Asha Khemka Explained

Dame Asha Khemka (born October 1951,[1] in Sitamarhi, Bihar)[2] [3] is a former British educator who resigned as Principal and CEO from West Nottinghamshire College in late 2018 when the college experienced financial difficulties.[4] [5] [6] She joined the college in 2006, succeeding Di McEvoy-Robinson.[7] [8] [3] Prior to her resignation in October 2018 she was one of the highest paid in the sector.

Honours

Khemka was awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire), presented by Elizabeth II, then The Queen, at Buckingham Palace in 2008.[9] In 2014, she was elevated to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, which was presented by Charles III, then titled Prince of Wales, again at Buckingham Palace.[10]

Khemka is the fourth woman of Indian origin to be awarded a damehood of the Order of the British Empire (DBE or GBE) since the orders were instituted in 1917, following, chronologically, Kaikhusrau Jahan, Begum of Bhopal (1917), Maharani Lakshmi Devi Bai Sahiba of Dhar State (1931), and Indira Patel (2011).[8] [11]

In 2017, she was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Staffordshire, where she is a long-term resident.[12] In April 2017, she was named Asian Businesswoman of the Year at a ceremony in Birmingham.[13] [14]

Other awards

Charity

Khemka was the founder of the Inspire and Achieve Foundation, a mentoring organisation intended "...to help troubled, neglected and disadvantaged young people aged 16 to 26...", sometimes known as NEETS – Not in Employment, Education or Training.[17] [18]

Personal life

Khemka is married to Shankar Lal Khemka, a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon. They have three children.[7] [9] She left education in the Bihar area of India at the age 13 and was married at 15.[2] She travelled with her husband to live in the UK during 1978, where she first learned English by watching television and speaking to local people. After being a housewife for 20 years, she returned to education as a mature student, achieving a degree at Cardiff University, then secured her first career-step as a college business studies tutor.[3] [19]

Controversy and resignation

Khemka resigned on 1 October 2018, with 'immediate effect', following a special Board of Governors meeting.[20] The college experienced serious financial irregularities throughout 2018 and prior, and has been placed in 'special measures', having been handed a "Notice To Improve" during July, 2018.[21] [22] [23]

Prior to her resignation, Khemka was one of the highest paid principals/CEOs in the sector, with £275K in 2015/16 and £262K in 2016/17.[21] In early 2019, Khemka was reported to have claimed in excess of £41K expenses over a three-year period.[24] [25] FE Week reported that Khemka resigned without accepting a financial payout amounting to £130K.[26]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WEST NOTTINGHAMSHIRE EDUCATIONAL TRUST. Companies House. 29 July 2015.
  2. Principal's life story inspires students. Chad, 2 November 2016, p.46. Accessed 2 January 2022
  3. Web site: Woman from Bihar who dropped out of school at 13 is now Asian businesswoman of the Year. Being Indian. 8 July 2017.
  4. https://www.tes.com/news/high-profile-college-principal-quits-after-warning-over-finances High-profile college principal quits after warning over finances
  5. https://www.wnc.ac.uk/About-us/ Vision West Nottinghamshire College - About us
  6. https://www.wncgroup.co.uk/The-corporation/Executive-team.aspx The Corporation - Executive Team
  7. http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/new-years-honour-for-west-notts-chief-1-6342772 New Years Honour for West Notts chief
  8. Web site: Dame Asha Khemka profile. Hindustantimes.com. 31 December 2013 . 13 June 2015.
  9. News: Bihar to Britain: a unique journey for Dame Asha Khemka. hindustantimes.com. 27 October 2017.
  10. "Asha receives Damehood" Chad, 19 March 2014, p.13. Accessed 9 June 2024
  11. News: Sharma. Sarika. 26 October 2015. UK's first Asian woman HC judge is of Punjabi origin. The Times of India. Mumbai. 30 December 2015.
  12. http://www.staffordshirenewsroom.co.uk/new-deputy-lieutenants-appointed-staffordshire/ New Deputy Lieutenants appointed for Staffordshire
  13. Web site: Woman from Bihar with no English language skills is now 'Asian Businesswoman Of The Year' - More power to you. The Economic Times. 27 October 2017.
  14. News: Indian-origin educationist wins 'Asian Businesswoman of Year' award. The Times of India. 27 October 2017.
  15. http://www.cityandguilds.com/About-Us/How-We-Are-Organised/Trustee-Board/Asha-Khemka City and Guilds Trustee Board
  16. Principal's pride in national accolade, Chad, 30 November 2016, p.50. Accessed 10 October 2021
  17. "Inspirational charity is turning around the lives of young people in Nottinghamshire". Chad, 26 June 2013, pp.6-7. Accessed 13 May 2022
  18. https://www.inspireandachieve.co.uk/about-us About us
  19. http://www.news-journal.co.uk/past_editions/newsjournal-november-2016/ Principal shares life journey
  20. Web site: College ends use of corporate credit cards after its former principal claimed £40k expenses . FE Week . 11 January 2019 . 15 January 2019.
  21. https://www.tes.com/news/high-profile-college-principal-quits-after-warning-over-finances High-profile college principal quits after warning over finances
  22. Web site: Dame Asha quits West Notts college amid financial crisis. 1 October 2018. feweek.co.uk. 5 October 2018.
  23. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/financial-health-notice-to-improve-vision-west-nottinghamshire-college Financial health notice to improve: Vision West Nottinghamshire College
  24. https://www.chad.co.uk/news/west-notts-college-ends-use-of-corporate-credit-cards-after-former-principal-claimed-40k-expenses-1-9533851 West Notts College ends use of corporate credit cards after former principal claimed £40k expenses
  25. https://feweek.co.uk/2019/01/11/college-ends-use-of-corporate-credit-cards-after-former-boss-40k-expenses/ College ends use of corporate credit cards after its former principal claimed £40k expenses
  26. https://feweek.co.uk/2018/11/09/embattled-college-boss-dame-asha-declines-her-130k-payout/ Exclusive: Embattled college boss Dame Asha declines her £130k payout

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Asha Khemka".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.