Governance

Professor Sir Les Ebdon CBE DL is a widely recognised leader in the field of social mobility, frequently appearing in the media and programmes such as ‘Today’ as a result of his post as Director of Fair Access to Higher Education. An award winning Analytical Chemist, he has published over 270 refereed publications.

He has enjoyed highly successful periods as Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Plymouth and as Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Bedfordshire.

He has played various national roles in higher education including chairing the University group Million+, for five years, served as a Board member of Universities UK and the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association, as well as chairing the Association of Universities of the East of England for five years.

He was awarded a CBE in 2009 for services to national and local higher education and in 2018 was knighted for services to social mobility and higher education.

In 2011 he was appointed HM Deputy Lieutenant of Bedfordshire.

Sameena is a mother, an educator, an independent researcher, a businesswoman and a writer. Sameena is the Founder and Principal of Educaxion Learning Hub, she has several articles published in international peer-research journals focusing on young Muslims’ mainstream school and madrassa educational experiences.

Sameena is a national award-winning author of Safeguarding Children and Young People in Mosques and Madrasah’s in Peterborough (2014), she has successfully established the safeguarding programme across mosque madrassas and helped embed numeracy and literacy programmes within madrassa education provision to help improve pupil attainment.

Sameena has co-founded two schools, one abroad and one in the UK and has over 20 years of experience in education across different key stages and disciplines, she has also evaluated a new module for the Open University catering for national and international students. Recently her work has informed the Integration Strategy work in Peterborough.

Matthew is Chief Executive of Nene Park Trust. He is passionate about education, culture and the environment and the all benefits they provide. Previously, he held senior roles at the Land Trust and Norfolk Wildlife Trust. He takes an active non-executive role with The Parks Alliance, is a Board Member of Cambridgeshire Local Nature Partnership, a Member of the Broads Authority, Chair of The Malcolm Bradbury Trust & Trustee of Living Sport. He also Chairs the Town Deal Board for Peterborough.

Jaki Bradley is a highly experienced senior leader in adult and community education, with over three decades of dedication to empowering learners and fostering inclusive educational opportunities.

Currently working in the Skills sector at the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Jaki brings strategic insight and a deep commitment to lifelong learning. Jaki holds Teaching and management qualifications and a Subject Specialist qualification in Maths and is an alumnus of Oxford University, Said Business School, partaking in the highly regarded Further Education Strategic Leadership programme.

She is also a skilled coach and change leader, with expertise in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and partnership development. Jaki lives near Stamford with her husband. She has a large (and growing) family and spends her spare time with grandchildren, family and friends or running, cycling or skiing all of which are a bit of an obsession.

Alison is the Vice Chair of the Peterborough Racial Equality Council and research officer who has led young people’s research groups. She has extensive experience in higher education and teacher development programmes as well as experience in traditional and online delivery. Alison is research, conference and publication active in the field of educational experiences of Black and Minority Ethnic communities.

David is a Human Resources consultant, having covered a wide range of people requirements including representing clients at Employment Tribunal.

Earlier broad commercial experience was with PriceWaterhouse, and others whom he served as a director and company secretary.

As a graduate from Loughborough University, he was the founder President of Loughborough Students’ Union who uniquely own their amenities building.

A particular interest is the future of work and skills and what he calls ‘Sustainable Employment’.

Anamika Ghosh is a community leader and cultural organiser based in Peterborough, with a strong commitment to community engagement, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), and widening participation. She is the founder of community arts and cultural organisations that create inclusive spaces for dialogue, collaboration and cultural exchange across diverse communities. Anamika is also a Health Research Champion, advocating for greater public involvement in health research and working to improve awareness and participation among underrepresented communities.

Through this work she supports stronger connections between research institutions and local communities, helping to promote equitable access to health information and opportunities. She is passionate about empowering communities and supporting initiatives that foster inclusion, representation and social cohesion. Through her work with local organisations and community groups, Anamika contributes to initiatives that strengthen civic engagement and celebrate the diversity of Peterborough. Her work reflects a strong commitment to building partnerships between education, research and community organisations, with the aim of supporting inclusive growth and community wellbeing.

Helen is the Higher Education Student Officer at University Centre Peterborough and a Digital Marketing and Communications student.
With over 30 years of experience in customer service and a background spanning social media management, content creation, and community building, Helen brings a wealth of real-world knowledge and a genuine passion for people to her role.

Helen’s commitment to the student voice is rooted in her belief that every learner deserves honest, accessible support – values she has carried throughout her personal and professional life. As a mature student balancing academic study with business ownership, she understands the challenges that many UCP students face and is driven to create an environment where all voices are heard and respected.

Helen strongly values authenticity, community, and growth, and works passionately to ensure that student wellbeing and representation remain at the heart of everything UCP does.

Tony joined the Royal Air Force in 1987 as an Apprentice technician before qualifying as an engineer officer in 1999. With many years spent at the front line deploying on global operations and exercises, Tony also has experience of working in areas of safety, finance, equipment procurement, and international collaboration. Tony first joined the Board when Station Commander of RAF Wittering and he is now Commandant of the RAF Air Cadets, a nationwide organisation supporting over 40,000 young people.

Tony is also the RAF’s LGBT+ Advocate, is a member of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Group, a Trustee of The Air League, a Chartered Engineer, and a member of the Worshipful Company of Engineers. He lives in Grantham with his wife and two whippets.

Raghav is a Lecturer in Computing at University Centre Peterborough (UCP), having completed a PhD in Computer Science with a specialism in Artificial Intelligence at Swansea University in July 2024. Since joining UCP in August 2024, he has observed the transformative impact that AI is having on teaching, learning, and curriculum design. Raghav is committed to supporting UCP in navigating this evolving educational landscape by promoting ethical innovation, embedding effective digital tools, and encouraging evidence-based enhancements across the provision.

As HE staff governor Raghav aims to: advocate for responsible, student-focused innovation within both Council and Academic Board discussion; contribute to strategic planning that supports academic quality, digital transformation and learner success and to strengthen the link between staff experience and institutional development through thoughtful, inclusive engagement.

Raghav’s focus is to help shape UCP’s future direction and ensure it continues to deliver high-quality, future-ready education.

Rachel is the CEO of Inspire Education Group. She was previously Deputy Principal at New College Stamford, followed by Principal of Peterborough College and has worked in the education sector for 20 years including a decade’s experience at senior levels in college organisations.

Rachel is a strong advocate of post-16 education and in particular further education colleges and the role they play in improving life chances. She has experience of teaching and supporting a wide range of students in a number of different college settings. Rachel is highly qualified with a MSc in Leadership and Management from Leeds Metropolitan University and with strong skills in Curriculum Development, Quality Improvement, Teaching, Learning and Assessment, Financial Management and Organisational Change.

Rachel is passionate about organisational transformation and developing a high performance culture. Rachel is a keen sportswoman and used to be captain of Halifax Ladies Rugby Team and played rugby for Yorkshire and Humberside and is a very keen golfer.

Alex is the CFO of Inspire Education Group and has over two decades of experience leading finance and governance functions across the higher education, charity, and commercial sectors.

Peter is a Chartered Accountant and has been a director of UCP since 2010. He studied economics, finance and company law at the London School of Economics and graduated with a BSc (Hons) Economics degree.

Peter spent his early career in the accountancy profession and held senior roles with leading firms Spicer & Pegler and Touché Ross, providing a range of services to local businesses, including business planning, audit and taxation and commercial advice.

He served as Vice Principal Corporate Services at New College Stamford and then Peterborough Regional College for a total of 25 years and played a leading role in the merger of those two Colleges to form Inspire Education Group in 2020.

He has managed most areas of business support, including finance, procurement, HR, estates, IT, and marketing and has extensive knowledge of risk management and data protection.

James Whybrow is the Vice Principal for Apprenticeships and Higher Education at Inspire Education Group. He brings significant experience across further education, apprenticeships and employer partnerships, giving him a strong understanding of both the education and business landscapes.

Mark is the Chief Executive Officer of Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust (CMAT) and since 2013, the Trust has grown from two academies to its present size.

He began his teaching career as an English teacher at the Deacon’s School and Jack Hunt School in Peterborough and has held positions as Head of English at Sawtry Community College, Vice Principal of Swavesey Village College and Principal of Nene Park Academy in Peterborough.

Mark is a designated National Leader of Education and works with many schools and trust across the Eastern region.

He is a trustee of OWN Trust and Cambridge Primary Education Trust, as well as of the Peterborough United Foundation Trust.