Governors

David was Principal of Cumbria Institute of the Arts (CIA) from September 1991 until retirement in August 2007, when the University of Cumbria was formed. He previously held teaching and senior management roles in the creative arts at universities in Lancaster, Liverpool, Brighton and Sheffield and at the CNAA as Associate Registrar. He also undertook reviews with the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA).

David was the first Chair of the Management Board of Higher Education Academy – Art Design Media Subject Centre from 1999 to 2007. He established GLAD (the Group for Learning in Art and Design) as a UK wide HE learning and teaching forum in 1989, being Chair from 1990 to 2007. He chaired the Higher Education Art and Design Trust from 1996 to 2005, now leading the HEAD Trust Project to support greater advocacy of the Art, Design, Media schools to HE subject sector as Trustee.

He was a Director of UCAS from 2000 and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors from 2004 to 2009 - a member of the Audit Committee and Chair of the UCAS Pensions Trustees. Vice Chair of GuildHE from 2003 to 2007, Chair of the National Arts Learning Network - a member of the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) Quality Assurance Learning and Teaching Committee, the Quality Assurance Framework Review Group and a member of the committee which established and funded Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs). Until October 2010 (when its work was completed) he was Vice Chair of the Delivery Partnership, set up by government/GuildHE/UUK to make changes to the UCAS applications processes.

David was a member of the Crafts Council and Chair of the Education Committee from 1990 to 1997, a Director of Northern Arts Board from 1993 being Vice Chair from 1998 to 2000 and a member of its successor body Arts Council England, North West Regional Council from 2002 to 2004.

David chaired the Grizedale Arts Trust from 2007 to 2010, seeing through a multi-million pound lottery funded building development programme.

He has also been Chair of Governors of Shankhill C of E School since 2005.

Stephen Higgs graduated in Classics from Birmingham University and completed his teacher training at Exeter University in 1979. As a teacher in Bristol, he took school groups ski-ing in the Dolomites and brought them to explore Hadrian’s Wall (and experience Cumbria’s weather!). After time as a Head of Department and Deputy Head, he moved to Carlisle in 1995 to become the Bursar at Trinity School, where he was responsible for the refurbishment and re-opening in 2005 of the swimming pool as Trinity Leisure Centre. In 2009, he became Finance Director of the Richard Rose Federation until he retired in 2012.

From 2014, he was a City Councillor until local government reorganisation saw the end of Carlisle City Council in March 2023. From 2019 until 2023, he held the portfolio for Culture, Heritage & Leisure as a member of the Council’s Executive. Stephen, who lives in Wetheral, is a parish councillor, a volunteer driver for a community bus service and a governor of two other schools.

Robert is the Regional Product Sales and Marketing Manager for Newsquest/LOCALiQ in the North of England & Wales, he earned his Chartered Institute of Marketing qualifications from Newton Rigg/University of Central Lancashire and achieved Chartered Marketer status. His extensive experience in developing and implementing strategic marketing campaigns has resulted in increased audiences, revenue, and brand awareness, earning him numerous awards for sales performance, innovation, and change management over the course of his career. In addition to his professional achievements, 

Robert is a member of the JICREG Technical Committee, which advises on audience measurement in the media industry, as well as the Marketing Working Group and Sales Development Groups, where he leads best practice across the industry. He has also overseen research projects throughout the UK and has extensive general management experience in publishing, sales, marketing, finance, HR, analytics, and mental health awareness. 

Outside of work, Robert volunteers his time to coach Grassroots Sports and serves as the secretary of a local sports club.

Paul is a former pupil of Morton School.  Currently he is employed by Cumberland Council in the Thriving Place and Investment team.  He has experience of working in a variety of education settings including schools, colleges and universities. 

Paul is passionate about positive outcomes for young people, and making sure that their voices are heard.

Laura is a leadership, organisational, and personal mastery coach based in Carlisle, Cumbria, with a passion for empowering leaders and transforming businesses. With over 14 years of experience in the third sector, including senior roles as CEO at Cumbria CVS and Assistant Director at Eden District Council, Laura brings a wealth of knowledge in leadership, culture change, and strategic organisational development.

As a qualified Neuro-Linguistic Programming Master Practitioner and Coach, Laura delivers personalised coaching and training that drives measurable results in productivity, confidence, and workplace relationships. She specialises in leadership development, management coaching, and culture change programs.

Outside of work, Laura enjoys spending time with her family and supports several local charities in a volunteer director/trustee capacity.