John Brennan: 'Judge me by what I deliver'

The mild new boss of the college employers' association wants results but not confrontation, writes Nadine Cartner

The appointment of John Brennan as the Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges was greeted with surprise by many in the sector. Rumours about the shortlist for the top job at the college employers' body had been buzzing around the cyber grapevine, but the association's current director of further education development had not been among the names mentioned.

While everyone agrees that Brennan, with his outstanding grasp of policy and finance issues, performs his present role quite brilliantly, many express doubts that he has the presence to make an impact on the big stage. Few can imagine the mild-mannered man delivering inspirational speeches to college leaders.

In some ways, that ambivalence reflects the boss's role at the AoC. Leaders of national organisations representing members' interests to government must be Janus-faced. They are continually talking with two audiences, with different languages and different cultures. Part of their role is to act as translator to each side.

On the government side, the AoC chief has to convince politicians and officials that the association understands political pressures and goals and can offer sound advice, evidence and strategies for achieving those goals. As a membership organisation, that advice must reflect the values and concerns of the college sector he represents.

This side of the role is consistent with Brennan's personal style. His approach is measured, analytical, with a natural propensity to supply well evidenced argument. A long career in education has ensured that the values and culture of the sector have soaked into his bones.

But belligerent he is not, and some in the sector are sceptical that their new top representative will bang loudly enough on the Secretary of State's desk when a more aggressive approach is called for on critical issues such as funding.

The college managers' trade union, the ACM, is concerned that, in spite of a funding settlement heralded by Government as historically generous and the best ever, the reality is that the resources actually reaching colleges do not reflect their pre-publicity, and colleges remain desperate for more money for pay and service delivery.

Asked about this issue, Brennan is typically cautious and considered: "The Government has given the sector a reasonable though not outstanding deal." The new resources, he maintains, are insufficient to tackle all the issues and priorities that we would like to see the colleges take on. Furthermore, he cautions, factors such as the cost of war, stable taxes and even the prospect of leadership change suggest that the climate is going to get tougher.

While Brennan's intellect is widely admired across the sector, many feel that he may not be the larger than life personality that they had in mind for that role, and lacks the charisma to fill the top job. Brennan's response to these anxieties is typically articulate and thoughtful. His knowledge and long experience in leadership equip him to take on this role and to do it well. It is more important to deliver results, he asserts, than to make a big splash.

Asked about his plans for AoC's relationships with its members, he is keen to get much closer to members, to listen closely to their needs and concerns, and to translate those into the activities of the AoC. His job will be to relay those needs and concerns to government in such a way as to win a listening response and avoid the accusation of whingeing. "If you spend your time slagging off politicians, you lose credibility," he says. Without credibility you stand little chance of advancing the interests of the sector in the political arena.

High on the agenda just now is the Government's emerging skills strategy. Like the ACM, Brennan is concerned to see the rhetoric translated into resources, and does not want the Government's priority groups - adults without a level two (GCSE) qualification, young adults and those looking for skills in shortage areas - to eclipse the needs of other groups of learners such as women returners.

One of the sector's biggest frustrations is the rising tide of bureaucracy, in spite of a top level policy commitment to simplification. Ensuring the trust agenda is delivered and sustained is a priority to which the AoC must give attention, says Brennan.

While he recognises that he does not meet everyone's expectations for this post, Brennan points out that this is true of us all. He seems frustrated that his future performance is being prejudged in terms of his persona in his present job. "Judge me by what I deliver for the sector," he says. John Brennan feels confident that, a few years down the line, his leadership of the AoC will be widely recognised as successful.

John Brennan: Curriculum Vitae

John Brennan will take up the post of Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges in September 2003. He is currently the association's Director of Further Education Development.

Educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, Bury St Edmunds, and the University of Sussex, he graduated with a DPhil in quantum physics in 1968.

After teaching, Brennan worked for the former Department of Education and Science, for Coventry City Council, Wiltshire County Council, and South Thames Training and Enterprise Council, before joining the AoC in 1995. Since his appointment as Director of FE Development in late 1996, he has specialised in policy development.

He is also Chair of Corporation at New College, Swindon, and a governor of Salisbury College. His interests include travel, ancient history, reading and family activities.