Lizzie Guinness

Skills

Systems Convening

Policy Co-design

Strategic Governance

Devolution Alignment

Strategic Foresight

Public Reform

Accountability Frameworks

Risk Governance

Grant Management

Portfolio Stewardship

Programme Delivery

Partner Capability

Participatory Funding

Impact Evaluation

Cross-Sector Partnerships

Group Facilitation

Capability Building

Experiential Learning

Nonviolent Communication

Leadership Mentoring

Culture Transformation

Inclusive Leadership

Youth Voice

Digital Wellbeing

Stakeholder Engagement

Community Participation

About

My work in central government leading strategy and policy in the FE sector has shown me what brilliant, transformative places colleges are. Across a number of my roles at the Department for Education, I have visited college campuses and worked closely with leading colleges. As Head of FE System Oversight & Performance, I also had the privilege of undertaking several multi-day immersion visits at colleges across the country. Spending time on campus, seeing frontline delivery in action, and connecting with students and staff truly felt like coming home. Those experiences cemented my desire to translate my strategic experience from Whitehall directly into the sector—where I can work directly to support young people, remove barriers, and unlock their full potential.

I bring a deep understanding of accountability regimes, national and regional policy, funding structures, and systems oversight, alongside a strong track record of leadership across the public and third sectors:

Accountability Regimes, Strategy & FE Policy: Led national accountability and regional devolution strategy across 1.8m learners, stewarded £1bn+ in public investment (including securing an £800m study-hours uplift), and led a 10-person team as Head of AI & Assistive Tech Strategy. I offer colleges an insider’s perspective on navigating complex regulatory, policy, and funding environments.
Systems Strategy & Multi-Agency Partnerships: Deep expertise in place-based devolution, post-16 skills agendas, and bringing together local authorities, employers, and educational providers to drive regional growth and learner outcomes.
Third-Sector Leadership & Impact: Led delivery of a £2m National Citizen Service programme, supported 200+ Young Ambassadors annually at The Prince’s Trust, and oversaw grant governance and coaching for 17 grassroots partners with Karuna Trust (supporting 10,000+ learners).
Frontline Practice & Youth Empowerment: Co-founder and Lead Facilitator of the Teens Mindfulness Project, designing courses and retreats to foster emotional agency and resilience in young people.

I am eager to apply my knowledge of strategy, governance, and policy to support a college in achieving its strategic vision and delivering exceptional outcomes for its learners and community.