Governor

Philip Parkinson

Membership type:

Term ends:

External and Chair of Governors

31/08/2025

I am a freelance consultant and non-executive director with a small portfolio of local clients although largely retired now.  I trained as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young here in Leicester.  I later worked in the UK, Germany and Hong Kong as Finance Director of several companies latterly with Rohan, a clothing retailer.

I was co-opted onto the Audit Committee in 2009, became a Governor of WQE in 2013 and have been the Chair of Governors since July 2022.  Contributing to the work of the College, including participating in various Committees and Task & Finish Groups, has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.  I was a member of the Merger Steering Group which worked on the merger with Regent College and afterwards a core member of the Strategic Oversight group.

My family have a very long association with WQE and its predecessors, Wyggeston Boys and Wyggeston Girls. My grandfather first attended the boys’ school in 1905 and later my father was a pupil as were several cousins and uncles and finally my eldest daughter in 1997.  My mother and other family attended the girls’ school.

I have 3 adult daughters, two of whom live and work abroad and a 13 year old son, Harry and 2 grandsons.

I have been a Leicester Tigers supporter since childhood and have sung in a variety of choirs including the Leicester Bach Choir and the Birmingham Bach Choir.  I am a trustee of the Billesdon Village Charities.  I am a volunteer lock keeper with the Canal & River Trust which gets me plenty of fresh air and exercise.  I also enjoy walking and playing squash.