Fiona is a CEO who is highly self-motivated and enthusiastic. Experienced in managing a variety of initiatives in a changing environment, with strategic acumen. A proven record of over achieving growth targets through increasing delivery against budget in both revenue and profit. An influential communicator who is able to execute business objectives through building teams.
I have worked for many years in the area of people management for a range of voluntary and public sector organisastions. I am a keen collaborator and have successfully led several groups; I currently Chair Synchrnonise West Sussex which has an active membership of 40; we meet bi-montly. I have a passion for teaching vocational training and leading organisations to help provide opportunities to support local people to take positive steps in their lives. I am told I am good at persuading and convicing others to do likewise:- I thought this was because it made sense to do so anyhow! I have wide ranging expertise in the Employment and Skills arena alongside my HR expertise.
Matt has over 25 years experience working in further and higher education, designing, delivering, leading, and now championing practical, employer-led, real-world learning. He began in sport science and coaching, where alongside his teaching commitments he supported athletes across a wide range of sports up to and including international and Paralympic levels.
Over time, Matt moved into educational leadership, developing teaching, learning and assessment practice and supporting staff to design and deliver courses that connect classroom learning with real job opportunities.
As Director of the South Coast Institute of Technology, Matt now leads a collaboration of universities, colleges, and employers working together to boost technical education across the Maritime, Engineering, and Digital sectors. The South Coast Institute of Technology delivers training that’s shaped by industry and focused on future skills and careers. He supports a mix of training pathways, including T levels, apprenticeships, higher technical qualifications, degrees and professional development. His focus is on making sure learners from all backgrounds have access to high-quality technical education that prepares them for genuine careers.
A retired senior police officer with 30 years’ experience, I’m now CEO of Shaping Portsmouth, driven by a passion for community impact. Skilled in leadership, governance, partnership building, and organisational performance, I combine operational insight with strategic thinking. I’m also a carer, mentor, and committed advocate for positive social change.
Editor in chief at National World for a number of sites in incredible cities across England - The News in Portsmouth, the Edinburgh News, LondonWorld, GlasgowWorld BirminghamWorld, DerbyWorld and NottinghamWorld. We are proud of our cities and positive about the people and businesses who call them home.
Previous editor of The News from September 2007 working with a fantastic team on the biggest selling newspaper on the south coast, complemented by its website at portsmouth.co.uk
Before that I was editor of the Swindon Advertiser, with a career which has also taken in Aldershot News and Mail, Sunday Sun (Melbourne), Hull Daily Mail and the South Wales Echo in Cardiff.
Jon has over 30 years’ experience in the construction industry, with a diverse and wide ranging background commencing my career in Architecture working in an Architectural practice. He then had a change of career and then moved to Construction Management. Throughout his career he has progressed from Site Manager, Contracts Manager / Surveyor / Estimator, Operations Manager, Area Director and is currently Managing Director for Amiri; who are local regional contractor in the central south with a turnover of £70m.
Jon is also a director in the non-profit Shared Apprenticeship South West company, which helps employers who want to support the development of skills but unable to offer a full term apprenticeship.. Jon is married with three children, two of which are in the construction industry, enjoys watching football and spending time with his grandchildren.
Graham Kerr was born in Sunderland and grew up in Washington, Tyne & Wear. He originally joined the Royal Navy in 2003 and served for 14 years before leaving to become a history teacher. He subsequently rejoined in 2019 and commissioned as a Training Management Officer. He has served in various ships at Sea around the world, and on land operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait. Studying part-time, Graham completed a bachelor’s in history with the Open University and started a master’s in History with Edinburgh University in 2015. This was cut short to attend Newcastle University in 2016 to gain a PGCE in Secondary Education. Kerr enrolled in the Institute of Education at UCL to study for a Master’s in Education which he successfully completed in 2019. After completing a PGDip in Human Resource Management with Portsmouth University, Kerr was awarded a Wilkie Calvert Studentship, starting a PhD in History with Reading University. He currently serves in the Royal Navy’s apprenticeship team and will be moving to a new role with NATO in Norfolk, Virginia in September 2025.
