Nora Senior reappointed as Chair of Edinburgh College Board of Management
Edinburgh College has welcomed the reappointment of Nora Senior CBE DL as Chair of its Board of Management for a further four-year term.
The reappointment, announced by the Scottish Government, means Nora will continue to provide strategic leadership to one of Scotland's largest colleges as it delivers education and skills for more than 26,000 students and works closely with employers and communities across Edinburgh and the Lothians as well as nationally and internationally.
Since becoming Chair in 2022, Nora has led the Board through a period of significant change, supporting the College's financial sustainability and helping shape its long-term strategic direction. At a time of financial pressure across the college sector, she has shown a particular focus on sustainability, effective governance, partnership and future ambition.
Edinburgh College has continued to perform strongly, achieving learning and teaching outcomes above the Scottish sector average, as highlighted in the Student Outcomes Report 2024/25, made significant progress towards its Net Zero ambitions through initiatives such as the decarbonisation of its Midlothian Campus; and driven innovation across the organisation to ensure the curriculum is future-proofed.
With extensive leadership experience in international business and the public sector, Nora brings a strong understanding of the relationship between education, skills, employers and economic growth. Alongside her role at Edinburgh College, she is currently Chair of East Midlands Freeport and previously served as President of the British Chambers of Commerce, Vice Chair of Council of the University of Nottingham and Chair of the Scottish Government's Strategic Board for Enterprise and Skills. During a 30-year international business career, Nora was latterly Group Executive Chair of international consultancy Weber Shandwick.
The reappointment will run to 3 July 2030.
I am delighted to be continuing as Chair of Edinburgh College Board of Management. This is a fantastic organisation and the work we’re doing is of huge importance to the local communities and economies that we serve. Colleges have a vital role to play in creating opportunity, supporting economic growth and equipping people with the skills they need to succeed throughout their lives. Edinburgh College is at the heart of that mission. As we begin delivering our new strategic plan, I look forward to working with Audrey, colleagues across the College and the Board to build on that progress, strengthen our partnerships with employers and communities, and ensure Edinburgh College continues to deliver an outstanding learning experience and make a positive difference to the region and Scotland. We’ve already achieved a lot in the past four years, and I’m excited to see what more we can do to develop our offering and change the lives of those who choose to study here.Edinburgh College Chair Nora Senior CBE DL said:
Nora's leadership has made a significant contribution to Edinburgh College over the past four years. She has brought considerable business experience, strategic insight and a strong commitment to excellence, supporting the College through an important period of development. As we embark on the next phase of our strategic journey, I am delighted that we will continue to benefit from Nora's leadership and look forward to working together to deliver our ambitions for students, staff, employers and our communities.Edinburgh College Principal and Chief Executive Audrey Cumberford said: