People Archive | University Technical Colleges

Central Team

Simon Connell

CEO

Connell has been the trust’s development director since 2016, after working as chief operating officer for Educate School Services Ltd, which he founded, and following a career in financial services.

Ian May

Director of Finance and Company Secretary

Previously Finance Director and Company Secretary of African Gifted Foundation, Finance Director of St Paul’s School and Acting Finance Director of Hammersmith Academy Trust.

Ken Cornforth

Director of Education

Previously, Education Lead for Crewe, Leeds and Scarborough UTCs and 18 years as Principal of Pudsey Grangefield School securing most improved and best value-added awards.

Kate Ambrosi

Assistant Director of Education

Previously, Head of Economic Development for Croydon Council and Senior Education Advisor to Baker Dearing Trust..

Magdalin Clancy

Senior Advisor

Former Business Director and Education Leader, expert in leading high-level strategic and financial transformation to ensure sustainability and growth within business and education environments.

Mike Halliday

Senior Advisor

Advises nationally on building strategic employer relationships and engagement models across the UTC network. Currently heads up employer engagement for Activate Learning Education Trust and is education representative to the IET Policy Panel for Education and Skills.

Rosalind Kipps

Events and Internal Communications Manager

Kathy Fogarty

Secretary

Lyndsay MacAulay

Marketing Advisor

Susan Higgins

Press Advisor

Trustees

Lord Baker of Dorking

Kenneth Baker is a former MP and Cabinet Minister. He was the first Information Technology Minister introducing computers into schools. As Education Secretary he introduced the National Curriculum, testing, City Technology Colleges, grant-maintained schools, and freed polytechnics to become universities. Together with Lord Dearing, he founded the Baker Dearing Educational Trust in 2009.

Lord Adonis

Andrew Adonis is a British Labour Party politician and Author. He served in HM Government as Secretary of State for Transport. More recently, he was founding Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission pioneering HS2 and Crossrail. During his time as Minister for Schools he forged Teach First, the London Challenge, and was an early advocate for the introduction of the UTC programme.

Sir Mike Tomlinson

Sir Mike was HM Chief Inspector and Head of Ofsted between 2000 and 2002. He was Chair of the Working Group set up by government to propose reform of the curriculum for 14-19 year olds. He acted as Chief Adviser for London Challenge from 2008 to 2010. In 2014 he was appointed education commissioner for Birmingham to oversee reform.

Terri Simpkin

Terri is an industry-focused academic, consultant and public speaker, with expertise in linking the higher education sector and vocational training. She is an associate professor at the University of Nottingham and business owner of a company with a focus on empowering women within the work place.

David Land

David is a well-known figure in the manufacturing and automotive sectors in the North East of England. He has spent his entire career in these sectors, starting out as an apprentice. Today, he allocates his time between managing businesses as well as supporting local organisations. He is Chair of Governors at UTC South Durham.

Mike Wright

Mike is a former Executive Director of Jaguar Land Rover, retiring in 2016 after making a significant contribution to doubling JLR’s scale since 2008. He acts as an advisor to FTSE and North American listed businesses, sports, arts and government-related organisations. Mike is Chair of governors of WMG Academies, which has two UTCs near Birmingham.

Clive Barker

Clive has enjoyed a successful career as a businessman and entrepreneur. He is Chairman of CSB Logistics, a company he founded over 30 years ago. He is an active participant in the business community in South East London, having twice served as President of the region’s Chamber of Commerce. Clive is Vice-Chair of the Leigh UTC in Dartford.

Madeleine Hallward

Madeline is a public affairs and communications expert having worked in-house for Diageo and Bloomberg. Most recently, she was a Director of Ford’s UK Board leading on government affairs. She has a long association with the UTC programme, particularly through Ford’s support for Elutec, which is based in Dagenham.

Core Principals

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Nick Crew

UTC Sheffield City Centre and Olympic Legacy Park

Tom Dower

UTC South Durham

Jo Harper

UTC Reading, UTC Oxfordshire, UTC Swindon, UTC Heathrow

Steve Leahey

The Leigh UTC

Daniel Locke-Wheaton

Aston University Engineering Academy

Kate Tague

WMG Academy for Young Engineers Solihull and Coventry

Cherry Tingle

Energy Coast UTC

Our People

Kenneth Wilfred Baker Baron Baker of DorkingCH PC

Ronald Ernest Dearing, Baron DearingCB