Darren Crossley
(Chair)

Darren is the Deputy Chief Executive at Carlisle City Council. In his day-to-day role his remit covers skills and business development, environmental services and community engagement. He recognises the role that he plays in ensuring that the work of Carlisle College is advocated and integrated into other developments within the city.

A wider interest in developing education, employment and social opportunities for young people drove Darren to become a member of the Carlisle College Board. He also provides voluntary executive and leadership coaching to clients within the public, private and charitable sectors.

Brian Hough

Brian has over 40 years experience working in the public sector, both in central and local government. Concentrating on community & stakeholder engagement, communications planning & delivery, and community investment projects, he has also had involvement with many further and higher education projects and issues. Most recently Brian has worked for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority as their socio-economic and communications manager for Cumbria, working on community investment projects and liaising closely with local community representatives, and colleagues in Government and Sellafield. Brian joined the Board in the Spring of 2018 after retiring from mainstream employment but remains active through a communications consultancy. He hopes to be able to bring a community perspective to the Board, and further develop the College's relationships with young people, the broader community, academia and employers. Brian is the Cumbrian Champion for the charity Diabetes UK, a lifelong Sunderland supporter, and has a great interest in soul and funk music.

Stephen Gilby

Stephen has worked in the education sector for over 25 years. Originally trained as a teacher of secondary science and PE and latterly teaching mathematics, he has taught all ability and age ranges up to post graduate level.
During his time Stephen has worked across Further, Higher and Secondary Education and has held a varied range of positions from lecturer, course leader, curriculum manager, head of faculty and Director within Further Education and more recently, Vice Principal and Principal within Secondary Academies. He is currently Head teacher of one of the largest Secondary schools in Westmorland and Furness.
Stephen is a collaborative and reflective practitioner who consistently shows a desire and commitment to supporting every student achieve their ambitions.
Stephen has a particular interest in the elements that impact upon the performance of disadvantaged students, social mobility and safeguarding.

Andy Abernethy

Andy is sixty five years old and has been involved in education in one form or another for sixty of those years, most significantly for thirty five as a teacher. He has been a senior leader in schools for twenty five years, including fifteen as Head of a secondary school in Carlisle. He retired seven years ago, since when he has continued to contribute as a school governor and member of the Pupil Referral Unit management committee. His life has revolved around education and has been dedicated to providing young people with the opportunities to make the most of their potential in whatever field of endeavour it may lie. When he meets ex-students who are now making their way in the world and in their turn having families of their own starting out on their life journey, it is deeply satisfying and confirms his belief that little is more important than a good education. Since his arrival in 1997, he has been committed to the wider Carlisle educational community and has had stints as Executive and Associate Head of two local secondary schools as well as serving as chair of the Carlisle 14-19 partnership for a number of years, developing a co-ordinated approach to area provision for this significant age group. He believes learning remains an imperative at whatever stage you are at in life, and to satisfy his own thirst for new experience he now volunteers at Citizen’s Advice in Carlisle which offers new insights into life’s challenges.

Chetna Reay

Chetna Reay has over 30 years’ experience in the construction and building sectors and is currently the MD of Construction Risk Consultants which was established in 2003. Prior to this Chetna she had a local authority and private sector background where she progressed to civil engineer through a day release programme, which started at Carlisle College. Chetna was heavily involved in the regeneration and land reclamation programme primarily across the west coast of Cumbria.

Chetna now specialises in ensuring compliance and governance for all sizes of business across the construction sector. Although more recently specialising in highways she is also involved with local construction companies and is able to help her clients with business management systems as well as helping to win new contracts through bid preparation.
Chetna is mother to 2 boys who both successfully progressed to university after attending Carlisle College.

She is passionate about ensuring youngsters have a good understanding of all routes into industry, including day release programmes, apprenticeships and other vocational training methods

Julie Mennell

Professor Mennell is a Physics and Mathematics graduate of the University of Leeds. Prior to becoming Vice Chancellor at the University of Cumbria, Professor Mennell held the positions of Deputy Vice Chancellor (Development) and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) for the University of Sunderland, leading on portfolio and partnership development, academic and research provision, student experience and outcomes.  Professor Mennell’s academic field of interest is in forensic and crime scene science, involving contributions to forensic science strategy, education and workforce development in the UK and overseas, including her serving on the Home Office Forensic Science Advisory Council and the Skills for Justice Forensic Science Occupational Skills Committee. She was also co-convenor of the Higher Education Academy’s DVC network and has held senior positions at Northumbria and Teesside Universities.
Externally Professor Mennell is a Deputy Lieutenant of Cumbria and is involved in a range of regional and sector groups with a particular focus in people and place. These include: director of the Cumbria LEP Board and co-chair of its People, Employment and Skills Strategy Group; Chair of the Carlisle Youth Zone; member representative for the Energy Coast University Technical College; member of the Barrow and Carlisle Town Deal Boards; member of the Westmorland and Furness, and Cumberland, Local Partnership groups; and Sedbergh School governor. Nationally she is a member of the Cathedrals’ Group of Universities and the MillionPlus university group.

Staff and Student Members

Sarah McGrath

Principal

Ashley Graham

Staff member

Vacant

Student member