Governance & Policies

Julie is an Independent Education consultant having previously worked in school improvement for 13 years in a local authority with strategic responsibility for Leadership Development and Governor Services. Prior to this Julie taught in both secondary schools and in Further Education at a Sixth Form College in Brighton where she was a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

She has experience of teaching on a range of both vocational and academic programmes. Throughout her career in education she has served on a range of school governing boards developing a wide skillset. Julie is passionate about governance and has provided support to Boards and senior management teams in areas such as board effectiveness, preparing for inspections and development of strategic plans.

Julie became Chair of Corporation in July 2020. She completed her degree in History at the University of Sussex and then went on to complete a PGCE at Homerton College, Cambridge followed by a MA in Education at the University of Sussex. She is also a member of the Search and Governance Committee, Finance Committee, Remuneration Committee and the Quality Group. Julie is the Corporation link governor for Safeguarding.

Julie is Vice Chair of the AoC National Chairs’ Council and is the elected representative for Chairs’ for the Southern East region . She is also the Chair of the AoC Curriculum and Quality Committee Chairs' Network for governors.

Julie brings her enthusiasm for the FE sector, land-based provision and education together in her role at Plumpton College.

Originally from West Sussex, Jeremy grew up on a small holding, where his love of the countryside and interest in wildlife and animals began. 

He went on to study Animal Science at Reading University, and it was after a short period of employment within both the animal and agricultural industries, that he decided to forge a career which would combine his passion for the natural environment with education. Having previously worked at other land-based colleges, including Brinsbury and Hadlow, Jeremy was appointed as the head of Cannington College in 2008, a successful land-based college in Somerset, and was known amongst his peers as the driving force behind its success. 

Jeremy took over as Principal of Plumpton College in October 2015.  He sits on the boards for Landex and the National Land Based Colleges, is the Vice Chair for the SELEP Skills Working Group and is also part of the Management Advisory Group for WineGB, in addition to chair of the WineGB Education and Training Group. 

Helen has a range of experience in Higher Education practice and policy, Managerial Accounting and the Hospitality Industry. She has an Honours degree, an MBA and a PhD. She started work as a clerk at Barclays Bank and also worked as a Hotel Manager. After achieving her degree in Accounting and Finance, she qualified as a Management Accountant (ACMA) working for Eriksson Telecommunications.

She invested the remaining 30 years of her career at the University of Brighton, lecturing in accounting, finance and business strategy, she also had a leading role in quality assurance and enhancement initiatives. Her leadership roles at school and Faculty level culminated in a pan-university role of Director of Education. Working with the Pro Vice Chancellor for Education and Student Experience she focussed on enhancement of learning and teaching practices, student engagement and inclusion across the whole university.

She has a passion for learning and a focus on student growth, development and employability. As a dyslexic diagnosed at 37 years of age, with dyslexic children, she is particularly interested in supporting students with additional learning needs to achieve their full potential. Upon retirement, reflecting on her experience as a school governor, she joined Corporation in September 2019 to volunteer her skills and experience in support of Plumpton’s aspirations and continued development. Helen is currently Link Governor for Finance and SEND.

I’ve been at Plumpton College since September 2022. I had previously attended from 2013-2019 staring on a 14-16 Level 1 Animal Care course then went full time for Level 2 and 3. I’m now studying Animal Behaviour and Conservation at Degree Level. My hobbies include nature walks, watching to and films and reading. I’m interested in conservation and how we can apply it to college life. I’d also like to see how we can make college life even more enjoyable for students

Hilary has been employed at Plumpton college since 2017, currently as Assistant Curriculum Manager for Forestry and Arboriculture, leading the Further Education and Apprenticeship teams. Hilary teaches business, employability and sustainability across a wide range of programmes encompassing 14-16, Further Education, Apprenticeships, Higher Education and Adult Education, having taught learners across nearly all of Plumpton College's divisions. Hilary is PGCE qualified in Geography. Hilary's prior career is in Human Resources in manufacturing, retail, defence, engineering, and pharmaceuticals.

Hilary is passionate about providing the best experience for learners, while supporting them to develop skills and personal attributes for success in industry. She is a firm believer in the power of education and lifelong learning. With skills higher up the public agenda than in recent years, Hilary is keen to support Plumpton College's continued success in providing quality education and training which supports the future needs of the industries it serves.

Jess joined the board of govenors in 2024. Jess currently works for the NHS as Head of Performance for Medical Education at East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust, working with universities and NHS England Workforce and Training to ensure that the doctors of tomorrow are getting the highest standards of education and training in one of the countries largest training hospital trusts. Prior to this Jess had worked in Further Education for 13 years firstly, having started as a lecturer in Equine at Hadlow College where she progressed to being the Head of Department for Animal Management before taking up the role of assistant principal at ekc Groups Canterbury College. Jess’s most recent position at Windsor Forest Colleges Group was as Group Vice Principal for Curriculum, Qulaity and Innovation working across the groups two large further education colleges, including Berkshire College of Agriculture.

Outside of this, Jess has also been a memebr of the T Level route pannel for Agriculture, Environmental and animal care, working closely with IfATE to produce the outline content for these new qualifications for the Landbased sector. Alongside this Jess also worked with the Department for Education on the content of the National Technical Outcomes for this route and is an active participant in awarding body consultations on the upcoming curriculum reforms. Alongside Landbased Jess is also a passionate advocate for learners at risk of becoming NEET and those with SEND and is an advisory board memebr of Woodpecker Youth Activities an outstanding alternative provision based on the East Kent coast.

Jess lives in Kent and enjoys riding and competing her two horses and spending time on walks in the countryside with her dog.    

Steve Harper is a partner in haysmacintyre, working within their Charity and Not for Profit team. He is a Chartered Accountant, auditing and advising a wide range of not for profit clients, including those in the education sector.

He has specialised in working with the not for profit sector since 2009 and has worked with a wide range of organisations over this time. In addition to external audit, Steve has led a wide range of other reviews including internal audits, finance function reviews and reviews of overseas country offices.

In addition to his client work, Steve is haysmacintyre's EDI partner which is an area that he is passion about.

He is a qualified Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and holds the ICAEW’s Diploma in Charity Accounting. Over the years, Steve has served as a trustee of several charities including the MapAction, a humanitarian charity which applies geospatial expertise to humanitarian situations.

Steve lives locally to the college in Burgess Hill, though enjoys taking the opportunity to travel whenever he can. Steve is passionate about education and supporting the sector and is delighted to using his professional experience to support the College.

Doug was a Governor from 2019-2024, before joining the Audit Committee as a Co-opted Member in 2024. Doug is NFU Mutual Senior Agent and NFU Group Secretary in Kent and East Sussex.  Prior to this Doug worked as a business consultant specialising in farming, rural and food businesses.  Doug is also a Director of RAMSAK a farming and rural co-operative helping to share farming resources, as well as accessing bulk purchasing prices, covering the counties of Kent, East and West Sussex and Surrey.

Doug has been Chairman and Treasurer for Sussex Young Farmers’ Clubs, was an officeholder for South East YFC and was National Agriculture and Rural Affairs chairman, National Council Member and was co-opted to the board of management for NFYFC.  Doug has also served as a trustee and member of council for the South of England Agricultural Society and was Chief Pig Steward and Chairman of the Sheep, Pig and Goat Committee.

Doug lives in Kent and enjoys spending time at home with his partner, their two girls and their two dogs.

For the past 10 years, Hilary has worked as a local food and drink consultant working in both the public and private sectors. She manages the Sussex Food and Drink Network which encourages collaboration between food and drink businesses with the aim to help them grow.  Hilary is a director of Natural Partnerships CIC a not-for-profit company, delivering projects which support the agri-food community across the region including the Sussex Food and Drink Awards. Formerly manager of ‘A Taste of Sussex’ Hilary has worked extensively in the food and drink sector throughout her career, in manufacturing, marketing, retail and event catering and has wide-ranging experience of the local food and drink sector.

Hilary has been a Sussex resident for over 40 years.  Hilary has been a Governor since January 2021.

Following a 15 year career with Barclays  Bank in various roles across London and the South East, Gill moved into the education sector initially as Bursar in Primary education, moving on to become Personal Assistant to the Principal of Uckfield College and then the Headteacher at Chailey School.

Gill also worked as Exams Manager at both Uckfield and Heathfield Colleges before joining Plumpton College as PA to the Vice Principal in 2017. Gill has had experience in working across a number of areas within the College since that time and became Support Staff Governor in September 2021.

In September 2022, Gill decided to reduce her hours and now works part time in the Registry Team as an Administrator.

This is my second year at Plumpton College. Last year I studied Level 1 Animal Management and have progressed to Level 2 Technical Diploma in Animal Care. I enjoy riding my bike when it is sunny and walking my dogs. I also like to watch the Good Doctor. I am going to see how I as student governor could make life easier for students.