Board of Management

Anne Campbell

Anne Campbell is the Principal and Chief Executive Officer of West College Scotland. She has a BA Hons in English and Politics, a Masters in Education (Leadership and Management), a Teaching Qualification Further Education (TQFE) and is a member of the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

Anne has over 25 years’ experience in the college sector and has occupied various leadership and management and learning and teaching positions throughout her career. Before joining the College as Principal, Anne was Vice Principal, Skills and Enterprise, at Ayrshire College. She provided leadership at local, regional and national level and influenced projects within the Ayrshire Regional Economic Strategy and Ayrshire Growth Deal to maximise opportunities for students, the College, its communities, stakeholders and the wider college sector.

Before joining Ayrshire College, Anne was Assistant Principal at West College Scotland. Appointed at merger, she made a significant contribution to the culture, values and ethos of the new organisation and was actively involved with Inverclyde Chamber of Commerce as Vice-President.

Anne is a member of SFC’s Skills, Enhancement, Access and Learning Committee and is a Board member of Energy Skills Partnership. She is the Chair of College Development Network’s Care Strategy steering group and represents the sector on the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce.

Anne is committed to making real and lasting impact by unlocking potential and leading, motivating and empowering staff to deliver the highest quality experience and to support the economic and social success of the college’s diverse communities.

Ronald Leitch

Ronald, from Paisley, started his career at Glasgow Airport as a Modern Apprentice in partnership with Reid Kerr College back in October 2000.  He has held numerous senior roles at the airport and the wider AGS Airport group with a range of leadership responsibilities across our airside, rescue and fire,  security, terminal, engineering, and capital investment.

From 2015 to 2019, Ronald led the Capital and Engineering functions where he was  responsible for delivering capital investment programmes totalling £70 million, including the replacement of the airport’s baggage systems to meet Standard 3 compliance and also major refurbishment programmes in the terminal and airfield. Ronald also played a crucial role in bringing the iconic A380 aircraft into service at Glasgow in 2019, which was a first for Scottish aviation, using his experience in operations to lead design development and construction delivery.  

Now the leader of Glasgow Airport in the role of Operations Director, he has led the business over the last two years through its most difficult time and looks forward positively to better times ahead.  

With his wealth of knowledge and experience across two decades in aviation, Ronald has joined the Board with a desire to support and assist those in Education harness links with industry and be part of shaping the future of West College Scotland for its staff and students to ensure the best learning opportunities exist in the communities it serves.

Danny McMahon

Danny is an experienced Engineering Leader having joined Rolls-Royce straight from School and completing an apprenticeship, Danny went on to graduate with an honours degree from Glasgow Caledonian University in 2011. Working as a Business Metrologist within Rolls-Royce Danny completed a Master of Science degree with the University of Strathclyde in 2015.

Having worked in the aerospace sector for 11 years Danny then moved roles to take leadership of the Metrology team at the Advanced Forming Research Centre, Part of the University of Strathclyde, where he grew the teams activities and helped to establish a Digital Team. Danny then led both teams growing their activities and capabilities around Digital technology and Measurement into what is now a key part of the Digital Factory within the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS).

Danny is currently a Business Partner within the Digital and Technology Plan function of Diageo looking at global investment and strategy for manufacturing. This role involves engagement across all Diageo sites globally to identify key areas where investment should be made in technology solutions.

Having made lifelong learning a key part of his career Danny has particular interest in skills and culture development and the ever-increasing impact technology has in these areas.

Dr Jillian Couto-Phoenix

Jillian is Head of Aquaculture at Lantra, an independent, accreditation body which exists to help the land-based, environmental and aquaculture industries meet their skills needs.  She does this by working closely with the aquaculture industry to create meaningful partnerships with schools, colleges and universities to encourage new generations into aquaculture and to develop those who are already working in the sector.

Jillian has had a varied career to date. She started out as an academic scientist in the medical/life-sciences, and then, following a discipline hop, pivoted to develop a research and teaching portfolio in environmental engineering and biotechnology.

 Wanting to enable newly discovered science and technology to make a more direct impact in society, Jillian moved from academia and has since taken up various appointments within the Scottish innovation ecosystem to enable this to happen.

Alongside her appointment at Lantra, Jillian runs an innovation and training consultancy which specialised in teaching university researchers about responsible innovation. She is also on the advisory board of Women in Scottish Aquaculture, a leading professional network for women in the aquaculture sector.

Terry Dillon

Terry has spent most of his career leading successful transformation and change programmes across both the public and private sector.

Since joining Skills Development Scotland in 2008, Terry has successfully led the delivery of a range of innovative programmes and projects, including the design and implementation of Foundation and Graduate Apprenticeships in Scotland.

Terry’s extensive international knowledge of, and advocacy for, work-based learning has been instrumental in driving transformative change of Modern Apprenticeships in Scotland. Working with the devolved governments, national agencies, industry and employers, Terry led the design and implementation of a best-in-class, employer led approach to apprenticeship development which has improved industry engagement in workforce development while supporting inclusion and diversity in fair and productive workplaces.

Passionate about skills development and its contribution to a prospering Scottish economy; Terry has joined the Board of West College Scotland with the desire to enhance the delivery of public services and support Scotland’s post-school skills and education system for better outcomes.

Terry holds an MA in Politics from Glasgow University and an MBA from the University of Strathclyde. He also sits on the Board of the Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock.

Fiona McLaren

Fiona has been a member of the Support staff at Clydebank College and latterly West College Scotland since October 2006.

She has a BA (Hons) from Strathclyde University and has post graduate qualifications from the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Chartered Management Institute.

Fiona also sits on the College Development Network (CDN) Communications Steering Group for Choose College, working closely with members from other colleges to develop a sector strategy and raise the profile of the college sector nationally.

Fiona is passionate about using her experience and connections to help support positive changes at the College.

John Scott

John is the Director of Facilities and Capital Projects at NHS Golden Jubilee and is responsible for Estates, Capital Planning, Health & Safety and Security. He is also lead on the Board's Hospital Expansion Programme which has seen the construction of a new Eye Centre and Surgical Centre on the site with a value of £115m.   He started his career in architecture before a move to the NHS where, for over 25 years, he worked for various Health Boards and has significant experience of delivering major capital projects.

From 2010 to 2017, John was Head of Capital Planning & Programmes at NHS Ayrshire & Arran where he was responsible for delivering the Board's capital investment programme.  This included leading on the Board’s  Woodland View project, a £52m, 206 bed Acute Mental Health and Community Hospital.   The hospital opened in May 2016 and has since received national and international awards.

John is also an independent assurance reviewer for Scottish Government, Programme and Project Management Centre of Expertise, which involves carrying out independent reviews of designated public sector projects across Scotland.

John has joined the Board with a desire to support those in education and as well as helping shape the future of West College Scotland.

Joanne Kerr

Joanne Kerr has dedicated her career to transforming education through innovative curriculum design, stakeholder engagement, and inclusive learning strategies. With a strong background in teaching, leadership, and development, she is committed to shaping education that puts learners at the centre.

Since beginning her career in youth work, playwork, and community learning and development, Joanne has successfully led a range of initiatives that enhance teaching and learning experiences and improve opportunities for marginalised people. Her expertise spans curriculum development, strategic planning, and quality assurance, ensuring that educational institutions meet the evolving needs of students and communities.

A passionate advocate for mental health and well-being in education, Joanne has played a key role in integrating holistic support structures that empower learners to thrive. Her work is underpinned by a belief in lifelong learning and the need for inclusive education that celebrates diversity and fosters equity.

Joanne holds a Master of Science in Mental Health and Education from the University of West of Scotland, a PGDip in Tertiary Education with TQFE (with distinction) from the University of Stirling, and a Joint Honours MA from the University of Glasgow. She has also completed specialised training in mentoring, coaching, and external verification of assessment processes.

Joanne is committed to driving excellence in education through collaboration, innovation, and positive change. Joining the board at West College Scotland, she aims to support the college to continue to innovate in the advancement of educational practices that equip learners with the skills and opportunities they need to succeed.

Alisdair Barron

Throughout his career in HR, Organisational Development, Change and General Management, Alisdair advocated for and championed wherever possible, the academic, professional, and technical training qualifications offered by the FE Sector in Scotland. Some twenty years ago he joined the Board of Central College, Glasgow with the vision of creating a world class learning and teaching environment for generations of Scotland’s students.

With his experience of Board membership and roles as Senior independent Member, Sub-Commminttee Convenor, Vice- Chair and Chair, working together with others, the first of the recent generation of college mergers was achieved in Glasgow, creating a learning and teaching environment second to none. He also recognises the need for strong, mutual beneficial, commercial strategic alliances and partnerships both within college sector in Scotland and tertiary sector internationally.

Alisdair was the driving force of a small UK based international paediatric hospice and medical support charity caring for infants and children with HIV Aids and the founding director of a number of charities in Romania operating across the Balkans caring for children with incurable, terminal neurological and life limiting hereditary conditions and supporting families living in the direst poverty or subject to educational and social disadvantage and discrimination

Until recently he was actively involved in the Children’s Panel system serving more than forty-five years until his retirement. Alisdair is committed to empowering WCS students and staff to maximise their potential and future life opportunities and is honoured to be part of WCS’s visionary and high-powered Board.