
How to strengthen governance in awarding organisations
Governance in awarding organisations starts with the right board. Learn how strategic trustee recruitment strengthened OCN London's board.
How diverse experience strengthens governance and board decisions
Through two recruitment campaigns, OCN London attracted senior leaders from across further and higher education, local government, professional services, awarding organisations and economic inclusion policy.
This breadth of expertise has strengthened board discussions and decision-making.
Trustees now bring:
- Frontline understanding of learner experience
- Insight into employer needs and regional skills priorities
- Leadership expertise from large FE groups and universities
- Specialist regulatory and awarding‑sector experience
- Corporate HR and people‑strategy capability
- Strategic experience in social mobility, adult education and economic inclusion
The result is a board that debates issues more openly, challenges decisions more effectively and considers the organisation’s operating environment in greater depth.
Carlos Cubillo-Barsi, CEO of OCN London, emphasised the positive shift in board dynamics:
“The quality of candidates has improved, and the way we’ve been able to bring in a breadth of skills that we didn’t have before is great. The board feels more impactful; it feels like it’s driving decisions in a way that perhaps it wasn’t able to before because it has more confidence. Peridot understood our needs, they understood the sector, and they understood what we were looking for. And they were able to bring forward candidates that really met the brief.”
Read more:How cross-sector trustees strengthen awarding organisations
Category:Awarding organisations, membership & skills

Written by
Rajia Alam
Principal Consultant | Awarding, Assessment & Professional Education
Rajia Alam has worked in education recruitment for over 15 years and is a qualified recruiter through the REC. Over the course of her career, she has worked as a consultant responsible for recruiting and managing client relationships and as a Branch Manager, where she led teams to deliver strong results. This breadth of experience has given Rajia a deep understanding of recruitment, from identifying and placing talent to building long-term partnerships — expertise she now brings to executive search and consultancy.
Rajia joined Peridot Partners in 2025 as a Principal Consultant in the Awarding, Assessment and Professional Education Appointments, working with organisations to understand their needs and support them in finding leaders who can create lasting impact. She is deeply inspired by this work to support organisations that play such a vital role in education, skills and professional development. Rajia highly values collaboration, listening carefully, understanding challenges and working alongside clients and colleagues to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Outside of work, Rajia balances motherhood alongside old hobbies. She is a yoga lover and keeps active by running. She loves to read new novels, enjoys travelling and frequents the West End for the latest shows. Since becoming a mother, fun looks a little different — blowing bubbles in the garden at top speed, storytelling with exaggerated expressions, singing with dorky dance moves, and building towers out of mega blocks (while secretly hoping the toys will clear themselves away at the end of the day!).
Related articles

How cross-sector trustees strengthen awarding organisations
Read further
How good governance strengthens awarding organisations
Read further
Awarding organisation trustee interview preparation guide (with bonus cheat sheet)
Read further
Awarding Bodies: Insights from the Experts – Deborah Jenkins
Read further
Awarding Bodies: Insights from the Experts – Phil Beach CBE
Read further
Awarding Bodies: Insights from the Experts – Everton Burke OBE
Read further
What AAO readiness really means for leadership and governance
Read further
What good awarding organisation leadership looks like
Read further
How established membership organisations adapt to change
Read further
What is a ‘reasonable’ adjustment in high-stakes assessment?
Read further
EPAO to AAO: Preparing for the apprenticeship assessment reform
Read further