Asha Khemka

Dame Asha Khemka (born October 1951, in Sitamarhi, Bihar) is a former educator who resigned as Principal and CEO from West Nottinghamshire College in late 2018 when the college experienced financial difficulties. She joined the college in 2006, succeeding Di McEvoy-Robinson. In 2014, she was elevated to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, which was presented by Charles III, then titled Prince of Wales, again at Buckingham Palace.

Khemka is the fourth woman of Indian origin to be awarded a damehood of the Order of the British Empire (DBE or GBE) since the orders were instituted in 1917, following, chronologically, Kaikhusrau Jahan, Begum of Bhopal (1917), Maharani Lakshmi Devi Bai Sahiba of Dhar State (1931), and Indira Patel (2011).

In 2017, she was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Staffordshire, where she is a long-term resident. In April 2017, she was named Asian Businesswoman of the Year at a ceremony in Birmingham.

Other awards National Jewel Award for Excellence in Healthcare and Education, 2007 Asian Women of Achievement Award, 2008 Midlands Businesswoman of the Year, 2009 NRI Welfare Society of India Gold medal for her work in education as a non-resident Indian, 2010 Inspirational Woman of the Year, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, 2011 Business Personality of the Year, Ashfield and Mansfield Chad, 2011

Charity Khemka was the founder of the Inspire and Achieve Foundation, a mentoring organisation intended "...to help troubled, neglected and disadvantaged young people aged 16 to 26...", sometimes known as NEETS – Not in Employment, Education or Training.

Personal life Khemka is married to Shankar Lal Khemka, a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon. They have three children.

Controversy and resignation Khemka resigned on 1 October 2018, with 'immediate effect', following a special Board of Governors meeting. The college experienced serious financial irregularities throughout 2018 and prior, and has been placed in 'special measures', having been handed a "Notice To Improve" during July, 2018.