Pat wins vote for top college role (From St Helens Star)

Pat wins vote for top college role

11:40am Thursday 9th July 2009

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PAT Bacon has earned a new national profile for St Helens College after being elected to a top education role.

Pat, principal of the college, won the vote to be new President of the Association of Colleges.

She will take over from current president, David Collin, of South Cheshire College, next month.

Pat’s victory follows a closely run competition with Nigel Robbins, principal of Cirencester College, in a two-month race which saw final votes submitted on May 1.

Pat received 122 votes against Nigel’s 105. More than two thirds of AoC member colleges voted.

“I am delighted and feel honoured to receive that level of support,” said Pat.

“I would like to pay tribute to Nigel Robbins, who was clearly a very strong candidate.

“This election was also a win for AoC, given the strength of the vote. I look forward to building on the success of the first president, David Collins, and to working with a first rate team led by Martin Doel.

“I am sure that my appointment will benefit both the college and the local community. It will provide me with a national platform to raise the profile of the town and influence decision-making at senior levels of government.”

The office of AoC president was established in 2007 following a strategic review of the association.

The post was created to further enhance AoC’s work in reputation building and influencing.

AoC chief executive, Martin Doel, said: “We have benefited from having two top-class contenders in this election. The role of president is now well-established and I very much look forward to working with Pat to the benefit of members and the many people they serve – drawing upon her very wide experience of the work of colleges.”

AoC president, David Collins, said: “I’m very pleased that we have such a strong president-elect in what was clearly a tightly contested election.

“I’m sure Pat will do a brilliant job over the next year and I’m looking forward to working with her during the hand-over period.”

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