Ian was appointed as a member of the Corporation in November 2020. He was the Member of Parliament for Dudley North from 2005 until 2019 and was appointed to the House of Lords in 2020 as Lord Austin of Dudley. He was brought up in Dudley where he attended local schools. He served on Dudley Council from 1991 to 1995. In Parliament he served as a government whip, Minister at the Department for Communities and Local Government and Minister for the West Midlands. He took a close interest in education and foreign policy issues and sat on both the Educations and Foreign Affairs select committees. Ian Austin is the representative of Dudley College Corporation as Sponsor Member of Dudley Academies Trust. (Image: “Lord Austin of Dudley” by members.parliament.uk, used under CC BY 3.0 / white background themed.) 

Liam was appointed as a member of the Corporation in February 2020. He currently holds the position of Senior Manager – Treasury and Financial reporting at Secure Trust Bank. Prior to this he was Head of Financial Reporting at Lovell Partnerships and Head of Finance at Dudley Building Society. He is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and also holds a degree from Coventry University in Accounting & Finance. He serves on the Corporation’s Audit Committee and Search Committee. 

Matthew was appointed to the Corporation in March 2024. He is an experienced public sector solicitor currently employed as Director of Legal Services at the University of Salford. He is an alumnus of Dudley College, a graduate of the University of Birmingham, and local to the Black Country. He sits on the audit committee, and has a particular interest in economic development and creating opportunities for young people.

Sally was appointed to the Corporation in November 2024. She is employed by Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust as Programme Director for Dudley Health and Care Partnership where she is responsible for driving forward integration and collaboration in Health and Social Care within Dudley and supporting all partners in delivering the shared agenda to improve health and care experience and outcomes and to reduce health inequalities. As a Dudley resident, parent and employee Sally is committed to the borough of Dudley and the people who live, work and study here. Sally serves on the Standards Committee.

Wendy was appointed as a member of the Corporation in November 2020. Wendy is head of audit and compliance at CKCA Limited, a firm of Chartered Accountants based in Dudley. She has experience of the not for profit and education sector. She graduated from Birmingham City University with a degree in Accountancy and Finance and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. She is a trustee of Get Ahead Charitable Trust and a director of Leukaemia Care. She serves on the Corporation’s Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee.

Ana was appointed as a staff governor following her election by the College’s professional services staff in March 2024.  Ana has been with Dudley College for just over 5 years. She started her career in Education as EFL Lecturer at the New University of Lisbon after finishing her bachelor’s degree in British and North-American Studies and her Cambridge CELTA L5 Certificate. After 7 years of teaching, she changed careers to work in the Examinations Department at Birmingham Metropolitan College where she stayed for 3 years. She joined Dudley College in 2019 within the MIS Department, coordinating Additional Learning Support funding for SEN learners. She has since moved on to working in Apprenticeships and she currently works cross-college managing End-Point Assessments and supporting colleagues in different departments. Ana serves on the Corporation’s Finance & Estates Committee.

Nirmal was appointed as a member of the Corporation in July 2021. Nirmal is a commercial practitioner for the Department of Defence. He graduated in mechanical engineering and has a post-graduate diploma in business administration. He has worked in manufacturing, marketing/sales, training and business management in large engineering companies in construction equipment, auto-components and in renewable energy in the UK, The Netherlands and India. He serves on the Corporation’s Standards Committee. 

Paul was appointed as a Staff Governor following his election by the College’s Teaching Staff in November 2022.  Paul has been with Dudley College for just over 3 years after transferring from Birmingham Metropolitan College. He started his career in FE teaching students with LDD basic woodwork skills in a community provision based at a Social Services day centre. After 4 years of this, having completed his Cert Ed, he transferred to the Carpentry department as a technician where he then re-trained in carpentry, joinery and cabinet making. Paul went on to be a trainer/instructor initially working with employed students, then moving on to full time students and apprentices, before being made a lecturer.  He serves on the Corporation’s Standards Committee.

Deborah was appointed as Student Governor in November 2024. She is currently pursuing A level sciences at Dudley Sixth and aims to attend university following her college studies. As student governor, Deborah’s aim is to ensure that student voices are heard in strategic discussions, advocating for inclusive and sustainable improvements that benefit the entire college. Deborah serves on the Finance and Estates Committee.

Mphathisi was appointed to the Corporation in November 2024. Mphathisi is the Divisional Director for Clinical Support Services at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust but is currently Acting up as a Divisional Director of Operations for Clinical Support Services and Pharmacy. He has extensive health care experience spanning across community and acute health care settings including implementation of apprenticeship programmes. He is an inclusive, compassionate leader who works with integrity and prides himself in exceptional planning, strategic leadership, and management skills. He has an MSc in Healthcare Policy Management from University of Birmingham. He serves on the Corporation’s Finance and Estates Committee.