Sarah McGrath – Board Member
Sarah has worked in the Further Education sector for over 20 years, initially a lecturer of Adult Skills for Life and within the arts sector before progressing to leadership roles. She had a broad range of curriculum leadership experience and before becoming Principal of Carlisle College in 2021, Sarah was the senior lead for both quality and curriculum.
Sarah’s education journey took her through further education and as a result, she is passionate about the value it has within society and the change it can make to individual lives. As NCG’s strategic lead for student engagement and student voice, she values the benefit of being part of a national group of colleges.
High quality teaching and learning, widening participation and improving life chances of the people of Carlisle and Cumbria are key drivers for Sarah. She chairs the Cumbria Work Based Learning Provider Forum and sits on the Local Skills Improvement Plan Steering Group.
KEVIN BEATY – Board member
Kevin has worked in the rural sector for most of his life, as a farmer and more recently in Natural Capital markets across the north of England delivering nature recovery projects to offset carbon for the business community and creating biodiversity net gain units to aid development.
I was leader of neighbouring Eden District Council where a Business Improvement District has brought much needed business led investment to help make Penrith a better place to live and work for the past decade or so.
I have lived in and around Carlisle all my life and its prosperity and future as a place to enjoy my leisure time and also as a viable administrative and commerce centre are hugely important to me.
TRACEY SLAVEN – Board member
Tracey Slaven is the Chief Transformation Officer at the University of Cumbria. Her role is focused on enabling the University community to make the transformational changes needed to achieve our strategic ambitions, for the University, the region, and our students.
As CTO, Tracey draws on her initial training as an economist and over 20 years of experience in addressing governance and operational challenges and leading change across higher education, charity, public and private organisations. This work has included major governance transformations, post-merger integration and the statutory and operational creation of a new public body.
As well as holding senior level roles at the University of Edinburgh, and most recently as University Secretary and Chief Operating Officer at the University of Aberdeen, Tracey has experience within government, having led the Higher Education policy team in Scotland. She has been an accountable officer as the Chief Executive of the Student Awards Agency for Scotland and as a HESA Board Member, supported the transition of the charity into JISC.
ANDREW MACKAY – Board member
Andrew Mackay is Director of Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery (trading as Tullie). He is committed to developing cultural projects to stimulate urban regeneration and stimulate the visitor economy.
Andrew became Director of Tullie in 2016. He joined in 2010 as Head of Collections and Programming and led several gallery developments. He leads the Cumbria Museum Consortium, an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, and is leading Project Tullie, the museums major capital investment programme. Previously Andrew was Head of Cultural Services for Craven District Council, where he created a new department combining museums, arts development and heritage and managed three volunteer-run museums. He was at Northampton Museum 1988 to 1994 and General Manager of the Norfolk Rural Life Museum after this. In Norfolk he managed a £4m capital redevelopment, which led a 40% visitor increase. Andrew has post-graduate diplomas in Museum Studies and Management & Leadership and Prince 2 project management certification. He is a Fellow of the Museums Association, is a member of the National Museum Directors Council and is a Trustee of Sunderland Culture.
The Great Border City 