National Leaders of Governance for further education: current national leaders
Updated 12 May 2026
Applies to England
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Overview
National Leaders of Governance (NLGs) are experienced college governors, governance professionals and clerks with a strong record of supporting college improvement. They provide mentoring and improvement support to governance boards.
NLGs can determine the best way to support the needs of the college(s) they are working with.
The NLG programme operates alongside the National leaders of further education programme. It is part of the tiered support for colleges outlined in the guidance on college oversight support and intervention.
National Leaders of Governance
| Name | Role | College |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Buchanan | Chair | |
| Lesley Davies | Chair designate | |
| Elton D’Souza | Chair | |
| Cristina George | Governor | |
| Rob Lawson | Chair | |
| Andrew McConnell | Chair | |
| Rachel Nicol | Governance professional | |
| Wendy Stanger | Governance professional | |
| Catherine Sykes | Governance professional | |
| Catherine Vinall | Governance professional | |
| David Wright | Chair |
Information and queries
Colleges seeking support from a National Leader of Governance should contact the Office of the Further Education Commissioner at FEC.OPERATIONS@education.gov.uk.
If you are interested in becoming a National Leader of Governance, further information and an application form are available in the National Leaders of Governance for further education guidance.