ROGER ABRAHAM
Roger Abraham is Chair of the Audit Committee and member of the Search Committee. He has a particular interest in the overall strategic development of College and its centres. Roger Abraham is a Solicitor and was a partner (before his retirement in the mid 1990’s) of Breeze & Wyles who undertook a range of legal work on behalf of the College.  Therefore, his knowledge of the College is extensive as well as his experience within education circles as a Chair of a School Board of Governors.  He is also currently a member of the Audit Committee for Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland.

CHRIS BEARDSHAW
Chris Beardshaw is a well known TV and Radio Broadcaster having featured on many programmes including Radio 4’s Gardener’s Question Time, BBC2 the Flying Gardener and Gardener’s World and ITV3 Great Garden Detectives. He currently lectures in Soft Landscape Technology at University of Central England and through his own company he provides design services to a range of clients with recent public examples including English Heritage’s Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight and the RNLI National Memorial Garden. Chris acts as a judge for the RHS and supports a number of organisations and charities.

JOHN F. BENNETT F.I. Hort
John Bennett is a member of the Curriculum and Quality Committee and has a specific interest in quality and curriculum issues and the overall academic strategy of the college.  He has an extensive Educational and Horticultural background and was a Lecturer for a number of years (1966 - 92) as well as being an HM Inspector for England, Wales and Northern Ireland (1984-97), since when he has been an assessor for AoC Beacon Awards.  John Bennett was Hon. Treasurer/Hon. Secretary of the Institute of Horticulture and works closely with the Royal Horticultural Society in relation to examinations.  He was Deputy Director for Brighton Parks (1975-84) and Derby Parks (1970-75).

IRENE BYARD
Irene Byard is Vice Chair of the Governing Body and a member of the Health and Safety Committee, Curriculum and Quality Committee, Search Committee and Remuneration Committee. Irene Byard is the former Headmistress of a successful secondary school and has a particular interest in widening provision for the 14-19 age group and ensuring access to work related learning.  She is a Consultant Leader and until her retirement, was actively involved in educational initiatives at local and national level.  A historian by training, she is interested in architectural and gardening history and the floral and decorative arts.  She also serves as a Justice of the Peace and has an interest in family proceedings

STEPHEN DOWBIGGIN
Dr. Dowbiggin has been the Chief Executive/Principal since 1986, having previously been Vice Principal between 1982 – 1986.  Prior to being appointed at the College he was Head of Department at Hadlow College of Agriculture (Kent) from 1977 – 1982.  His background included periods of academic research into pollution bio-chemistry, management consultancy and a period employed as a farm manager for a major vegetable production company. He is a past Chair of the Institute of Horticulture’s Standing Committee of Education and Training and was made a Fellow on the Institute in 1988. He is member of the Livery of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners and has recently been elected as their Upper Warden and is a member of their Court of Assistants. During the 2010/11 academic year Dr Dowbiggin was elected as Master of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners.

DOUGLAS FUSSELL
Douglas Fussell has a personal interest in the College and the Gardens both from a horticultural point of view and the amenities provided to the community.  He is a Chartered Accountant and former Managing Partner of the Enfield office of Moore Stephens, a national and international group of accounting firms. He is Chair of the Finance and General Purposes Committee and takes a keen interest in the operation of the College, both from an Educational point of view and as a grounding for future careers in business. He is also a member of the Remuneration Committee. Douglas Fussell is a former member of the Executive of the Enfield Chamber of Commerce, and an Honorary Vice President of Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry.  Having started his working life in the City of London he maintains close contacts with the City through his former firm’s City office and his membership of the Livery of the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers.

DON GRATTON
Don Gratton is a member of the Finance and General Purposes and Health and Safety Committees.  Formerly Pro Rector and Director of Resources at the London Institute (now the University of the Arts London), he had overall responsibility for functions including estates development, personnel, library and learning resources and student services. A scientist by training, his teaching career embraced courses at both further and higher education.  He is particularly interested in contributing to the College’s thinking on strategic developments of its curriculum and the related requirements of its estates and human resource planning.

DAVID GWYTHER
David Gwyther is currently the Director General of the Horticultural Trades Association, the garden industry’s trade body. HTA covers almost every business in plant production, garden retailing, landscaping and ancillary products. It represents their interests to the Government and the media, provides market information and promotional schemes to the industry, and runs a number of initiatives to help businesses in the industry develop further including training schemes, benchmarking networks, career marketing, and individual business development projects.

Before taking on this role Mr Gwyther had a long career in general management and marketing in consumer goods companies, following post graduate training with Unilever. He also attended London Business School. He was appointed CBE in 1995 for services to training/education and economic development. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners. He lives in Bath and is a keen, but not very competent, gardener.

ROBERT HOWARD
Robert Howard is a senior compliance officer with investment management firm Charles Stanley & Co Limited. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (FCISI). He is a member of the Livery of the Worshipful Company Gardeners, where he sits on the Crafts Committee, and is a judge for Flowers in the City Campaign. Robert is a Member of the Court of the Common Council of the Corporation of London. He is a member of the Audit Committee.

PAUL JOLLY
Paul Jolly is a former Vice President at Goldman Sachs where he worked in the Securities Division and is currently studying towards his MBA at London Business School. Paul is a Trustee to the Mrs L D Rope Third Charitable Settlement, a charity focused on the relief of poverty and the advancement of education and religion. He is also a member of the Livery of the Worshipful Company Gardeners. Paul is a Member of the Finance and General Purposes Committee and the Search Committee.

TONY LEACH
Tony was born and raised in London. He read horticulture at Bath University where he developed an interest in landscape design. He returned to London to train as a landscape architect while working in four London Boroughs over eighteen years. Tony's interest in people, project management and business development led him to manage a variety of urban regeneration projects that took him away from the parks world. In 1999 he set up an independent business consultancy specialising in management and business development while he completed his MBA at Kingston.
His passion for parks was rekindled in 2004 when he was appointed as Director of the London Parks and Green Spaces Forum, where he provides independent strategic support and advice to elected Members, green space managers and Friends Groups across London. He has overseen a range of projects and activities such as supporting and developing Friends Groups, a benchmarking tool, a volunteering strategy and chairing a London Strategic Parks research group.
Tony has volunteered throughout his adult life in a range of organisations such as the London Landmark, the London Ramblers Association and BTCV. He is currently a trustee of the London Parks & Gardens Trust (since 2005), Green Flag judge (since 2003) and London in Bloom (since 2009). He is a member of the Curriculum and Quality Committee.

RON MELVILLE
Ron Melville has a particular interest in trees, woodlands and forestry.   He is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Foresters and has been an employee of the Forestry Commission for over 30 years.  This has been spent in Scotland, Wales and England, but since 2002 he has been the Forestry Commission Regional Director for London.  Ron has a particular interest in urban forestry and for a number of years was the Commission’s Officer in Charge of the Community Forest Programme and has had a close involvement with the Forest Education Initiative.  He was also a prime mover in the preparation and development of the London Trees and Woodland Framework, which has since been accepted as a Mayoral document. 

He has a considerable understanding of the effect that an improved green environment can have on the lives of inner city residents and is a strong advocate of encouraging local and community involvement. 

MALCOLM R. PARKINSON
Malcolm Parkinson is Chairman of the Governing Body and Member of the Finance and General Purposes Committee, Search Committee, Curriculum and Quality Committee and the Remuneration Committee.  He has specific interest in the marketing, image and promotion of the College.  Malcolm Parkinson was the founding Marketing Director of the B&Q chain and past Chief Executive of Woolworths.  He is a member of the Livery of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners.  Malcolm Parkinson has considerable experience within private sector industry and his skills in marketing, retailing and commerce are particularly relevant to the College.

LADY SALISBURY
Lady Salisbury joined the Governing Body in December 2008.  She has been associated with large gardens for 25 years and has a general knowledge of horticulture and garden design.  She is interested in young people and would like to be able to encourage all young students to realise their potential in the horticultural profession.  She has been associated with local youth services for 30 years as well as schools in Swaziland where she sits on the Board of the Swaziland Charitable Trust. Hannah Salisbury had been invited to be Patron of the Institute of Horticulture.  She is a member of the Finance and General Purposes Committee and Chair of the Search Committee.

LADY STUTTARD
Lesley Stuttard became a governor in 2008.  She is a former Lady Mayoress of the City of London and a member of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners.  She has a lifelong interest in gardening and has visited gardens all over the world.

DOUG TAYLOR
Doug Taylor is employed within the financial services sector. He is currently the Leader of the London Borough of Enfield.

JAMES WISDOM
James Wisdom is currently Chair of the Friends of Gunnersbury Park and Museum and was a founder member of this Registered Charity in 1980.  He has worked in Further, Adult and Higher Education and has held middle and senior management posts in two universities as an adviser and strategist on educational and staff development.  He works as a higher education consultant and has been appointed a Visiting Professor in Educational Development at Middlesex University.

STAFF GOVERNOR – VACANCY. The Clerk is in the process of inviting nominations for the position of Staff Governor and if necessary elections will be held during September 2011.

STUDENT GOVERNORS (TWO) – VACANCY. The Clerk is in the process of inviting nominations for the position of Staff Governor and if necessary elections will be held during late September/early October 2011.