Milestone Achievement for FEA Leadership Programme Graduates

Congratulations to the first cohort of FE Associate leadership programme graduates to achieve Professional Recognition and Associate Membership of the Chartered Institution for Further Education

On Friday 10 July 2026, the first cohort of graduates of FE Associates (FEA) leadership development programmes were entered into the Chartered Institution for Further Education (CIFE) as Associate Members.  This exciting new development comes about through the sector-leading partnership between FEA and the CIFE, whereby graduates of FE Associates’ leadership development programme can gain recognition of their leadership learning by obtaining Associate Membership status with the Institution.

Our first cohort attended the summer admissions ceremony at Apothecaries Hall in London and were formally entered into membership by the CIFE Chairman of the Council, the Right Honourable The Lord Lingfield. This high-profile ceremony was attended by CIFE council members, a number of sector leaders and the guest of honour Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia.

Commenting on this development, FE Associates Managing Director Matt Atkinson said “So much hard work has gone into bringing this partnership between FE Associates and the Chartered Institution for Further Education to life and it was very special to see our first cohort gaining professional recognition and associate membership. I am very grateful to Sarah Drew and Lesley Davies from CIFE for working with me to make this partnership happen.”

We offer our sincere congratulations to the first cohort of sector leaders who have gained associate membership by completing an FEA leadership development programme. Colleagues attending the ceremony and receiving their associate membership were:

Holly Bayliss – Solihull College and University Centre
Wendy Bennett – West Lancashire College
Simon Farrar – Hopwood Hall College
Joy Kettyle – York College and University Centre
Lucy Mitchell – East Sussex College
Fenella Potterton – East Sussex College
Vanessa Packham – East Sussex College
Joanne Philpott – Northampton College
Paul Pritchard – Hopwood Hall College
Matthew Taylor – Hopwood Hall College
Kate Veryard – Brooklands Technical College
David Warnes  – Chelmsford College
Lisa Woodman – Hopwood Hall College
Simon Wright – The Henley College
Andry Waters – Brooklands Technical College