Jeremy Kerswell
CEO & Principal
Originally from West Sussex, Jeremy grew up on a small holding, where his love of the countryside and interest in wildlife and animals began. Having worked across England’s FE and HE sectors for 18 years, Jeremy became Principal of Plumpton College in October 2015.
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He went on to study animal science at Reading University, and it was after a short period of employment in both the animal and agricultural industries, he decided to forge a career that would combine his passion for the natural environment with education.
Having previously worked at other land-based colleges, including Brinsbury and Hadlow, Jeremy was appointed as the head of Cannington College in 2008, a successful land-based college in Somerset. He was known amongst his peers as the driving force behind its success.
Plumpton attracts students from across the South East to study a range of land-based courses from entry to masters level. With the most extensive college estate in the country, an all-important role of the college is bringing those real-life experiences to life for students, modelling best current and future practices in all aspects of sustainability and land management.
James Hibbert
Deputy Principal, Resources, Student Services and Farm
James joined Plumpton College in 2007, initially as the Student Services Manager. Since then, he has progressed within the organisation to Deputy Principal in 2015.
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James’ background lies in operational management and has overseen several major projects that have facilitated the college’s continued growth.
James has a BSc Hons in Geography and is a trained investigator, project manager and risk assessor. He also held a commission in the HM Forces, Army, which gave him the foundation to excel in incident management and contingency planning.
James leads a team of managers within the college who provide most of the infrastructure and services supporting our staff and students.
Coral Ward
Vice Principal, Curriculum and Quality
Coral brings extensive experience across specialist land-based colleges and wider further education settings. She began her career in the equine industry before completing an MSc in Equine Science and a PGCE in post-compulsory education.
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Starting in education as a lecturer, Coral has progressed through a range of academic, curriculum and senior leadership roles, developing significant expertise in curriculum design, quality improvement, teaching and learning, and strategic educational leadership. Prior to joining Plumpton College in 2025, Coral worked at Hartpury College and was Head of Faculty for Land-based provision at Abingdon and Witney College, alongside holding a number of wider curriculum and quality management positions.
Coral provides strategic leadership for curriculum and quality across the College, leading a team of managers and directors with responsibility for curriculum development, delivery and improvement within their respective divisions. She works collaboratively with curriculum leaders to ensure provision is ambitious, responsive to sector needs and aligned with the College’s strategic priorities, while maintaining a clear focus on learner experience, teaching quality, outcomes and progression.
Coral is passionate about continuous improvement in education and strongly committed to supporting the future of the land-based industries. Her work is centred on ensuring learners receive a high-quality educational experience and develop the technical skills, knowledge and confidence they need to succeed in an evolving sector.
Jon Searle
Vice Principal, Higher Education, Adults & Apprenticeships
Jonathan has worked in further education for 21 years and has lived in Sussex for most of his life, building a career dedicated to education, skills development and widening opportunity for people across local and regional communities.
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He joined Plumpton College in 2020, having previously spent 15 years in general further education colleges, including serving as a Group Director within a large college group. A qualified teacher, Jonathan began his career teaching undergraduates at the University of Brighton before going on to teach a range of subjects across the Creative Industries. He later progressed into senior leadership roles, including Group Director of Curriculum for Creative Industries, Business, IT and Accounting.
Jonathan brings extensive expertise in curriculum development, change management, stakeholder engagement and skills strategy. He has also developed multiple programmes of study designed to support adults furthest from the world of work, helping to create clear pathways into learning and employment.
At Plumpton, Jonathan previously served as Director of Curriculum, where he oversaw the College’s Horticulture, Forestry and Floristry provision, before progressing into his current role.
Paul Cook
Director of Finance
Paul joined Plumpton College as Finance Director in July 2024 with responsibility for Finance, Business Services, Student Record & One Garden Brighton.
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Paul is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW) and trained with KPMG in Reading specialising in Owner Managed Businesses. He started his career in industry working for Centrica and British Gas before moving to the public sector to take up a Finance Director role spanning Surrey & Sussex.
Paul has worked for household names such as The Body Shop & Gousto and also brings public sector experience having worked for USS which is the pension and investment scheme for Universities.
Sarah Jeffers
Director of Human Resources
Sarah has been the HR Director at Plumpton College since 2015, providing strategic business partnering to the senior management team and leading a team of HR professionals who support managers and employees.
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Sarah graduated with a BA (Hons) in Business, with a focus on organisational analysis and business change. She holds a CIPD Certificate from the University of Greenwich (2000) and became a MCIPD member in 2006.
With over 25 years of HR experience, Sarah has worked with organisations including the Metropolitan Police Service, Royal Bank of Scotland, NatWest, and RSA, specialising in employee engagement, change management, and HR strategy. This breadth of experience has enabled her to effectively support the organisations she has worked with.
Since joining Plumpton College, Sarah has been pivotal in shaping its culture, fostering trust, support, and empowerment, which has contributed to high staff retention and therefore a consistent student experience. She provides expert advice and support to colleagues, helping them achieve both strategic and operational goals while mitigating risk. Her strong business acumen, combined with her extensive background in HR management, recruitment, retention, employee relations, policy interpretation, employee engagement, and employee wellbeing, has enabled her to build strong and trusted relationships with senior leaders, governors, staff, and managers.
Julie Dougill
Chair of Governors | Safeguarding Link Governor
Julie is an Independent Education Consultant, having previously worked for 13 years in school improvement within a local authority, where she held strategic responsibility for Leadership Development and Governor Services. Prior to this, Julie taught in both secondary schools and Further Education, including at a Sixth Form College in Brighton, where she was a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
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Julie has experience of teaching across a wide range of vocational and academic programmes. Throughout her career in education, she has served on a number of school governing boards, developing a broad and diverse skill set. She is passionate about effective governance and has supported governing boards and senior management teams in areas including board effectiveness, inspection preparation and strategic planning.
Julie became Chair of Corporation in July 2020. She completed her degree in History at the University of Sussex, followed by a PGCE at Homerton College, Cambridge, and an MA in Education at the University of Sussex. She is also a member of the Search and Governance Committee, Finance Committee, Remuneration Committee and Curriculum, Quality and Student Support Group, and is the Corporation’s link governor for Safeguarding.
Julie is Chair of the Association of Colleges (AoC) National Chairs’ Council, a member of the AoC Board and the elected representative for Chairs in the South East region. She is also Chair of the AoC Curriculum and Quality Committee Chairs’ Network for governors across the FE sector.
Julie has extensive experience of Further Education governance and has contributed to a number of national working groups. These have included reviewing the AoC Code of Good Governance, developing competency frameworks for Principals and Governance Professionals, and developing national guidance on effective Senior Postholder appraisals and Chair Performance Reviews. She is also an External Board Reviewer.
Julie brings her enthusiasm for the Further Education sector, land-based provision and education to her role at Plumpton College.
Paul Layzell
Vice Chair of Governors
Paul has been an education leader for over 25 years, most recently as Principal and Chief Executive of Royal Holloway, University of London and previously as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Sussex. During this period, he served as a trustee of AQA, the UK’s largest GCSE and A-level examination board, and was chair of AQA for seven years.
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Paul now serves as a non-executive director on several bodies, including Plumpton College and HFL Education (a schools-owned company based in Hertfordshire). He is also a member of the University Hospital Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.
Paul has a keen interest in gardening and horticulture, making full use of his garden nearby Lewes.
Helen Atkinson
SEN Link Governor
Helen has a range of experience in Higher Education practice and policy, Managerial Accounting and the Hospitality Industry. She has an Honours degree, an MBA and a PhD. She started work as a clerk at Barclays Bank and also worked as a Hotel Manager. After achieving her degree in Accounting and Finance, she qualified as a Management Accountant (ACMA) working for Eriksson Telecommunications.
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She invested the remaining 30 years of her career at the University of Brighton, lecturing in accounting, finance and business strategy, she also had a leading role in quality assurance and enhancement initiatives. Her leadership roles at school and Faculty level culminated in a pan-university role of Director of Education. Working with the Pro Vice Chancellor for Education and Student Experience she focussed on enhancement of learning and teaching practices, student engagement and inclusion across the whole university.
She has a passion for learning and a focus on student growth, development and employability. As a dyslexic diagnosed at 37 years of age, with dyslexic children, she is particularly interested in supporting students with additional learning needs to achieve their full potential. Upon retirement, reflecting on her experience as a school governor, she joined Corporation in September 2019 to volunteer her skills and experience in support of Plumpton’s aspirations and continued development. Helen is currently Link Governor for Finance and SEND.
Brielle Bartha
Student Governor
My name is Brielle (or Brie for short) and I’m currently studying Animal Behaviour and Conservation at Plumpton College. I’m passionate about making sure all students feel heard and represented. I’m excited to take on this role as Student Governor so I can help be a voice for students across the college. I hope to make a positive difference and make everyone’s ideas and concerns feel valued and equal.
Peter Boxer
Governor
Peter has spent more than three decades working in leadership roles across government, diplomacy and public affairs. His career has included senior positions in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Cabinet Office, other Whitehall Departments and the Isle of Man Government. He has served as a UK diplomat in Cyprus, France, Pakistan, Morocco, Iraq and South Africa.
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Alongside his career in public service, Peter has developed extensive board and governance experience. He currently serves as Chair of the Amateur Football Alliance and is a Trustee of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
Peter holds a first degree from the University of Birmingham and a Master’s in Public Administration from the French Ecole Nationale d’Administration.
Peter lives in Crowborough with his partner who is a secondary school teacher. He has two young sons.
Mark Smith
Governor
Mark is the CEO and Co-Founder of Ada, the National College for Digital Skills. Ada is the first new FE Corporation in England since 1993. Mark was a member of the inaugural cohort of Teach First in 2003. He has subsequently worked for Lloyds Banking group in the UK and South Africa. He graduated from Harvard in 2011 with an interdisciplinary Masters in Education and has helped establish a school in Uganda.
Jade Simmons
Governor
Jade is a senior operational leader in the veterinary sector, currently serving as Head of the London Region for Linnaeus (Mars Veterinary Health). She is responsible for a portfolio of general practice veterinary sites across London, leading strategic planning, clinical development, and operational delivery. A proud Plumpton College alumna, Jade completed her FdSc in Veterinary Nursing in 2013 and qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse.
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With over a decade of experience in senior leadership roles, Jade specialises in organisational strategy, cultural transformation, and talent development. She is passionate about the veterinary profession and is committed to advancing and shaping the future of veterinary nursing. Jade also holds a CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership and is a trainee British Dressage judge.
Outside of work, Jade enjoys spending time with her four horses and walking her dog in the countryside. She lives locally to the college and maintains strong ties to the land-based and animal care community.
Steve Harper
Governor
Steve Harper is a partner in haysmacintyre, working within their Charity and Not for Profit team. He is a Chartered Accountant, auditing and advising a wide range of not for profit clients, including those in the education sector.
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He has specialised in working with the not for profit sector since 2009 and has worked with a wide range of organisations over this time. In addition to external audit, Steve has led a wide range of other reviews including internal audits, finance function reviews and reviews of overseas country offices.
In addition to his client work, Steve is haysmacintyre’s EDI partner which is an area that he is passion about.
He is a qualified Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and holds the ICAEW’s Diploma in Charity Accounting. Over the years, Steve has served as a trustee of several charities including the MapAction, a humanitarian charity which applies geospatial expertise to humanitarian situations.
Steve lives locally to the college in Burgess Hill, though enjoys taking the opportunity to travel whenever he can. Steve is passionate about education and supporting the sector and is delighted to using his professional experience to support the College.
Scott O’Brien
Governor
Scott is the Chief Investment Officer at Innovate UK, having joined in 2017. In this role he is responsible to programmes across debt finance and blending grant/equity programmes, as well as partnerships with the UK’s Public Finance Institutions. This work focuses on delivering the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, driving economic growth through investing in innovation and catalysing future industry giants on their journey towards scaling in and from the UK.
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Before joining Innovate UK, Scott worked at British Business Bank, working on programmes that tackled market failures for SME borrowers, utilising fund of fund investments and guarantees. This work built on the creation of Start-Up Loans, a micro-finance programme that is now an established part of the funding landscape, supporting thousands of entrepreneurs into business.
In addition, Scott has strategic advisory roles with Sana Capital, which is raising £500m to invest in first time, women-led funds that invest in deep and frontier technologies; and with Rewired:Earth, a CIC dedicated to changing the way that large scale infrastructure projects across homes, energy and connected places are funded and managed for the long-term benefit of the people who live and work in them.
Scott has been Chair of Audit for Plumpton College since [2022], where he has witnessed the extraordinary growth of the College’s capabilities, capacity and performance.
Donna Atkinson
Support Staff Governor
Donna is an experienced and CIPD qualified HR professional with a strong background within secondary and further education . She is the Senior HR Advisor at Plumpton College, where she plays a strategic role in shaping people-centred HR policies, driving workforce engagement, and supporting leadership in delivering institutional priorities.
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She brings expertise in business partnering, policy development, and staff wellbeing, alongside a clear focus on fostering inclusive, high-performing environments. Donna contributes to the Corporation through strategic insight, particularly in relation to people, culture, and organisational capacity.
Her professional knowledge and commitment to continuous improvement support the College’s mission to deliver outstanding outcomes for learners and staff alike.
Tamara Roberts
Governor
Tamara is the CEO of Ridgeview Wine Estate, the international award-winning & family-run English sparkling wine producer based in Sussex. Ridgeview is proud to be a pioneering force in the English wine industry.
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Founded in 1995, they were one of the first wineries devoted to producing English sparkling wine. In 2018 they became the first English winery to gain the global accolade of ‘International Winemaker of the Year’ in the International Wine & Spirit Competition.
Tamara has previously sat on the boards of WineGB, the wine industry national trade body and the Wine & Spirit Trade Association. In 2020 she became the first English wine professional to become President of the prestigious International Wine and Spirit Competition. As a qualified chartered accountant, Tamara is responsible for the financial management of Ridgeview as well as setting & implementing the strategy across all other areas from grape to glass. Tamara is on the Advisory Board at the University of Sussex Business School.
Steve Webb
Skills Link Governor
Steve is an accomplished Finance Director with significant experience of supporting evolving businesses though organic and acquisitive growth across sectors including, medical diagnostics, digital and property.
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Steve was the Finance Director at Fargro Limited, a leading and innovative supplier for the UK horticultural industry from Feb 2016 to Feb 2025. He has successfully supported the senior team during Fargro’s growth and evolution, including an MBO in May 2021.
A Chartered Management Accountant, he also has an interest in developing HR, legal and ESG expertise. Passionate about wanting the sector to thrive, he is keen to use his experience and skills to support the College in what is an exciting time for UK land-based industries.
Duncan Rawson
Governor
Duncan is a partner at EFFP (European Food and Farming Partnerships), a specialist advisory consultancy with over 20 years of experience working across agri-food supply chains. He works alongside fellow partners to support farmers, co-operatives and food businesses in building more sustainable and commercially resilient businesses and supply chains.
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His work spans agricultural sustainability, supply chain development, farmer co-operation and food business strategy, and he advises businesses across the sector on strategy and market research, mergers and restructuring, change management, and leadership and governance.
A Nuffield Scholar who studied co-operative models internationally, Duncan has a long-standing personal and professional commitment to farmer co-operation. He remains active in the UK co-operatives sector, contributing to industry forums and working with agricultural co-operatives.
Based in Lewes, East Sussex, close to the College, he brings a combination of strategic supply chain expertise and a genuine commitment to the land-based sector to his role as a governor.