Former Principal of West Thames College Given OBE
Tracy Aust awarded for services to further education
Tracy Aust. Picture: West Thames College
December 31, 2025
Tracy Aust, the recently retired Principal and Chief Executive of West Thames College in Isleworth, has been awarded an OBE in the King’s New Year Honours List for services to further fducation. The honour recognises nearly three decades of leadership, partnership‑building, and commitment to widening opportunity for learners across West London.
She spent 27 years at West Thames College including the last ten years as its Principal and CEO. During that time, she oversaw major developments in curriculum, employer engagement, and student support, helping thousands of young people and adults gain the skills and confidence needed to progress into work or higher study.
Her leadership extended beyond the college itself. Ms Aust played a central role in the West London skills partnership, a collaboration designed to strengthen links between education providers and employers and to ensure that local skills provision aligned with economic need. The partnership has been credited with improving pathways from school to career and supporting residents returning to the workforce—an achievement highlighted by Brentford and Isleworth MP Ruth Cadbury in her public congratulations.
In a message shared following the announcement, Ms Cadbury praised the “well‑deserved” honour, noting that West Thames College is “one of the UK’s most successful FE colleges” and emphasising the transformative impact of Ms Aust’s work in building stronger relationships between education, training, and employers. She said this work has been vital for a thriving local economy and for ensuring clear routes into careers for young people and adults alike.
Tracy Aust retired earlier in 2025, marking the end of a tenure widely regarded as both steadying and forward‑looking. Hounslow Council Leader Cllr Shantanu Rajawat described her contribution as having “made a lasting difference to Hounslow,” creating opportunities for thousands of learners to gain skills and employment.
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