Corporation Board
Chair - Sue Ball
Sue has been a Governor since 2018 and served as Vice Chair from 2020 until the previous Chair’s retirement in July 2025. She is passionate about the importance of education, training and effective collaboration to address the skills needs of employers. Having retired from her role as Assistant Director of Workforce and Organisational Development at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. Sue continues to engage in consultancy work for the Health Board and chairs fitness to practice hearings at the Nursing & Midwifery Council.
Vice Chair - Chris Freegard OBE
Chris first joined the Board of Coleg Gwent in 2010 and served two terms of office. Following a change in circumstances he re-joined the Board in 2020. He retired from his role as Managing Director of Newport City Council in 2009 and has held a number of Board roles since, including serving as a Trustee of Kaleidoscope, a drugs misuse charity and as a Governor of the University of South Wales until July 2020. Chris currently Chair’s the Board’s Audit Committee.
Principal/Chief Executive - Nicola Gamlin
Nikki took up her role as Principal & Chief Executive of Coleg Gwent in September 2024, having previously served 16 years as Vice Principal/Deputy Principal with responsibility for Curriculum & Quality. Her 30-year career in FE has included over 20 years in senior leadership roles as well as roles teaching computing, IT, business and maths at different levels. She is also an Estyn Peer Inspector.
Anthony Basnett
Baz has over 30 years’ experience in electronics engineering and served for 17 years in HM Forces He is Director, Solutions Engineer for a large digital technologies company, having previously worked as Head of Systems Engineering at CISCO UK Enterprise. He also sits on the Board of the Power Network Demonstration Centre, which is part of Strathclyde University. Baz Chairs the Board’s Finance & Resources Committee.
Moawia Bin-Sufyan
Moawia works in investments and property development, alongside which he fulfils a number of public, charity and voluntary roles. These roles include monitoring health services and prison and detainee conditions and advising on diversity & inclusion. Moawia is also a Justice of the Peace and a Senior Independent Panel Member for Public & Civil Appointments in Wales. He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Educators and has received the Freedom of the City of London.
James Bird
James joined the Board in January 2025. He is a Chartered Accountant and has held senior Finance and Operations roles in the manufacturing and logistics sectors. In his most recent role, he developed a passion for working in partnership with schools and colleges to develop in-house talent. Having now retired, James is keen to use his skills and experience to benefit Coleg Gwent.
Elizabeth Brimble
Liz is the Link Governor for Safeguarding. Having gained her own qualifications in the workplace after leaving school at sixteen, she is committed to the importance of choice in education and training. She worked in the financial services sector and spent time as a civilian officer with the Police National Computer Bureau. Prior to her retirement, Liz worked at the Education Workforce Council where she was Director of Qualifications, Registration and Fitness to Practise.
Andrew Clark
Andrew brings to the Board a detailed understanding of the FE sector in Wales. With a background in finance and accounting, he had a long career in Welsh Government where his most recent roles included leading on employability, careers and FE policy. Andrew is Link Governor for Information Governance.
Delyth Evans
Delyth is a first language Welsh speaker who began her career as a news and current affairs journalist. She went on to work as a political speech writer and later served for three years as an Assembly Member. Delyth has held Chief Executive roles at two charities and works as a policy and strategy consultant. She also serves on the boards of Sport Wales, The Urdd and The Alacrity Foundation, an education charity that provides entrepreneurship training for young tech graduates. In 2025 Delyth was appointed as Chair of S4C.
Bailjit Gill
Bal is Senior Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Manager at Companies House. She has worked in the equalities and community cohesion field for over 23 years, including roles in Welsh Government, South Wales Police & Crime Commissioner’s Office, The Equality & Human Rights Commission and The Commission for Racial Equality. She lives in Newport and was formerly a School Governor as well as a Trustee at Torfaen People First. Bal is Link Governor for Diversity & Inclusion.
Andy Johns
Andy joined the Board in January 2025. He has over 30 years’ experience in the Welsh education sector, most recently as Vice Principal (Curriculum & Quality) at a neighbouring college. Now retired, Andy sits on EWC Fitness to Practice Panels and is a Member of the Gwent Police Joint Audit Committee. He also volunteers with a number of organisations including Ty Hafan and Run4Wales.
John Phelps
John began his career as an apprentice engineer and worked in industry before retraining as a teacher. He worked in education for over thirty years and much of that time was spent in the FE sector. He was Vice Principal at Coleg y Cymoedd for ten years, with responsibility for curriculum and quality development. Since retiring, he has worked as a self-employed educational consultant and adviser. John is Link Governor for Health & Safety.
Boyd Paynter
Boyd was elected to serve as Student Governor for Further Education for the 2025-26 academic year. He is studying A Levels at Torfaen Learning Zone and has a keen interest in politics. Boyd is passionate about ensuring strong community and youth representation. This is reflected in own activism and he currently serves as Deputy Leader of the Torfaen Youth Forum and as a member of the Budgeting Committee of Torfaen Voluntary Association.
Matt Preece
Matt has extensive experience in retail management at store and regional level. He is now self-employed as a management consultant and business coach. He provides support with strategic planning and implementation as well as ongoing support and mentoring to SME business owners in the region.
Tim Rathbone
Tim joined the Board in April 2024. He has come full circle, having begun his career as an Apprentice Electrician at the college’s Pontypool Campus in the 1980s. A Chartered Engineer, Tim recently retired from his role as Senior Partner and Director at a Consultant Engineering firm where he worked for over 30 years. He is now keen to contribute to the success of Coleg Gwent. He is a Gwent Wildlife Trust Board Member and has a strong interest in sustainability. Tim is Link Governor for Estate Development & Decarbonisation.
Lizzie Swaffield
Lizzie is Chair of the Curriculum & Quality Committee. She is a fluent Welsh speaker and brings to the Board extensive experience of the public sector, especially partnership working in the education sector. She currently works for an educational charity and has previously held roles at Qualifications Wales, UWTSD, the Heads of the Valleys Education Programme and in local government.
Gareth Watts
Having served as an external Member of the Audit Committee for several years, Gareth joined the Board as a Governor in October 2022. He is an experienced accountancy and audit professional and has worked in both the domestic and international public sector. Gareth is currently Director of Corporate Governance at a large Health Board, having previously worked at the Senedd, Wales Audit Office and the United Nations Board of Audit. Gareth is also a School Governor and an honorary auditor for the Unitarian Church.
Huw Watkins
Huw was elected as Student Governor for Higher Education in December 2024. He is studying the Foundation Degree in Game Design, having previously completed his Level 3 qualification. He wants to ensure that HE learners at the college have their voice heard. In his spare time Huw likes to keep fit and works part time as a gym assistant.
Joanne Weaver
Jo was elected as Business Support Staff Governor in December 2024. She has worked for Coleg Gwent for over 17 years and in her current role as Customer Service Manager, she works closely with teams across-college to deliver key services and support college events. Jo co-owns a successful café and catering business and is Team Manager and committee member of an Under-10s rugby team.
External Co-opted Members
Farishna Chohan-Solanki
Farishna joined us as an External Member of the Audit Committee in April 2023. She is a Finance Manager at a large insurance company, with responsibility for areas of risk, control, governance & regulation. She also has experience of working as an auditor in the education sector and is co-owner/Director of a family podiatry business.
Richard Brown
Richard previously served as a Governor between 2016 – 2018. Having stepped down due to work pressures, he is now happy to be back at Coleg Gwent as an External Member of the Audit Committee. He is Chief Finance Officer for a large Government Agency and has extensive finance and commercial experience. Richard also serves as Treasurer and Trustee of a local church.
Governance Officer
Marie Carter
Marie has been Governance Officer since June 2015. She is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Board, providing it with advice on procedure and policy, organising and recording meetings and record keeping. She also acts as Freedom of Information Officer for the College. Marie has worked at Coleg Gwent since 2008, previously in learner support and teaching roles. Prior to that, she had a career in the Civil Service which included several years as Clerk to a Government advisory committee in London.