OLDHAM College is delighted to learn that Anne Gornall (Vice Chair and Governor) has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in King Charles III’s first New Year’s Honours List.
The MBE has been awarded for her services to Further Education and Skills.
Anne, 67 (pictured above) has now worked in the education sector for three decades.
In addition to her duties as Vice Chair and a Governor at Oldham College, she has been Executive Director at Greater Manchester Learning Provider Network since 2014 and is also Co-Chair of the Northern Skills Network.
Blackburn-born and bred, Anne left school at 16 but colleagues in her first job at Blackburn Council inspired her to go into Further Education, which ultimately led to her obtaining a degree in Psychology and Sociology at the University of Keele.
Her own life journey is what ultimately motivated Anne to forge a career in the education sector and to encourage adults into lifelong learning and to embrace new opportunities.
After spells working in London, Germany and Texas, she returned to the UK: initially working for nine years in Scotland before coming back to the North West.
She worked at Manchester College in offender learning skills and then spent 12 years at the former Learning and Skills Council and its replacement body, the Skills Funding Agency, in the North West Relationship Team.
Alun Francis, Oldham College’s Principal and Chief Executive, said: “Anne went into further and higher education because she was inspired to do so by others, so she is a fantastic example of the difference that this sector makes to so many people’s lives and prospects.”
“She has more than repaid that encouragement from others by inspiring and helping countless more people to reach their full potential – often against the odds – over the past 30 years.
“Anne is typically modest and humble about this achievement, but it is thoroughly well deserved and I am thrilled to congratulate her on the award of this MBE on behalf of everyone at Oldham College.”
