Liz joined Newcastle Hospitals as a non-executive director in June 2022. She is chief executive officer of NCG (formerly Newcastle College Group), one of the UK’s largest national further education college groups, and the only one with a national footprint. NCG has two colleges in Newcastle – Newcastle College and Newcastle Sixth Form, and one in Carlisle; four other colleges are in the North West, the Midlands and London.
Liz started a career in higher education with the Open University where she was associate dean in the Faculty of Health and Care, and led the development of a brand new social work degree, following the Victoria Climbie review. The faculty also introduced the first distance learning, practice based pre-registration nursing programme in the early 2000s. After more than 20 years working in universities, Liz joined the further education sector and moved to the North East in 2019.
Throughout her career, Liz has led on a number of significant change programmes and service restructures, and has a strong background in leadership and other professional development. She is a passionate advocate of education as the force behind genuine social mobility and cultural capital.
As chief executive of NCG, Liz is responsible for delivering the strategy, which is underpinned by a mission to enable social mobility and economic prosperity through exceptional education. NCG’s vision is closely aligned to that of the Newcastle Hospitals, striving to be recognised for local impact, national influence and reach.
Liz is also a non executive member of the board of English Heritage, and has a number of board roles relating to her NCG work. Married with four children, a stepson and six grandchildren, Liz enjoys reading and walking in the stunning North East countryside.
