Navy’s ‘voice of education’ is new college Principal

Bracknell & Wokingham College’s Corporation (its Board of Governors) has appointed a new Principal who will take over when the current Principal, Howard O’Keeffe, retires this summer.

Campbell Christie was, until recently, a Commodore and Assistant Chief of Staff in the Navy. He was responsible for all naval training and education and seen as the voice of education in the Royal Navy.

The Chair of the Corporation, Linda Klassen-Brown said:

“Following a nationwide selection process Campbell was an outstanding candidate. He brings with him the extensive leadership qualities needed to guide the college through a challenging period and into a growth environment where we can fully use the new facilities of our magnificent new building in Bracknell.

Campbell Christie said:

“It is an honour to have been selected by the College's Corporation to be the next Principal and CEO of Bracknell & Wokingham College – it is a real privilege and I am very conscious of the great responsibility. I will be working with a really talented, high quality staff and together we will survive the current challenges of reduced government funding and will go on to thrive and offer an increasingly bespoke education service to our local communities. 

"I am really looking forward to leading the positive change that will be necessary to reach our goals. I'd like to pay tribute to the current Principal who has guided the college to a strong position in the local area and has delivered a truly world class new building at the Bracknell Church Road site. 

“I will be putting 100% of my energy into giving all our students the very best educational opportunities – to help them on their way to happy and prosperous futures and to being able to contribute to a vibrant local economy.

The outgoing Principal, Howard O’Keeffe, said:

“I have enjoyed spending the last seven years building a new and larger college with the support of our excellent staff.

“This is a good college which I believe can go from strength to strength in future. With the arrival of a new Principal in September the emphasis will be on finding new sources of income and diversifying the college’s range of courses and conferences, as well as promoting the outstanding facilities in the new building.”

Campbell Christie, 56, was born in 1955 and joined the Royal Navy in 1983; he had previously taught Biology at Winston Churchill School in Knaphill, Woking for three years.

He was Officer Commanding the Royal Marines’ Video Production Unit, where his diving qualification allowed him to film the underwater sequences for an SBS training film. He was then promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 1988. He ran the Royal Navy’s University Training Organisation, which administered 300 sponsored undergraduates, at approximately 50 universities, from the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth for two years.

In 2008 he took up his final assignment as Assistant Chief of Staff (Training) for the Royal Navy where he was responsible for setting the Training and Education policy for the Royal Navy and for maintaining world-class standards. He also became the Professional Head of the Royal Navy’s Training Manager Specialisation – some 250 officers.

His interests include long distance running, shooting, diving and football. He was Chairman of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Athletics Association and is a lifelong supporter of Arbroath FC.