James Walker – Chair
James worked as HR Director at The Funding Agency for Schools and as Head of Employee Development at Yorkshire Electricity. More recently, in addition to chairing the North Yorkshire Learning Partnership, he carries out high profile HR commissions, and lectures at the University of Leeds and at York St John University.
Leigh Foster
Leigh has a wide range of senior management experience at board level and has worked internationally with Blue Chip organisations in a variety of markets – especially electronics engineering and software. He was managing director of a Siemens company and of Supervisory & Industrial Process Control Ltd. In the last few years he has concentrated on Interim Management roles and has been involved in the turn-around of a number of companies.
Geoff Martin
Geoff is a Supply Development Engineer at BAE Systems in Preston. He has long experience of working in Manufacturing & Project Management roles with medium to high volume blue chip manufacturing companies. Geoff brings to the board both practical and business focussed observations based on his industrial experience, to compliment the educational experience of other board members.
Rob Murdoch
Rob is Executive Director of A4e (an international organisation working across a variety of markets including financial inclusion, learning and skills and fund advice); he is responsible for managing the competitive tendering and business development arm of the business. Rob has over ten years experience in business development, successfully leading diversification through assessing new markets and exploiting opportunities. Since joining A4e in 2004, Rob has been at the forefront of the company’s expansion into new markets, ensuring that A4e remains dynamic and responsive when tackling economic and social exclusion. Rob has worked in the education and training sectors, as well as the finance and equity markets.
Steve Hailstone
Steve is Principal of Lancashire College, an adult education college in Chorley. He is also a member of the strategic management team of Lancashire Adult Learning, a large adult education service of which Lancashire College is a part. Steve is an inspector for Ofsted and an associate inspector for the Adult Learning Inspectorate. He has significant experience of inspecting literacy, numeracy and ESOL provision in further education colleges and local authority providers. Steve’s main areas of professional expertise and interest are leadership and management, quality assurance and improvement, adult learning, skills for life (literacy, numeracy and ESOL), languages and teacher education.
Paul Howarth
Paul is the Training Manager for CENTRA Education and Training has over 20 years' experience within management roles in education and training. Paul joined CENTRA from Nord Anglia Education plc, where he was Business Development Executive working on the Defence Training Review project. Paul also set up and managed The Interactive College, a training company which developed innovative blended training solutions for businesses, schools and individuals. Paul's main expertise lies within vocational training where he has managed Training organisations that have offered European Social Fund, Learning Skills Council, Work Based Learning, ESF Co-Finance, Ministry Of Defence, National Health Service and Learn Direct training opportunities. Paul has a strong background in instructional design, a comprehensive knowledge of adult learning theory; designing instructor-led and blended training programmes.
Paul Simpson
Paul is a Senior HR and Organisation Development Professional with over 24 years experience across a range of industry sectors including Financial Services, Food Manufacturing, Fine Chemicals, Further Education and the Civil Service. Paul has operated at Executive level in several large and complex organisations with key strengths in Organisation and People Development. A strategic thinker with a strong track record of delivering key business outcomes in both HR, specialist and generalist roles. Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD)