Meet the tutors supporting you through CGIUKI training, courses and qualifications.
Our tutors are governance professionals at the top of their game. All actively working in governance roles in a range of sectors, they bring their unique experience, knowledge and skills to our courses to ensure you get the most from your learning.
Claire Robson FCG
Claire Robson is a seasoned governance professional, currently serving as Company Secretary for NHS Kent & Medway Integrated Care Board. She has previously held roles such as Governance Director and Data Protection Officer at the Chartered Insurance Institute, and Company Secretary at Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. Claire is a Chartered Secretary and holds a Master’s degree in Information Rights Law and Practice. Active within the not-for-profit sector, she contributes as both trustee and external advisor. Her ongoing involvement with the CGIUKI includes working as a subject matter expert, independent trainer, and Chief Examiner for CGIUKI sector qualifications.
David Joel CDir
David Joel is a Chartered Director and qualified physicist with over 30 years’ senior leadership experience spanning defence engineering and technology, services and facilities management, and professional services, largely at board level. He has held numerous executive and non executive roles, including Managing Director of Serco Test Technology, Managing Director of Lanson Consultants Ltd, and non executive directorships across regulated, private, and public-sector organisations, as well as serving as President and Chair within Hampshire and Portsmouth Chambers of Commerce. David has extensive experience working with government bodies such as the MoD, MoJ, DWP, and LGA, including leading the privatisation of the Atomic Weapons Establishment and supporting public-sector organisations through commercialisation and outsourcing. A highly experienced board evaluator and facilitator, he has designed and delivered a wide range of director and board development initiatives across multiple sectors.
Helen Baker FCG
Helen Baker is an experienced Chartered governance professional, with a background in the secretariats of large listed international groups. She has a track record of working collaboratively with the board, senior management, secretariat team and wider business to deliver pragmatic solutions while ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Before setting up her own consultancy, HN06, she worked for main market listed and AIM traded groups, including ITM Power, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Legal & General, WS Atkins and National Grid. Helen has been involved in the production of annual reports for over 20 years, covering the full range of roles associated with the process from project management to drafting content, and from proofreading to running compliance and verification processes.
Laura Higgins FCG
Laura is a Chartered Secretary and Fellow of the CGIUKI. With over 20 years of experience operating in a variety of company secretary roles for FTSE100 and FTSE250 organisations, Laura has gained a wealth of experience navigating complex stakeholder dynamics and situations and has been recognised as a board influencer (GovHot 100). Laura is the founder of The CoSec Coach, which provides specialist governance leadership development programmes for governance professionals, boards, and teams. Elevating the value of governance is her passion, and she remains an in-demand speaker at governance conferences and events and has curated a range of online, classroom and bespoke training for CGIUKI.
Lyn Colloff FCG
Lyn Colloff is a Chartered Secretary with 40 years’ experience in governance, risk, and compliance across listed and regulated sectors. Most recently, she served as Company Secretary and Head of Governance, Risk and Compliance at Wincanton plc, a FTSE 250 supply chain leader, where she was also a member of the Executive team. Prior to Wincanton, Lyn held senior roles at Cobham plc and the Financial Services Authority, consistently advising boards on corporate governance and regulatory matters. Lyn chairs the Company Secretary’s Forum of the CGIUKI and contributes to thought leadership in governance through consultation responses and professional committees. She holds an MBA from Aston University and is passionate about empowering boards to navigate risk, strategy, and transformation with integrity and insight.
Mark Leyland-Smith ACG CDir
Mark’s executive career spans over 30 years in senior leadership roles, principally, but not exclusively in the third sector. He has also held executive and non-executive board and committee roles. Mark is a chartered governance professional, chartered accountant and chartered director. His work focuses on both personal and organisational development, leveraging his experience as an ICF - credentialed coach to draw out individual and collective learning and awareness.
Natasha Broomfield-Reid
Natasha Broomfield-Reid, Founder and Director of Diverse Matters, leads the company and designs and delivers diversity and inclusion solutions across sectors, including training, audits, policy development, research, leadership development, and advisory support. With over 25 years’ experience in equity and inclusion, she has helped organisations gain awards recognising their commitment to inclusive practice. Natasha has delivered programmes nationally and globally on bias, race equity, disability, gender equality, mental health, dignity at work, community engagement, and LGBT+ inclusion. She is also an experienced guest speaker, facilitator and chair, and has held senior roles including chairing regional and national panels within the public and voluntary sectors.
Simon Osborne FCG
Simon Osborne is a board performance reviewer, governance consultant and trainer. He is an Executive Fellow with the London Business School, adviser to the International Corporate Governance Network and vice-president of the charity, Railway Benefit Fund. He is a chartered secretary; solicitor; former company secretary and general counsel; and a former CEO of CGIUKI.
