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Asha Khemka

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Dame Asha Khemka DBE DL (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.[9]

Honours

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Khemka was awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire), presented by Elizabeth II, then The Queen, at Buckingham Palace in 2008.[10] 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.[11]

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][12]

In 2017, she was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Staffordshire, where she is a long-term resident.[13] In April 2017, she was named Asian Businesswoman of the Year at a ceremony in Birmingham.[14][15]

Other awards

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  • National Jewel Award for Excellence in Healthcare and Education, 2007
  • Asian Women of Achievement Award, 2008
  • Midlands Businesswoman of the Year, 2009
  • NRI Welfare Society of India Gold medal for her work in education as a non-resident Indian, 2010
  • Inspirational Woman of the Year, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, 2011
  • Business Personality of the Year, Ashfield and Mansfield Chad, 2011[16][7]
  • Overall Commitment to Apprenticeships (inaugural Asian Apprenticeship Awards, black and minority ethnic Asian community).[17]

Charity

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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.[18][19]

Personal life

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Khemka is married to Shankar Lal Khemka, a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon. They have three children.[7][10] 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][20]

Controversy and resignation

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Khemka resigned on 1 October 2018, with 'immediate effect', following a special Board of Governors meeting.[21] 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.[9][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.[9] 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]

References

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  1. ^ "WEST NOTTINGHAMSHIRE EDUCATIONAL TRUST". Companies House. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b Principal's life story inspires students. Chad, 2 November 2016, p.46. Accessed 2 January 2022
  3. ^ a b c "Woman from Bihar who dropped out of school at 13 is now Asian businesswoman of the Year". Being Indian. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  4. ^ High-profile college principal quits after warning over finances TES, 1 October 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2019
  5. ^ Vision West Nottinghamshire College - About us Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  6. ^ The Corporation - Executive Team, wncgroup.co.uk Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  7. ^ a b c New Years Honour for West Notts chief Chad, local newspaper, 31 December 2013 Retrieved 31 December 2013
  8. ^ a b "Dame Asha Khemka profile". Hindustantimes.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  9. ^ a b c High-profile college principal quits after warning over finances tes.com, 1 October 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018
  10. ^ a b "Bihar to Britain: a unique journey for Dame Asha Khemka". hindustantimes.com. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  11. ^ "Asha receives Damehood" Chad, 19 March 2014, p.13. Accessed 9 June 2024
  12. ^ Sharma, Sarika (26 October 2015). "UK's first Asian woman HC judge is of Punjabi origin". The Times of India. Mumbai. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  13. ^ New Deputy Lieutenants appointed for Staffordshire Staffordshire Newsroom (Staffordshire County Council), 11 May 2017 Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  14. ^ "Woman from Bihar with no English language skills is now 'Asian Businesswoman Of The Year' - More power to you". The Economic Times. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  15. ^ "Indian-origin educationist wins 'Asian Businesswoman of Year' award". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  16. ^ City and Guilds Trustee Board Archived 10 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 4 February 2021.
  17. ^ Principal's pride in national accolade, Chad, 30 November 2016, p.50. Accessed 10 October 2021
  18. ^ "Inspirational charity is turning around the lives of young people in Nottinghamshire". Chad, 26 June 2013, pp.6-7. Accessed 13 May 2022
  19. ^ About us The Inspire and Achieve Foundation. Retrieved 13 May 2022
  20. ^ Principal shares life journey News Journal, November 2016, p.9
  21. ^ "College ends use of corporate credit cards after its former principal claimed £40k expenses". FE Week. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  22. ^ "Dame Asha quits West Notts college amid financial crisis". feweek.co.uk. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  23. ^ Financial health notice to improve: Vision West Nottinghamshire College GOV.UK, 17 September 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018
  24. ^ West Notts College ends use of corporate credit cards after former principal claimed £40k expenses 12 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  25. ^ College ends use of corporate credit cards after its former principal claimed £40k expenses FE Week, 11 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019
  26. ^ Exclusive: Embattled college boss Dame Asha declines her £130k payout FE Week, 9 November 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2019
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