Fiona McQueen

Fiona was appointed as Chair of Ayrshire College effective 1 November 2022 following a search and nominations process by the Scottish Government Public Appointments Team.  Fiona has been a non-executive board member of the College since 2018 and has held the role of Vice-Chair of the Board of Management and Chair of the Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee and the Performance Review and Remuneration Committee.   

Fiona's career spans three decades of executive public sector leadership, primarily across the health system and latterly within the Civil Service. She was appointed as an Executive Nurse Director in 1993 and has held a variety of roles, including the Chief Nursing Officer for the Scottish Government. Fiona was awarded a CBE for services to the NHS in June 2021. 

Angela is the Principal & Chief Executive of Ayrshire College with over 26 years of experience in the further and higher education sector in Scotland and England. Angela started her career in the Leisure & Tourism Sector after studying an HND at the then College of Commerce of Glasgow. Angela went on to achieve a BA Hons Degree in Post Compulsory Education from Southampton University, Post Graduate Leadership Certificate from the University of Warwick and an MBA from the Open University.  With a passion for providing life changing opportunities through education and equipping people with the skills and knowledge to be global citizens, Angela is committed to creating a fairer and more inclusive society.   Angela has held a number of senior leadership roles which have included responsibility for curriculum delivery and quality improvement. In her current and previous roles, Angela has led a number of large and small scale innovation projects, which have enabled the transformation of the organisations she has led and worked with, including employers and communities. In previous roles Angela has been instrumental in developing and leading economic and growth deal projects in skills and innovation. Angela is currently a board member of Interface, College Development Network, College Principal representative for Climate Emergency and Innovation, plus Quality Assurance Agency’s Scotland Strategic Advisory Committee representative for the College sector.

Originally from Girvan, Steven qualified with an Honours Degree in Accounting and Finance at Glasgow University before embarking on a global career with the Weir Group PLC.  Steven is currently the Chief Financial Officer for the University of Strathclyde and was recently appointed as a non-executive director for NHS Golden Jubilee.

Steven is a strong believer in the provision of educational opportunities as a means of tackling regional economic depression and social deprivation.  He believes in the need to work in tandem with employers and other stakeholders in identifying employment opportunities and curriculum developments designed to match the needs of the employers.  Steven is strongly supportive of the provision of modern apprenticeships and the role they can play in developing the economy of Ayrshire.

Mike is currently Director of Maintenance at Chevron Aircraft Maintenance Ltd based at Prestwick Airport and brings much sought after aviation and aerospace engineering knowledge and skills to the Board of Management. Aircraft engineering and airframe maintenance engineering has seen continued growth in South Ayrshire in recent years and has a significant presence at Prestwick Airport.

Despite the temporary global challenges following the Covid-19 pandemic, the industry is again undergoing a major period of growth.  Recognising the current challenges caused by the global skills shortage, Mike is committed to the training and development of the young workforce and apprenticeship programmes in Ayrshire, whether it be for the aviation/aerospace industry or for other employers seeking a skilled workforce. Mike recently became Vice Chair of Developing Young Workforce (DYW) Ayrshire, demonstrating this commitment to the training and developing of the local young workforce.

Norman has been a Non-Executive Board member of Ayrshire College since 2021. Norman additionally holds a Non-Executive Board position with Sheffield Forgemasters Ltd., independently managed, but wholly owned by UK MoD.

In Norman's executive career he was the Chair and CEO of Leonardo UK Ltd, looking after all Leonardo business in the UK including Electronics, Helicopter and Security Divisions. Prior to that role, Norman was a Divisional Managing Director of all of Leonardo Electronics business, primarily located in UK, Italy and USA.

Norman has also held senior roles for BAE Systems in Electronics Divisions, Marconi in Shipyard and Submarine Divisions, and Diageo In Spirits Divisions including Johnnie Walker.

Norman is passionate about the development of young people particularly in the STEM arena.

Chris is delighted to be appointed to the board as the trade union representative for EIS-Fela. Chris has been EIS-Fela branch secretary at Ayrshire College for 3 years and a representative for 7 years. Within the EIS Chris sits on the Executive Committee as well as the Education and Equalities committee. Chris has also served on the Salaries committee, and is currently a national representative and part of the national negotiation team.

Chris has worked as a supported education lecturer at Ayrshire College for 10 years. Chris has a particular focus on Health and Well-being for his department and takes an active part in this across the college.

Prior to being a lecturer Chris worked as a teacher, and a teacher of pupil support in both Primary and Secondary. Chris has a BEd in Primary Education as well as a MEd in Inclusive Education. Chris is a passionate advocate for the rights of all students as well as his colleagues.

Tim Chan was elected to the position of Student Vice President at Ayrshire College by the student body during the 2023 elections.

As a recently graduated HND Music Student at Ayr College, Tim has experienced and learned from the most creative courses of Ayrshire College.  As Vice Student President, he wishes to amplify student ambition, bringing forth opportunities for students to display their abilities, to improve and compete against each other in creative, physical and communal bouts. This allows students to hone themselves not just educationally, but allow for collaboration, creating a true community and a healthy ecosystem. 

Since the start of 2023, Tim has taught piano and learned how students of different ages and temperance react to catered teaching. It was evident here that the student’s drive was the largest contributing factor to their overall enjoyment and learning pace.  

Jason is an accomplished professional working in central government, with a wealth of experience in various digital and data roles. Currently serving as the Head of Digital Product, he brings an extensive skill set in successfully managing both product and project initiatives. Jason’s educational background includes a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Science in Development Management, a Postgraduate Diploma in Systems Thinking, and an Honors Degree in Business Administration.

In addition to his academic achievements, Jason is a Fellow and chartered member of the Chartered Management Institute. He is also actively working towards attaining chartership with the Association of Project Management, demonstrating his commitment to professional development and continuous improvement.

Jason aligns closely with the values of Ayrshire College, and recognises the crucial role that further education institutions play in enhancing the capacity and capabilities of the future workforce. He is particularly passionate about creating an environment where learners can thrive and reach their full potential, acknowledging the significant role that technology plays in this transformative journey.

With his extensive expertise and dedication to fostering growth, Jason is keen to help deliver Ayrshire College's Ambition Statement.

Position: Non-Executive Board Member

Faroque is senior police officer within Police Scotland and brings a wealth of experience. He served 8 years as a constable, including secondments to the British Transport Police in London after the 7/7 bombings, and as a Police Advisor to the Immigration Service at the Home Office. He was attached to the Specialist Crime Division rising to the rank of Detective Superintendent, Head of Border Policing Command. He was seconded to the National Crime Agency working within police forces across the country, academia and industry to address the digital skills gap within UK law enforcement. He later became Chief Superintendent, taking on the role of Divisional Commander leading Ayrshire Police Division from 2020.

In 2023 Faroque was promoted to Temporary Assistant Chief Constable for Partnerships, Prevention and Community Wellbeing.

He is a devoted advocate for community engagement and inclusivity. 

 Lisa has been a member of staff at Ayrshire College, within Estates and Sustainability, since 2004 and brings a strong knowledge of College service and support functions to the Board. Lisa has gained qualifications in Construction Management and Facilities Management and has recently been selected for the Aspire Leaders Programme.   Through this programme and through her role on the Board, Lisa is looking forward to extending her experience and knowledge. 

Lisa has a keen interest in the economic and social well-being requirements of Ayrshire and is committed to the values of the College, the future direction of the College and looks forward to her journey as a Member of the Board of Management.

Janette has been a Lecturer of Social Science with Ayrshire College since 2004 and was promoted to Curriculum Manager in 2021. She has active interests in digital technology and is currently working with her curriculum teams to utilise this for engaging learning and teaching and pedagogy. Janette is involved in developing curriculum change to meet the needs of social and economic demand and change and is working with her team to offer an environmental sustainability course in future. Janette continues to enjoy the knowledge, development and experience gained from being a Board member.

 With an honours degree in Health and Social Care and as a registered nurse, Sharon returned to formal education during her career and studied dental nursing.  Later in her career, she studied full time to complete a Masters in Business Administration in 2018.  Sharon was a trainer for the NHS Education for Scotland Practice Manager course and she supported the Modern Apprenticeship programme.

Following the sale as Co-owner, Managing and Operations Director with Three Towns and Kilwinning Dental Care, Sharon established 'Tomorrow Services Ltd’ providing training, mentoring, inspection and consultancy services. 

Sharon believes her experiences, skills and knowledge working with small to medium enterprises will prove valuable as a Board Member.  Sharon is fully committed to supporting the College and has always promoted continuing education, training and development to support career aspirations.

Gillian is a solicitor, having specialised in commercial litigation upon qualifying in 2009.  Throughout her time in private practice, Gillian has acted for a number of educational institutions and public sector bodies and is currently a Director at Anderson Strathern.

As Clerk to the Board of Management of Glasgow Clyde College from 2016 until 2019, Gillian gained an in-depth knowledge of the college sector and the importance of good governance. Gillian recognises the importance of open, transparent and accountable decision-making and is an advocate of the professional standards which require to be upheld at board level.

Committed to improving the opportunities for those within deprived areas, Gillian is especially interested in the Ayrshire community and understands the vital role that Colleges play in creating opportunities within a local community for both students and employers.

Gordon started his career in the construction industry aged 16, training as a joiner and gaining an HNC in Construction Management at the then Ayr Technical College.  Gordon worked for 15 years in the private sector, progressing to Projects and Contracts Manager. On returning to education, he completed a BSc in Construction Management before moving onto Estate Management with the NHS.

Gordon joined The Prince’s Foundation in 2015 and is currently Executive Director where he oversees all operational aspects of the organisation’s activities including.  Based at Dumfries House in Cumnock, Gordon is a strong advocate for providing and promoting education, support and employment opportunities for young people and local communities through the work of The Princes Foundation.

Michael was born, grew up in and lives in Ayrshire and is passionate about creating opportunities for individuals and organisations in the regional economy. Michael believes in the vision and values of Ayrshire College along with the power of education and is keen to support in all activities that make Ayrshire a positive destination for education, living, investment and employment.

Michael brings a wealth of experience to the board as a senior leader in the built environment with over two decades of industry experience and a proven track record of managing programmes of large-scale projects and is keen to encourage the future workforce into the built environment industry.

Michael is the Chief Executive of hub South West. A company formed in partnership by the Scottish Government, public sector organisations and private sector to deliver public sector projects across the South West of Scotland whilst creating skills and employment opportunities and developing local SME organisations. Michael oversees all functions of the business from development to construction and has delivered over £1 billion of projects, including a sizeable amount of projects in Ayrshire.

Prior to working for hub South West Michael worked for the investment arm of a large organisation specialising in Public Private Partnership projects. This saw him hold various roles delivering a wide range of projects across the UK including a few years in London.

Michael has an honours degree in Business Management and a masters degree in Project Management and is focused on using his industry experience to help the college achieve its objectives and deliver on its vision and strategy.

Iain is a dedicated advocate for accessible education and holistic wellbeing. Armed with a BA Hons degree in Sport and Community from Strathclyde University, Iain's journey into education began with a pivotal role in the management team of Active Schools Renfrewshire. Here, he found fulfilment in creating inclusive sports programmes that not only fostered a love for physical activity but also facilitated the recruitment, retention, and deployment of volunteers into the world of sports.

Motivated by his unwavering belief in equal opportunity, Iain pursued further education, returning to Strathclyde University to obtain a Postgraduate degree in Primary Teaching. Currently, Iain serves as a primary teacher in North Ayrshire Schools, where his passion for education and commitment to inclusive practices shine through.

With a focus on ensuring that every individual has access to quality education, Iain is deeply committed to levelling the playing field and providing opportunities for all. Recognising the transformative power of education, Iain places great importance on the role of health and wellbeing in academic success. As a firm believer in the value of sport and physical activity, he advocates for holistic approaches to education that prioritise the mental and physical wellness of students.

Additionally, Iain has a proven track record in sourcing external funds for schools, sports clubs, and local authorities. His ability to secure financial resources has significantly enhanced the opportunities available to students and communities under his care.

Through his dedication to accessible education and holistic wellbeing, Iain strives to create a society where everyone has the chance to thrive.

Graduating with a Degree in English Literature and Economic and Social History, and also achieving a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership, Alison began her early teaching career as an English Teacher in Glasgow and has been a member of the General Teaching Council since 1999. Since then, Alison has been a Head Teacher of two secondary schools and Head of Children, Families and Justice Services in North Ayrshire. Alison became familiar with the work of Ayrshire College as a result of the College’s partnership with North Ayrshire Council.

Alison believes this innovative partnership between the College and NAC has significantly benefited many young people and she has been inspired by the College’s vision and strategic objectives.  Alison’s strong desire to make a difference and ensure the best outcomes for children and young people led her to her current national role as Head of Support at The Promise Scotland – an organization that exists to support Scotland to keep its promise to all care experienced children, young people and families that they will grow up loved, safe and respected.

An Ayrshire native, Matthew is an Incorporated Engineer with the Institute of Engineering and Technology and a Chartered Manager. Following his graduation from the University of Strathclyde with a joint Honours Degree in Computer Science and Accountancy, Matthew joined Glasgow Prestwick Airport where he held several roles culminating in appointment as Head of Department for Engineering and Capital Projects. 

Matthew is currently Head of Aerodrome Operations at Glasgow Airport leading Airside Operations, Airport Engineering and Rescue and Fire Fighting Service. 

The opportunity to bring his technical knowledge and experience to the Board to understand and shape the best ways in which technology can be used operationally in a learning environment and in improving the student experience is his current focus.