The Association of Colleges (AoC) has announced that Maggie Galliers CBE, the principal of Leicester College, is their new president-elect.

She will succeed the current AoC president, Fiona McMillan, on August 1.

Maggie said: “Colleges are the backbone of the education sector and offer programmes of a breadth and depth which is second to none.

“I see the AoC as crucial in helping colleges navigate the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and, to that end, I’m a member of the AoC’s Reputation and Urban Colleges groups.

“It will be an honour to serve as AoC president, a role to which I will bring all my energy, commitment and passion for celebrating and advancing further education.”

Maggie Galliers, who will be AoC’s fifth president, has been at the helm of Leicester College since July 2002.

Before that Maggie was Principal of Henley College Coventry for five years, having previously held a wide variety of management positions in further education and having taught in all education sectors: primary, secondary, further and higher.

She is currently a member of the Ofqual Board, the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) Board and the Higher Education Funding Council for England’s (HEFCE) Teaching Quality and Student Experience Committee.

In the past, she has also been a member of the Apprenticeship Task Force, the FEFC Quality Assessment Committee, the Quality Improvement Agency Board, the National Learning and Skills Council (LSC), and the LSC’s Young People’s Learning Committee.

She was appointed a CBE for services to local and national further education in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2009.

The office of President was established in 2007 to further enhance AoC’s work in representing and promoting colleges, following a strategic review of the association.

AoC’s chair, John Bingham, said: “It’s very gratifying, and testament to the value our members place on the presidency, that Maggie Galliers has decided to put herself forward for the position.

“I’m certain that her calibre and the high regard in which she is held by those in the sector, together with her demonstrable, unbounded enthusiasm and commitment to FE, will only benefit our members and the students they serve over the forthcoming year.”

Martin Doel, AoC chief executive, added: “All at AoC look forward to working with Maggie as President. Having worked with her in many fora, and knowing of her outstanding achievements at Leicester College, I am certain that she will bring great wisdom and energy to the role.”

Current AoC President, Fiona McMillan, said: “I’m delighted that Maggie will be my successor. I know that she is as passionate about the sector as I am and that she will be an excellent ambassador for colleges. She has a great deal of experience to bring to the role. I look forward to working with her in the run-up to handing over in July.”

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