Darlington College director Sue Campbell is to join the board of the National Council for the Training of Journalists.

The executive director of customer relations was a journalist for 25 years, working in the UK and Hong Kong, before becoming head of journalism for five years at Darlington College, an NCTJ accredited centre.

Following a career that took her from the Darlington & Stockton Times to the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, Sue, (right), returned to the UK in 1989.

She took up a post as a journalism lecturer at the college and went on to run its International Journalism course for five years before becoming head of school for Journalism and Media.

She subsequently became director of external relations.

The NCTJ board is instrumental in steering advances in journalist training, raising standards and adapting to change.

Sue said: "For more than 15 years I have been dedicated to training, particularly to improving standards of journalism.

"I am genuinely thrilled to be asked to join the NCTJ board and am looking forward to helping direct future training, maintaining high standards and meeting the needs of a fast changing industry."