Ask the experts

Our Executive team

David Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer

David Gallagher is Chief Executive Officer at NCFE and a Non-Executive Director of the Federation of Awarding Bodies, as well as Vice Chair at Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB). He has worked in employment, education and skills for over 20 years, focused on delivering social impact - from frontline delivery in some of the most disadvantaged communities through to advising sector bodies and stakeholders on the development and delivery of new policy and programmes.   

Specialisms: employment, education, skills, social impact, education policy

Philip Le Feuvre, Chief Operating Officer

Philip Le Feuvre is Chief Operating Officer at NCFE and responsible for group wide strategy and the organisation’s transformation. He has experience working across all levels of the education, employment and skills systems, in the UK, Australia and South East Asia. The businesses and programmes he’s established have developed national qualifications and training content, created pathways for school leavers into work, and helped people upskill and transition in their careers.  

Specialisms: T Levels, careers advice, careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG), unemployment, skill shortages within key sectors, digital skills, future of work 

Health and social care

Joe Neame, Sector Manager for Health and Science

Joe is the Sector Manager for Health and Science at NCFE, bringing a deep understanding of both sectors and the unique challenges they face, particularly around current skills shortages. With a background in biochemistry, Joe has supported research projects, worked as an educator, and served as a subject specialist at NCFE. He is responsible for gathering sector insights to help NCFE respond effectively to the evolving skills needs of the health and science sectors, both now and in the future.

Specialisms: health, science, healthcare science, biochemistry, genomics and pedagogy.

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Claire Montague, Sector Manager for Social Care

With a background in social care and education, Claire has worked in a leadership capacity across care services as well as in school, further and higher education settings. In her current role as Sector Manager for Social Care at NCFE, she works to gain key intelligence and keep abreast of initiatives and the evolving context in order to advocate for the sector in future developments. 

Specialisms: social care, social care workforce, social care education, social care jobs

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Early years and childcare

Janet King, Sector Manager for Education and Childcare

Janet is the Sector Manager for Education and Childcare at the educational charity NCFE and plays a crucial role in developing new and existing qualifications under the CACHE brand, ensuring they are market leaders. Janet’s previous work has involved management in both further and higher education across care provision and within social services and education.

Specialisms: early years, nurseries, workforce, Montessori, professional development

Government policy and further education (FE)

Michael Lemin, Head of Policy

Michael is Head of Policy at NCFE and has spent his career working across education, local government, and international development. He is an expert in vocational and technical education policy, working closely with colleagues and government to support the development of a system that works for all. 

Specialisms: FE policy, government policy, vocational and technical education, public affairs  

Qualification reform and post-16 pathways

David Rowley, Product Manager – Technical Education 

David manages NCFE’s portfolio of technical qualifications, with a specific focus on schools, 16-19 study pathways, and Higher Technical Qualifications. He’s passionate about ensuring NCFE uses its expertise in technical education to craft qualifications that meet the needs of all learners. This includes shaping and developing NCFE’s suite of V Cert Technical Awards – vocational alternatives to GCSEs – where, as a former teacher, David’s focus is ensuring all pupils, no matter their background, can succeed at school and understanding what the sector needs to make this happen. 

Specialisms: Technical education, further education, higher technical qualifications, qualification reforms, travel and tourism, public services, health and social care, sport, schools, Key Stage 4, School Performance Measures (Progress8) 

Apprenticeships and end-point assessment (EPA)

Leanne Poole, Head of End-Point Assessment Operations

Leanne is the Head of EPA Operations at NCFE. Having formerly worked for national training providers and awarding organisations in the work-based sector, she has 18 years of experience working in apprenticeships. Leanne is keen to provide a sector-leading end-point assessment provision that is apprentice-centric, high quality, and accessible to all.

Specialisms: end-point assessment

Artificial intelligence (AI)

Gray Mytton, Assessment Innovation Manager

As NCFE's Assessment Innovation Manager, Gray identifies and develops assessment solutions to enhance teaching, learning and assessment for future learners. After developing an interest in the use of AI in education, Gray has experienced the planning, building and deployment of safe and effective AI support tools including the personalisation of learning and automation of marking and feedback. Gray previously worked at the Association of Colleges and spent 15 years at two large North East colleges as a lecturer, curriculum leader and head of department in the curriculum areas of sport, public services, travel and A Level. 

Specialisms: artificial intelligence (AI), assessment innovation, assessment solutions, automated marking and feedback, personalised learning 

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Future of assessment

Dr Rebecca Conway, Director of Research and Innovation 

Rebecca is the Director of Research and Innovation at NCFE and has worked within assessment for over a decade. She held technical assessment roles at several organisations, including Cambridge University Press and Assessment, before moving to the Federation of Awarding Bodies to lead on policy and strategy. Rebecca has a particular interest in building better assessment practices through practitioner research and professional development, which led to a teaching role as Academic Supervisor on the University of Cambridge’s postgraduate assessment programme.  

Specialisms: assessment, assessment design, assessment policy