Senior Management Team

Principal of Writtle College
Professor David Butcher

Professor David (Dave) Butcher took up the post of Writtle College Principal in October 2006. Dave has over 30 years experience in land-based education and was formerly Dean of the School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences at Nottingham Trent University. He graduated from Hull University with an Honours degree in Geography, and has since gained a Postgraduate qualification in Geography and Environmental Science and a PhD, which he gained before lecturing at the University of Huddersfield.

Professor Butcher’s extensive career also includes contributions to various books and journals, as well as consultancy positions in key environmental research projects.

Head of Higher Education
Dr Jeremy Strong

Chair of the Association of Adaptation Studies, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.

Jeremy joined the College in April 2007. With an extensive list of research through publication, Jeremy is also an established reviewer of published peer research. He has 15 years experience working within Higher Education and comes from an academic Lecturing background, where for five years he headed up the Media department at Thames Valley University.

He holds degrees from the University of Exeter, New York University and the University of Stirling.

Head of Further Education
Andy Sparks

Engineering Technician (Eng Tech), Member of the Institute of the Motor Industry and Certificated Automotive Engineer. Andy joined the College in May 2009 with over 14 years experience working in the Further and Higher Education sectors. Andy’s experience covers a wide range of vocational sectors including landbased, construction, engineering, care, sport and management to name but a few.

After starting as a new blood lecturer at Suffolk College in 1995 he progressed through the ranks, becoming a Senior Teaching Practitioner before moving to Otley College where he took up the post of Curriculum Manager Technology. Latterly, Andy was responsible for business generation, Off-site training and commercial activities at Otley before joining Writtle as Head of Further Education.

Director of Finance and Operations
Bob Edes

A qualified FCCA accountant, who has worked at the College since January 2001. With over 15 years experience at a senior level in Financial and Management Accounting and Project Finance, Bob directly advises the Governing Body at the College about financial and economic issues. Prior to arriving at the College, Bob worked for BAE Systems (Ex- Marconi Electronic Systems) where he undertook a range of roles, the last of these being Finance Manager.

Bob started out his career in travel management, working within the industry for 15 years before deciding to undertake a career change and study for his Professional Accountancy Qualification.

Director of Organisational Development
Karen Edwards

A Fellow of the CIPD and a Fellow of Institute of Leadership and Management. Karen joined the College in October 2007.

With over 20 years experience at senior level in Human Resources management, Karen’s expertise is in leading and managing cultural change, developing and improving people practices, processes and procedures that benefit the performance of the organisation as a whole.

Prior to working at the College, Karen was Director of HR & Development at Connexions in London East, playing a major part in setting up the Connexions partnership from scratch and leading on collaborative pan-London training projects.

Director of Marketing
Caroline Benyon

Caroline joined the College in 2009, bringing both commercial and education marketing experience to her role at Writtle.

She was previously a member of the senior management teams at Bournemouth University, the University of Chichester and the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. Prior to that she acted as a PR and marketing consultant for fashion, travel, professional services and retail clients as well as acting as a crisis communications specialist for the oil & gas industry.

Caroline is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

PA to the Principal
Jane Sullivan

Jane takes care of the Principal’s diary and correspondence and manages the administration of senior management team meetings.

Before joining the College, Jane worked in local Government (libraries and the planning department) and also for a diverse range of employers including a chartered surveyors practice, a builders’ merchant, British Telecom, a merchant bank and a confirming house.

Jane joined the College in 2003 and held other roles within the college before becoming PA to the Principal. She sees herself as an enabler and is happy to be contacted about any college related matter.