The Executive Team
Nick Chambers, Director
Prior to
joining the Taskforce, Nick was Director of Education at Business
in the Community. During this time he oversaw the production
of a report on school governance with the University of Bath on
behalf of the National Council of Education Excellence. The
council, chaired by the Prime Minister considered how best to
mobilise businesses and universities to work with schools and
colleges, and to promote links between schools to contribute to
raising standards and achieving educational
excellence.
Between
2000 and 2006 he was Director of Development at St Paul's School
where he was responsible with the Governors for reviewing and
articulating the school's vision as it approached its
500th anniversary and developing a strategic plan to
achieve this. Nick originally studied Environmental Management and
then ran his own business as well as being involved with various
charities.
In 1992 he
obtained a PGCE and taught in an 11-16 comprehensive school and an
11-18 grammar school. In 1997 he was appointed Development
Director at the state school he had been teaching in - the first
appointment of its kind in the UK where his responsibilities
included employer engagement. He also founded, and chaired for six
years the Institute of Development Professionals in
Education.
Daniel Chapman, Events and Communications
Coordinator
Daniel joined the Taskforce in May 2010 initially on a
temporary contract but has since become a permanent member of
staff. He is currently the Events and Communications Coordinator
and is also the assistant to the Director of the
Taskforce.
He previously worked as a Campaigns
Coordinator, worked for a Member of Parliament and studied
Contemporary History and Politics at the University of
Sussex.
James Dawkins, Research Assistant
James joined the Taskforce in April 2011 and
provides research, communications and event organisation
support.He has worked at a number of leading policy
institutes including the Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion
and the British Youth Council, and holds a Master's degree in
Social Science Research Methods.
Carol Glover, Communications Manager
Prior to joining the Taskforce Carol was External Relations
Manager at the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health and has worked as
a communications, press, campaigns and public affairs
manager at a variety of national health and education charities.
These posts required strategic overview and also
implementation of the full communications mix.
She spent 10 years as a journalist and business magazine
editor, and has been a communications consultant and editor at the
Department of Health. She has a post-graduate qualification in
journalism and has edited large circulation magazines going to more
than 43 countries around the world.
Carol started her career as an academic researcher and
university lecturer after completing an MA in Business and Human
Resource Management. Her academic research experience covers
postgraduate medical education (doctor training), teacher training
and mentoring
Ashley Hodges, Speakers for Schools
Programme Manager
Ashley is Projects Coordinator for Speakers
for Schools. She has previously been a political organiser for the
Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign and a communications
specialist for a digital media company.
Dr Anthony Mann, Director of Policy and Research
Anthony joined the Taskforce on secondment from the
Department for Education (then called the Department for Children,
Schools and Families). Whilst at the DCSF he led 14-19 Diploma
employer communications and stakeholder relations. Whilst with the
civil service in 2001, Anthony was responsible for multi-million
pound policy development and delivery in higher education (DIUS),
regional skills (Government Office for the North West), post-New
Deal employment options (Jobcentre Plus) and national e-learning
strategies (on loan to the Higher Education Authority in
Dublin).
Prior to this, Anthony worked in higher education as a
lecturer and administrator. Anthony received degrees from the
universities of Warwick, Manchester and Keele. He is currently
studying at Bath University, is an Associate Fellow of the Centre
for Education and Industry at the University of Warwick, and sits
on advisory boards for the National Foundation for Educational
Research and the Institute for Education. He is a former volunteer
director of East Sussex Credit Union. He
attended Longcroft Comprehensive School in Beverley, East
Yorkshire.
Robert McKenzie, Finance and Administration Manager
Robert McKenzie joined the Taskforce in January 2010 after
working as an administrator in the private and public sectors.
Previously, he has had experience as a Basic Skills teacher and a
mentor for students at Lambeth College, as well as running an
independent education provider for teenagers in East London.
His chief responsibility is to provide administrative support to
the Executive team, as well as budget planning.
Karen Montgomery, Inspiring the Future
Progamme Manager
Karen Montgomery joined the Taskforce in April 2010. Karen
previously worked as an external relations consultant for QCDA, and
before that in business development with schools and education
providers. She has been an Operations Manager for a national social
enterprise, and a Grants Officer with the National Lottery
Charities Board.
She is an active and committed volunteer.
Part-time advisors
Simon Smith, Corporate and Finance Advisor
Simon has wide senior international experience from a broad
finance career at Shell .He was Head of Group Finance HR from 2000
- 2005 and prior to this was Financial Director and Deputy CEO of
Shell Egypt from 1996 - 2000. He had earlier roles in Group
Acquisitions and Divestments, as Financial Director of Shell Sierra
Leone and as Deputy Head of Finance for Exploration and
Production.
He is a founding partner of Better Business Coaching LLP,
specialising in leadership coaching. He qualified as an
accountant with Touche Ross, has a MA in Economics from Cambridge
University, and a post grad qualification in Executive Business
Coaching.
Simon Smith supports the Taskforce on financial processes one
day a month.