Governance
The Board of Governors
The Board of Governors is responsible for the strategic direction of Westminster Adult Education Service, with particular emphasis on staffing, financial management, curriculum policy.
Are you interested in becoming a governor?
Do you have an interest in education and training? Do you want to help young people and adults of today develop into active and successful members of the community? If so, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Interested in becoming a Governor?
Further information about WAES Governance
Further Information for Governor Application
Meet the Board of Governors
Ms Carolyn Keen
Westminster City Council Nominee Governor
Chair of the Board of Governors
Carolyn is a former student of WAES. Her professional background is in arts and disability policy with a special interest in education. She has served as a City of Westminster councillor and mayor, chairing various committees including education, health, arts, planning and the Westminster Faith Exchange. She has served as governor of a number of primary schools, special schools and City of Westminster College. She is a trustee of The Philological Foundation, a small educational charity giving grants to students and schools in Westminster and Camden, and a past chair of The St Marylebone Society, an amenity group.
Carolyn became a governor at WAES to use her knowledge of local community and networks to further encourage the educational opportunities offered by WAES and to support a caring environment for learners and staff. She was awarded with an MBE for services to education and the local community.
Mr Richard Frost
Westminster City Council Nominee Governor
Vice Chair of the Board of Governors
Richard works as the school secretary at London Business School where he is responsible for corporate planning and risk management, governance and compliance, and campus and estates services. His career has been spent in the field of further and higher education and he has previously worked at an adult education college and an art school.
Richard became a governor at WAES because it provided him with a new opportunity to use the skills he has gained during his career in supporting the invaluable work carried out by WAES in the local community. The range of skills and experience that he brings to his role as governor include an extensive knowledge of corporate governance, estates development, strategic planning and risk management. Away from work, he is currently studying for a degree in art history on a part-time basis at Birkbeck College.
Ms Arinola Edeh
Principal and Head of Service
Arinola is the Principal and Head of Service of Westminster Adult Education Service and serves as a Governor of the Board in that capacity. She has worked in the public sector for over 30 years, with over 20 of those being in further and adult education. Arinola has been Principal and Head of Service for the last four years, having been the Deputy Principal at WAES for the previous five years. Prior to joining Westminster, Arinola worked at two General Further Education Colleges and in both organisations led extensive employer-facing and community partnership work, including the delivery of successful ESF- and externally-funded projects. Having moved into adult and community education at Westminster, Arinola really values the difference and challenge that working as a leader within the local authority brings to the education and skills landscape; the ability to leverage other services in holistically meeting people's wider needs can make a huge difference and impact positively on their lives.
Arinola is an active member of HOLEX, the membership body for adult and community education providers and represents HOLEX London on the GLA’s Skills for Londoners Board. She is the HOLEX Policy Forum lead for equality, diversity and inclusion and digital skills, as well as being a co-collaborator of the Women’s Leadership Network, which seeks to amplify women’s voices and change leadership in the sector.
As a returnee migrant with dual nationality, Arinola is passionate about leading work that enables individuals and communities to benefit from the transformational power of education. Her own journey has made her very keen to help individuals create their own stories and amplify their voices, with a desire to inspire people from all walks of life to “dance to the beat of their own drum!”
Ms Edelweiss Arnold
Staff Governor
I am currently Head of Marketing and Admissions at WAES. I joined WAES as Interim Marketing Manager before being appointed to my current role. I have worked in marketing since graduating and have always sought opportunities to work in sectors that benefit individuals and communities. I believe strongly in the benefits that WAES brings to the community through lifelong learning opportunities and providing routes to better futures for many people who would not otherwise have access to these options. As a South African, I have first-hand experience of the societal toll that lack of access to education takes on people.
Ms Ellie Botti
Governor
Ellie is experienced in skills and workforce development with a proven history of employer engagement. While at the London Central Learning and Skills Council, she was the sector lead for hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism (HLTT). She was a member of the steering group tasked with the preparation of the LDA 2005-2008 HLTT Skills and Employment Action Plan. Ellie has recent experience working for the V&A as an NVQ assessor and as a mentor to young apprentices employed in the creative and cultural sectors.
Ms Maysie Brown
Staff Governor
Maysie is a staff governor, elected in 2019. At present, she is the Diversity and Inclusion Co-ordinator at WAES. She has worked at WAES as a course leader within the Apprenticeship and Professional Pathways Department and a tutor and IQA for Childcare, Health and Social Care. She was a governor at Eardley Primary School in Wandsworth for eight years.
Mr Liam Farrell
Governor
Liam Farrell is a Westminster Civil Servant, working in the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy.
As the first in his family to attend university, Liam understands the opportunities that education can bring. He became a governor at WAES to share his knowledge and experiences, and to help others better themselves through further education.
Liam brings a wealth of skills to the WAES Governing Body, including strategic thinking, risk management, and relationship building.
In his spare time, Liam enjoys cycling and regularly attending the gym.
Professor Alexandra Hughes
Governor
Professor Alexandra Hughes has an extensive career in higher education, having held senior management roles at the Universities of Kent and Birmingham. Alex is currently Deputy Vice Chancellor of Global Engagement and Employability at University of Westminster, working with WAES on the Digital Academies Project.
Alex is deeply commitment to inclusion in and access to education, especially for learners from non traditional and disadvantaged backgrounds. This deep commitment is Alex’s primary motivation for becoming a governor at WAES.
The skills Alex brings to the role of governor include deep familiarity with higher education, global engagement, the employability agenda in Higher Education, as well as matters of equality, diversity and inclusion.
Between 2016 and 2021, Alex was a member of, and eventually Vice President of, the executive committee of the SGroup Universities in Europe network. Alex has worked closely with Universities UK on outward student mobility and is a current member of the London Higher EDI and international networks. Alex represents the University of Westminster as a member of the Sir Simon Milton Westminster UTC Academy Trust.
Alex’s interests include photography and reading.
Ms Naomi Leaver
Governor
Naomi Leaver is the Executive Head teacher of a federation of two Westminster community schools. She has led schools and educational settings across London; including mainstream schools, specialists resource bases and special schools. Naomi is also a qualified OFSTED inspector, a member of the Local Safeguarding Children’s Partnership for Westminster and RBKC, and a trustee for the Philological Foundation.
With sixteen years' experience working in Westminster, Naomi feels very much a part of the community. She chose to become a governor at WAES because she knows that education is the key to changing life chances for all. She wants to use the knowledge she has gained throughout life to help others in their learning journey.
Through her professional and voluntary experiences, Naomi brings a wide range of skills to the role of governor, including the knowledge of leading educational institutions, creating and leading emotionally well and nurturing environments, a very clear understanding of inclusive practices and the DEI agenda and legislation, and experience of sensory impairment education and advocacy.
Travel is a very important part of Naomi’s life, including going on long motorbike adventures around the world, being up mountains and swimming outside in various bodies of waters. Naomi adores the arts and spend a great deal of time at the theatre, gigs, galleries and museums. Prior to becoming a teacher Naomi was a contemporary dancer.
Mr Andrew Mederick
Governor
I became a Governor as I have been interested in education for 20 years and because I want to give something back to the community. I believe in adult education for three reasons
(a) It is hard to make life changing decisions when you are young or have a family or even do not know what you want to do as a career
(b) From attending adult education as a mature leaner, I am now Director of Youth Services in the same community where I studied
(c) Education is a great social- economic leveler.
I have a range of skills and experiences that I bring to my role as a Governor including: Commitment to improving education for all students; Links with local businesses; Ability to propose and consider innovative solutions/recognise and develop opportunities; Project management; Knowledge of local/regional economy; Experience of working in/developing collaborative partnerships; and working or volunteering with young people.
Councillor Matt Noble
Westminster City Council Nominee Governor
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Matt is a Westminster City Councillor for Church Street Ward and is Chief Whip and Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Regeneration and Renters. He has experience as an adult learner through gaining an Open University Law degree in 2015. Professionally, he works for a leading developer of best practice methodology for project management and IT service management.
Councillor Ralu Oteh-Osoka
Governor
Councillor Ralu Oteh-Osoka is a proud ‘Child of Westminster’, born and bred in Maida Vale and Little Venice. She is now the Councillor for Regents Park ward and enjoys being in and around her ward, getting to know her residents. Ralu believes you can learn something new every day and adult education shows you are truly never too old to learn new skills that can aid not only in a brand-new career / job choice but also enhance the one you currently have. She also believes adult education builds confidence and self-esteem, as well as encouraging community cohesion and assimilation.
Ralu was selected to become a Governor in Summer 2022 and brings a range of skills and experience to the role including currently working within Quality Assurance in the Engineering Sector.
Mr Tomasz Patzer
Westminster City Council Nominee Governor
Tomasz qualified from the City Law School and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, is a Member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple and a Fellow Chartered Certified Accountants. He takes a particular interest in health & safety matters as the H&S governor representative on the WAES staff H&S committee and serves as the WAES Board of Governors’ lead in this area.
Board of Governors' Meetings
Minutes are uploaded following Board approval at the following meeting.
Board Meetings 2022-23
20 September 2022 - Minutes
6 December 2022 - Minutes
28 March 2023 - Minutes
11 July 2023 - Minutes
Board Meetings 2021-22
6 December 2021 - Minutes
25 January 2022 - Minutes
29 March 2022 - Minutes
12 July 2022 - Minutes
Board Meetings 2020-21
8 December 2020 - Minutes
30 March 2021 - Minutes
13 July 2021 - Minutes
Board Meetings 2019-20
24 September 2019 - Minutes
3 December 2019 - Minutes
3 April 2020 - Minutes
18 June 2020 - Minutes
14 July 2020 - Minutes
Board meetings 2018-2019
11 December 2018 - Minutes
2 April 2019 - Minutes
9 July 2019 - Minutes
Board Meetings 2017-2018
5 December 2017 – Minutes
20 March 2018 – Minutes
3 July 2018 – Minutes