Dr John Graystone

Dr John Graystone is the Chair of Agored Cymru Board of Directors

Dr Graystone retired after 12 years as Chief Executive of ColegauCymru/ CollegesWales,  representing further education (FE) colleges in Wales. His most recent role, before being appointed Agored Cymru’s Chair of Agored Cymru Board in 2015, was as interim Director at NIACE Cymru.  As such, Dr Graystone has played a key role in influencing the education and skills policy in Wales.

John has also been Chief Executive of two other college associations and a member of the senior management team at The Staff College. He has held policy roles for national bodies representing trade unions and local authorities. He has taught in schools and at further and higher education institutions, served on a range of government committees and task and finish groups, evaluated national education projects and served as an GCSE examiner and adult literacy tutor.  

Dr Graystone is a respected consultant in the sector, having worked with over 200 governing bodies in the UK and overseas. He has recently carried out a number of consultancies on governance and management in Wales and Ireland. He has published regularly in journals, the education press and the Western Mail. John was awarded his doctorate in 2000 for research into the governance of FE colleges in the UK.

John is deputy chair of The College Merthyr Tydfil and a governor of Bridgend College. He is also a member of the  audit committee of the University of South Wales and serves on the membership body of Glas Cymru/Welsh Wate). He chairs the Board of Addysg Oedolion Cymru/Adult Learning Wales  and has recently been appointed by the Cabinet Secretary for Education to the Board of the National Academy for Educational Leadership.

John has received honorary fellowships from two FE colleges, the Chancellor's Medal from a Welsh university and was recognised for his services to education by the Association for College Management.

John is providing strategic direction and support to the Chief Executive and senior management team and Board of Directors of Agored Cymru to help ensure it continues to offer a high quality service and  is represented strongly at all levels in setting the skills agenda among decision makers in Wales.

Contact John Graystone.