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

Health and social care

Craig Wade, Sector Manager for Health and Social Care

After a 10-year military career as a registered nurse for the Royal Navy, Craig joined NCFE as the Sector Manager for Health and Social Care. He provides a deep understanding of the respective sectors and the occupational and labour market trends, advising NCFE on current specialist skills needs and predictions for future development.

Specialisms: social care, health and social care workforce, health, skills needs

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

Angie Rogers, Subject Chair for Early Years and Childcare

Angie is a subject specialist for teaching and learning at NCFE, with a passion for supporting the diverse needs of children and young people, particularly surrounding SEND and mental health and wellbeing. Working in product development has allowed an opportunity to create a wide range of material to support those in the sector to become the best they can be in supporting children and young people. 

Specialisms: SEND, mental health, wellbeing, teaching assistants  

Further education (FE) policy

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  

T Levels

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, technical and vocational education, qualifications, assessments 

Apprenticeships

Suzanne Slater, Commercial Director

Suzanne is our Commercial Director here at NCFE. Having formerly worked at the North East Chamber of Commerce, she moved into further education through roles at two colleges in the region, before taking up her current position. Suzanne is passionate about the transformative impact apprenticeships can have on disengaged and disadvantaged young people.

Specialisms: apprenticeships, end-point assessment

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

Assessment

Assessment design | Jessica Blakey, Head of Assessment Design

Jessica Blakey is Head of Assessment Design at NCFE having joined over two years ago to work on the T Level qualifications. She previously worked in educational research, teacher training, and as a French teacher in South Shields. Jessica is particularly focused on how to make assessment better, fairer and more accessible for all learners.

Specialisms: assessment design, assessment development, assessment innovation, accessibility

The future of assessment | Dean Blewitt, Senior Innovation and Investments Manager

Dean Blewitt is NCFE's Senior Innovation and Investments Manager. He manages several innovation pilots which explore the potential benefits and disbenefits of new educational technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and virtual reality/augmented reality. Dean previously worked as a Curriculum Leader of Numeracy, and a maths teacher at a secondary school in the North-East. He has also volunteered as a school governor at a multi-academy trust in Northumberland.

Specialisms: assessment innovation, innovative approaches to teaching and learning, assessment technologies, maths and numeracy

Artificial intelligence | 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

Digital

James Lane, Sector Manager for Digital

James Lane is the Sector Manager for Digital at the educational charity NCFE. He leads on sector representation and subject specialism support to ensure the voice of the sector is included in all areas of NCFE's work. Having worked in the sector for many years before joining NCFE, James is passionate about inclusion, availability, and accessibility of these areas as well as the importance they lend to the employability and success of learners.

Specialisms: digital, cyber security, digital inclusion

English and maths

David Redden, Product Manager

Over the past 12 years, David has played a leading role in shaping and developing NCFE’s Functional Skills qualifications. Working closely with tutors and practitioners from schools, colleges and training providers, he’s gained valuable insight from those on the ground to help shape what’s required within the sector.  David is also focused on solutions for the digital skills sector and the implementation of skills assessment tools. 

Specialisms: English, maths, functional skills, digital skills, skills assessment 

Adult learning

Emzi Mills-Frater, Product Manager – Learning for Work

Emzi is the Product Manager for Learning for Work, a team focused on adult education and training (AET) in the workplace. A qualified teacher and lecturer, Emzi has worked within FE and HE environments as well as previously supporting other awarding organisations. She has a wealth of experience in quality assurance, assessment, the learner journey and progression through qualifications.

Specialisms: adult learning, lifelong learning, AEB

Technical Education 16-19

David Rowley, Product Manager – Technical Education

David manages NCFE’s portfolio of products within the technical education directorate, with a specific focus on 16-19 study programmes and Higher Technical Qualifications. He is passionate about ensuring NCFE uses its expertise in technical education to craft qualifications for the new landscape that meet the needs of all learners and are of the highest quality. Before joining NCFE, David spent ten years as a secondary school science teacher and head of department, with experience in delivering both academic and vocational qualifications at Levels 2 and 3.

Specialisms: 16-19 Technical Education, study programmes, further education, higher technical qualifications, post-16 reforms, travel and tourism, public services, health and social care, sport

Schools 14-16

Rachel Dillon, Product Manager – 14-16 sector

Over the past four years, Rachel has played a leading role in shaping and developing NCFE’s suite of V Cert Technical Awards – vocational alternatives to GCSEs. Rachel is passionate about ensuring all pupils – no matter their background – have the opportunity to succeed at school and works closely with teachers and schools to understand what the sector needs to make this happen. 

Specialisms: schools, Key Stage 4, Technical Awards, Schools Performance Measures (Progress8)

Accreditation

Michelle Storey, Accreditation Manager

With 17 years of experience in accreditation and two decades spent working in the wider education sector, Michelle is our Accreditation Manager. Her areas of focus include identifying development and diversification opportunities, overseeing product development, and ensuring our customised qualifications and endorsed programmes successfully support organisations to train and upskill their workforce.

Specialisms: accreditation, qualification and training programme development, management and coaching, internal quality assurance, digital credentials