Ellen is Chief Executive at Education Partnership North East, a place based further and higher education college group in the North East of England. Over the past 8 years the group has transformed itself into a leading academic, technical, further and higher education provider.

Now the North East of England’s largest regional college, the group includes City of Sunderland College., Northumberland College, Hartlepool Sixth Form College, and EPNE Training. The college’s catchment area spans from the Scottish borders to Middlesbrough and serves approximately 15,000 + students annually.    

Over recent years £90+ million investment in capital for technical resources, has ensured employers and students, including the region’s most vulnerable, can access high quality learning environments aligned to the world of work. Investment has specifically focussed on Engineering and Manufacturing, EV and Green Power, Automation and Robotics, Science, Technology, Health, Creative Industries, Veterinary Science and Agriculture, Special Education Needs and Disability.

In 2025, the College Group will open a new Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy in Sunderland, and a cutting-edge Technical Campus in Ashington, informed by Gen Zero designs developed with the Department for Education.

The College Group is now one of the highest performing colleges nationally, and its work has culminated in a succession of National Awards.

Ellen is a National Leader of Further Education within the FE Commissioner’s team and has an extensive track record of working on governance of advisory roles across the public and private sectors.

Prior to her career in the further education, as a qualified RGN, Ellen held several senior nurse positions within the health and care sectors and continues to utilise this varied experience to shape skills strategy to the benefit of people, productivity and place.

Ellen is passionate about place-based strategy and is a strong advocate for social mobility. In 2020 she was awarded an OBE for her services to education.