157 Group members recognised in Queen's birthday honours
18th June 2012
157 Group members recognised in Queen's birthday honours
Three outstanding leaders at 157 Group member colleges were recognised in the 2012 Queen's birthday honours list:
• Maxine Room, principal of Lewisham College, was appointed CBE for services to further education and to race and gender equality.
• Dr Alison Birkinshaw, principal of York College and chairman of the Further Education Reputation Strategy Group, was appointed OBE for services to further education.
• Patricia Barrett, a governor at Bedford College, was appointed MBE for services to further education.
Lynne Sedgmore CBE, executive director of the 157 Group, said, "We are very pleased that leaders at three of our member colleges have been honoured in this way. I would like to pay a special tribute to Maxine Room, whose career in further education spans 33 years, and who was only the second black female principal ever appointed to a general FE college in London when she joined Lewisham College in 2009. As principal of a large, inner-city college serving a diverse and multicultural population, her commitment to equality and diversity has been reflected in her membership and active participation in the Network for Black Professionals and the Women's Leadership Network, and her work as a mentor.
"While many of us are aware of further education's enormous value to individual learners, employers, the economy and society, building the reputation of the sector has never been more important, so I am particularly pleased that Alison Birkinshaw has been recognised for her important work in raising the profile of further education and skills, through her chairing of the FE Reputation Strategy Group and her excellent leadership of York College."
Marilyn Hawkins, chair of the 157 Group, said, "Governors are critical to effective governance and strategic leadership across the further education system, and it is fitting that Patricia Barrett's contribution to Bedford College's success as an outstanding college has been publicly acknowledged."
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
About the 157 Group
The 157 Group represents 27 of the most influential colleges in the FE sector. It was formed in 2006 in response to paragraph 157 of Sir Andrew Foster's report on the future of further education colleges, in which he argued that principals of large successful colleges should play a greater role in policymaking.
Contact the 157 Group
157 Group press office:
Gemma Knott 07581 354 750
Email gemma.knott@157group.co.uk
Lindsay Baugh 01707 392 552 or 07736 246 697
Email lindsay.baugh@howardsgate.co.uk
