Our Leaders
Our leadership team has a passion for seeing learners, our communities and the businesses we work with succeed. They combine this drive with expertise, skills, knowledge and experience, from both the public and private sectors, to lead with ambition, care and professionalism.
Jason Austin is CEO and Principal of the RNN Group. His experience incorporates 30 years of teaching and managing in the Further Education sector.
Tracey Mace-Akroyd
Deputy CEO and PrincipalTraceyย Mace-Akroyd is Deputy CEO/Principal of the RNN Group.ย Traceyโs teaching career began as a lecturer in landbased at Rother Valley College.
Phil Curtis
Executive Director of FinancePhil Curtis is the Executive Director of Finance at the RNN Group and has responsibility for strategic financial leadership and management across the Group.
Jane Hartog is the Executive Director of Human Resources, Organisational Development and Marketing at the RNN Group.
Cath Mollart
Executive Director of Strategic Planning and Corporate ServicesAs Executive Director for Strategic Planning and Corporate Services, Cath Mollart has responsibility for the strategic leadership of key support areas and the development of strategies to ensure the effective delivery of the core corporate functions/services.
Lucy Barnwell
Director of Learner Recruitment and MarketingLucy is the Director of Learner Recruitment and Marketing and has strategic responsibility for the organisationโs engagement with all stakeholders throughout the Rotherham and North Notts areas.
Mark Ryan
Vice Principal โ CurriculumMark is the Vice Principal – Curriculum across the Group. Mark has strategic responsibility for all curriculum areas along with day-day oversight of all curriculum and learning within the group, leading to student/customer success.
Debra Adams
Director of Campus โ Dearne Valley CollegePrior to working in Further and Higher Education, Debra Adams held a variety of jobs, firstly as a qualified hairdresser and then latterly in the Emergency Health Care sector.
James Godsell
Director of Business Development and ApprenticeshipsAs Director of Employer Partnerships for RNN Group, James is responsible for building and maintaining employer relationships to support our students transition to the world of work, along with supporting local employers to access the skills needed in industry.
Cheryl Martin
Director of Quality and Academic StandardsAs Assistant Principal Quality and Learner Experience, Cheryl Martin is responsible for maintaining and improving all aspects of quality assurance and improvement.
Laura Reid
Director of Safeguarding and Student SupportAfter completing her BSc Psychology degree, Laura joined Rotherham College as a mentor working in the 14 – 19 Development team raising aspirations.
Keith Sanderson
Director of Campus – Rotherham CollegeKeith was formerly the Campus Manager at North Notts College before taking on the role at Rotherham College so he has great experience at leading a campus within the Group.
Mel Smith
Director of Campus โ North Notts CollegeMel has over twenty yearsโ experience working in the Further Education sector, leading a diverse range of curriculum including Accounting, Business, Community, Employability, ESOL and Travel.
Daniel Stanbra
Director of Adult Education, Contracts & English and MathsDaniel Stanbra is the Director of Adult Education and Contracts at the RNN Group. Daniel has strategic reponsibility for the organisationโs engagement with the diverse communities across the Rotherham and North Nottinghamshire regions.