Haani Hasnain appointed Chair of Hartlepool College Board of Governors

Hartlepool College has announced the appointment of business leader and long-serving Governor Haani Hasnain as the new Chair of its Board of Governors. Having served on the Board for the past five years, Haani officially succeeded Stuart Irvine - whose leadership has helped guide the College through a period of significant progress, growth and stability - on August 1.

Working alongside the College's Principal and Chief Executive, Darren Hankey, fellow governors and the executive leadership team, Haani will now lead the governing body as it continues to support the College's ambitious vision for students, employers and the wider community.  A lifelong advocate for education, skills and economic development, Haani brings more than 28 years of leadership experience spanning business, engineering, governance and international collaboration.

Throughout his career he has worked across the public, private and voluntary sectors, advising organisations, supporting business growth and championing opportunities that strengthen communities and improve lives.

Despite an international career that has taken him to work with organisations and leaders across the world, Haani has remained deeply committed to Hartlepool and the North East. He believes the region's greatest asset is its people and that education plays one of the most important roles in unlocking individual potential and supporting long-term economic prosperity. Haani said: "It is a genuine privilege to take on the role of Chair of Hartlepool College. Having served as a Governor over the past five years, I have seen first-hand the energy, professionalism and dedication of our staff, governors and leadership team, and I would like to pay tribute to Stuart Irvine for the outstanding stewardship he has provided during his time as Chair.

"The College is in a strong position today because of the collective leadership that has been built over many years. My role as a custodian is not simply to maintain that momentum, but to help ensure we continue creating opportunities for every student, every employer and our wider community."

Haani believes further education has never been more important, particularly as industries continue to evolve and demand new technical, professional and personal skills. "One of the greatest misconceptions in education is that success belongs only to those who excel academically," he said. "Every young person has talent. For some, that talent is discovered through academic study. For others it is through engineering, construction, digital technology, health care, hospitality, creative industries, entrepreneurship or countless other pathways. Our responsibility is to help every student discover where their strengths lie and give them the confidence and opportunity to build a fulfilling future."

Haani believes Hartlepool College will play a pivotal role in supporting the town's future economic growth: "Education should never be about fitting everyone into the same mould. It should be about helping every individual become the very best version of themselves."

With significant investment planned across sectors including clean energy, advanced manufacturing, engineering, digital technologies and construction, he believes the College is uniquely positioned to prepare local people for the opportunities emerging across the region.

"Hartlepool is entering an exciting chapter in its history," he said. "Major investment across our region will create opportunities for decades to come, but investment alone does not build prosperous communities. People do. The College has a vital responsibility to ensure local people have the skills and confidence to seize those opportunities. That means working closely with employers, understanding the needs of industry and continually evolving our curriculum so that students leave not only with qualifications, but with resilience, professionalism, communication skills and a genuine belief in what they can achieve."

While technical excellence remains central to the College's mission, Haani believes education should also nurture character, ambition and purpose. "Qualifications matter, but character matters just as much," he said. "The ability to work with others, solve problems, communicate effectively, adapt to change and contribute positively to society are qualities that employers consistently value. Colleges have an extraordinary opportunity to help develop both skilled professionals and responsible citizens."

Haani credits the opportunities he received in the North East with laying the foundations for his own international career in engineering, business, leadership and civic roles. He said: "I often tell young people that education alone will only take you so far. You must be prepared to work hard, stay humble, keep learning and build genuine relationships. Some opportunities come because of what you know; many more come because people know who you are, trust your character and believe in your ability to deliver. I have had amazing experiences across the world, but they have reinforced something very important: no matter where life takes you, never forget where you started. The North East has given me so much, and serving as Chair is my opportunity to give something back to a town and a College that continues to change lives every single day."

Principal and Chief Executive Darren Hankey welcomed the appointment.

He said: "Haani brings a unique combination of strategic leadership, commercial experience and an unwavering commitment to education and our community. He understands both the challenges and opportunities facing further education and shares our belief that every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their starting point. I look forward to continuing our work together as we build on the strong foundations established under Stuart Irvine's leadership and continue delivering exceptional outcomes for our students, employers and the communities we serve."

Haani says his ambition as Chair is simple. He wants to help ensure Hartlepool College continues to be recognised as a place where aspiration is nurtured, talent is developed and lives are transformed. "The measure of our success is not simply the qualifications our students achieve," he said. "It is the confidence they gain, the careers they build, the lives they create and the positive contribution they go on to make to their families, workplaces and communities. If every student leaves believing in themselves a little more than when they arrived, then we will have fulfilled one of the most important responsibilities any educational institution can have."