Sunderland College welcomes new Campus Principal

Sunderland College is excited to announce the appointment of Sonya Anderson as its new Principal for City Campus and the Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy (HICSA).

Sonya, an experienced leader with over two decades of working in skills sectors, will guide the college with a focus on place-based leadership, implementing key strategies to deepen partnerships with business and industries, and growing engagement to the benefit of local community.

Overseeing a significant national curriculum portfolio as Director of Learning and Skills at Ixion, part of the Shaw Trust, Sonya grew up in Sunderland and graduated from the university with a BA (Hons) in Business Administration and Management, where she also received a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

Sonya was previously Principal for Learning and Skills at Gateshead Council and has many strong connections to stakeholders within Sunderland and the wider northeast.

On her appointment, she said: “I have a personal affiliation with Sunderland, having both worked here and studied at the university. My family is also from the area, it is a place where I have grown up, and I feel privileged to be a key lead in its continued success and ambitions.

“There are many factors that have impressed me about Sunderland College and EPNE, such as their significant achievements – being the top performing college group in the northeast – and their innovative ambitions for the region, alongside the culture and values for both students and staff.

“I can’t wait to join the executive leadership team and to meet and support our teams to help drive exciting developments, our future success, and build upon their already impressive results and achievements. There’s always more to do and achieve especially when continual improvement is at the heart of our core business.”

Under Sonya’s leadership, Sunderland College will build on existing partnerships to drive a strong, mutually beneficial relationship with local business, industries and communities, fostering growth and innovation. Having a strong track record in leading a significant national adult skills portfolio, Sonya will also take over the executive leadership of EPNE adult skills strategies across the region.

After working nationally, Sonya is looking forward to “coming back home” and helping Sunderland College and the College group deepen its work within the city and wider region.

She added: “By engaging with the local community at grassroots level we will gain valuable insights to help us stay at the forefront, understanding the city’s and combined authority’s needs and identify areas that will promote and support economic productivity and social inclusion.

“Our unique skilled based curriculum offer will ensure we are nurturing and growing talent to develop and retain our future professionals in the local area, strengthen communities and drive socio-economic growth and sustainability for the Northeast of England.”

Taking up her new role this week, part of Sonya’s role will be to oversee HICSA, a ground-breaking facility that will educate, train and upskill local people to build, retrofit and create innovative factory-build homes.

Due to open in 2025, the academy will play a key role in the region’s construction skills and housing strategies.

Ellen Thinnesen, Chief Executive of EPNE and Sunderland College, said: “Sonya has an amazing track record for leading complexity, driving transformation, and prioritising quality. Having a skill set that is standards driven, business focussed, and impact led, Sonya is an asset for our college.

“Along with Toni Rhodes, my Deputy Chief Executive I am excited to be working with Sonya especially as we are due to launch our new Strategic Plan early in 2025. I am also delighted Sonya loves the northeast as much as we do, and I know her passion for place will shine through”.