Diane Grannell

Independent Member of the Board of Governors

Diane recently retired as Principal & Chief Executive of Bournemouth & Poole College, after a long career in further and higher education. She is a Non-Executive Director at the Dorset Centre of Excellence, a special school for children and young people with special education needs and disabilities.

A qualified Chartered Management Accountant, Diane has worked at a number of different institutions including eight years as finance executive lead at the Arts University Bournemouth.  

In addition to financial expertise, she has extensive senior level leadership experience of further and higher education policy and regulation, institutional strategy, culture, organisational development and quality assurance. At one time or another, she has led most of the different professional services functions relevant to colleges and universities.

As Principal & Chief Executive, Diane worked in partnership with many local statutory and industry bodies across Dorset. She led her college to develop a curriculum that better met local skills needs and to improve the quality of student outcomes. She has served as a Director of Dorset LEP and as Chair of their Finance, Audit & Risk Committee.

Diane holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Manchester University. She is married with one adult son and lives in Hampshire. Having been involved in education for most of her working life, she is passionate about providing all young people with opportunities to fulfil their potential. She is a strong advocate for practical and creative education as a route to future individual success and wider economic prosperity.

Term of Office: 

• December 2022 to November 2026 (first term) 

Sub-committees: 

• Chair of Audit & Risk Committee  
• Member of Nominations Committee 
• Member of Strategic Estates Advisory Panel 

Registered interests: 

• Dorset Centre of Excellence Ltd 

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