedicated her career to libraries, bringing significant experience to her current role at the College.

As a member of the Board, Maree is committed to ensuring that the contributions of Unison members are well represented. She aims to advocate for worker's rights and ensure their voices are heard within the management framework. Maree's passion for fighting for worker’s rights reflects her strong commitment to advocacy and representation in her professional life.

Her dedication to the College and her active role in representing Unison members highlights Maree as a valuable asset to the Board of Management.

Originally from the East end of Glasgow this is where Natalie still resides.

Natalie has spent the last 20 years working at an operational and strategic level in the areas of employability and regeneration in both the public and third sector, much of it within the east end of Glasgow. She joined Clyde Gateway in 2012 to initially assist with the development of policy and programmes to maximise economic development and community benefits from all aspects of regeneration work and to increase community capacity.

Natalie’s present post is as an Education, Business and Community Growth Project Manager in Clyde Gateway. She is the strategic lead for educational attainment and tackling child poverty. Natalie’s current role centres around all social and economic regeneration across Clyde Gateway delivered under the themes of reducing worklessness, raising educational attainment, improving health and wellbeing, delivering community capacity and supporting local businesses.

Natalie wants to work with other Board members and the College’s Senior Management Team to contribute to ongoing improvement in the learner journey at Glasgow Kelvin College. Natalie believes skills development is key to economic recovery and she is keen on supporting that process to ensure that local high-quality jobs are accessed by the local community. Natalie brings a broad range of experience including project management, development management, policy, and external funding.

In her free time Natalie enjoys travelling, hill climbing, going to music gigs and renovation projects with her partner and 6-year-old daughter. In her 20’s Natalie was, in fact, a singer in a band and did a number of gigs around Glasgow which she enjoyed immensely – Karaoke only these days though!

Linda is a qualified accountant who has served on the senior executive teams of a number of public sector organisations. She was appointed as a member of Glasgow Kelvin College Arm’s Length Foundation in 2020. She was born and brought up in the East End of Glasgow and having had a number of roles in the education and skills area over her career, has a particular interest in the work of the College.

Linda retired from the role of Director of Finance and Strategic Planning and member of the Senior Executive Team with the Scottish Qualifications Authority at the beginning of 2020.

She was recently re-elected as a member nominated trustee with the Scottish Enterprise Pension and Life Assurance Scheme. She has served on the Trustee Board for many years as both an employer nominated and member nominated trustee and is a long serving member of the Investment Committee.

Following her retirement Linda became a director and board member of Clackmannanshire Economic Regeneration Trust which seeks to secure funding to invest in employment and wealth generation activities in the Clackmannanshire area.

Prior to her SQA role Linda was Director of Finance and Investments with Historic Scotland and was a member of the senior executive team.

In 2007 she was asked to be a member of the small Scottish Government Task Team formed to establish Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and she was subsequently appointed to the position of Corporate Services Director with the new organisation.

Linda held various roles with Scottish Enterprise including Director of Finance with responsibility for National Skills Programmes and Careers Scotland Services.

Linda lives in Uddingston with her husband, Stewart and their Great Dane dog, Axel.