International
We are a charity that operates across a diverse and regulated educational landscape, dealing with the lives of young people and children.
As such, our board of trustees sits at the heart of the organisation’s governance, working alongside a number of supporting committees. This approach helps ensure appropriate expertise is put into good practice. For example:
The trustees are drawn from across education and business fields with wide experience in strategic and leadership roles. You can read a short biography of each of them below.
If you would like to contact the trustees about any aspect of their work, email trustees@asdan.org.uk
Alison has considerable experience working in local authorities including the role of Director of Education for the London Borough of Southwark and interim Director of Children’s Services in Poole. She is a member of the Olympus Academy Trust in South Gloucestershire, and academy management committee member at Steiner Academy Bristol. Alison is passionate about the many additional opportunities ASDAN can create for young people who are not accessing mainstream academic routes without creative supplementary support. Alison has been a trustee at ASDAN since 2010 and has chaired the board since April 2017.
Having retired from full-time employment, I was happy to give my time on a voluntary basis to organisations linked to education. I had spent many years working with special schools in different local authorities so I was familiar with ASDAN’s work.
I would love it if ASDAN had more recognition, nationally, for the excellence of its programmes.
Inclusive education that properly supports all children and young people through skilled and ambitious staff who work in well-resourced schools and colleges.
Education has been my career path! From teaching through to local government management, education has been my passion and my living.
I’d love to be able to speak Italian fluently and I have always been interested in linguistics and the law.
I don’t think I had that much ambition, sad to say. The careers education at my girls’ grammar school was dreadfully poor. In fact, it was non-existent.
Gardening; keeping up with emails; reading (especially when I have a book to finish for my book club).
Brian is Chair of the South West Regional Board and subject examiner for the Chartered Institute of Marketing, as well as a lecturer at Yeovil College and Chair of the Board of Governors at Barwick and Stoford Community Primary School. Brian is Vice-Chair of the trustees, and Chair of ASDAN's Performance, Audit, Risk and Compliance committee.
I am passionate about helping others to develop their knowledge and skills. ASDAN's five educational principles really resonated with me and I was struck by the importance placed upon releasing potential as a force for good in the world.
That, by working in partnership with those who share our belief, we firmly establish ASDAN as the foremost brand for those providing high-quality educational experiences for children with barriers to learning.
Transforming life chances through learning.
Education has played a huge role in my own career, both in terms of my own personal and professional development and very importantly, underpinning my ability to support the development needs of others. It is still playing a significant role.
Yes, definitely. However, rather than for professional development purposes, I am keen to indulge my passion for language, history and food.
I wanted to be a chef, something which I achieved.
Writing about something that interests me, or being somewhere that inspires me.
Peter has wide experience as a leadership consultant for schools. His key area of expertise is the secondary education sector, having gained experience as headteacher of Wyvern Community Sports College, leading the Bristol Excellence in Cities partnership and educational strategy leadership in Bristol City Council. Peter provides valuable insight into the challenges of educational transformation and how to raise standards in schools. Peter was elected vice-chair of the board in 2018.
Rik has held a number of senior leadership positions in local authority children's services and has a specialist background in SEN and inclusion. He has a track record of improving outcomes for underachieving and vulnerable groups.
The vision and values [insert hyperlink from website] underlying ASDAN’s work struck a chord with me. I felt that I could have a part to play in the future development of ASDAN, drawing on my experience in local authority children’s services particularly in the area of special educational needs.
To make a real and sustained difference to the life chances of young people, especially those facing challenging circumstances, and prepare them for a fulfilling and independent adult life.
Ensuring that young people have self-belief and are able to make best use of their talents and abilities.
Specifically, education has provided me with career opportunities that would not otherwise have been open to me. It has also helped me to recognise the importance of continuing learning, not just to meet work aspirations.
I have recently finished a professional qualification in executive coaching. Not sure what next!
Probably to be a professional cricketer but I didn’t quite manage that one!
Asher Craig
Asher’s particular focus is education, training and skills, specialising in post-16 education. Her varied background includes community development, diversity and socio-economic development of young people and black and minority ethnic communities. Asher has led several successful organisations and partnerships including roles on the Avon and Somerset Police’s Recruitment Advisory Board, Bristol Regeneration Partnership and she was also co-founder and chair of the Black Development Agency. She is currently Deputy Mayor of Bristol with responsibility for communities.
Marian Curran
Marian is Vice Principal of St Brendan's Sixth Form College, Bristol, and a Director of the North Bristol Post-16 Centre. As well as bringing brings considerable invaluable experience of the post-16 sector to the board, Marian is also safeguarding lead.
Stephen Fahey
Stephen is Content Strategy Director at Oxford University Press. Stephen provides considerable strength to the board's digital capabilities, supported by wider knowledge of the education sector.
Having worked in the education sector my whole career, I am inspired by ASDAN’s mission to enhance life chances through learning. I hope that my skills and experience will be useful in helping ASDAN deliver on its strategy and mission.
I’m passionate about learning, and discovering new skills and knowledge. I like to travel, and to meet and learn from people from different cultures and societies. I’m always on the lookout for a new challenge or opportunity to learn something new.
I followed a relatively academic path through education, which has provided a good foundation for the rest of my career. But I’ve also done a lot of ‘on the job’ learning – I started my career in publishing where I had to learn the skills of editing and proofreading, and then later I became involved with digital content and platforms. The world of digital continues to change at a pace, so I’m constantly learning new things, either formally through courses and conferences, or informally through projects.
I’ve been learning Spanish for the last three years, mostly informally in my own time, but also through evening classes. It’s been a fantastic experience, and I would love to be able to spend more time acquiring the skills of speaking another language, and learning more about the culture and literature of Spain.
It’s probably a cliché, but I wanted to be an astronaut (in fact I still do!). I was fascinated by space exploration as a small child, and later I had the chance to study astronomy at university, but I never quite made it into space (at least not yet).
I love to get lost in a good book, though I find that a busy life and modern distractions make it harder to find the time these days. I also play the guitar, and it’s a great way to relax and focus on something completely different.
Naeem Iqbal
Naeem is a Medical Lab Assistant at North Bristol NHS Trust and participant on Bristol City Council’s Stepping Up leadership development programme.
I want to make a difference in young people’s lives.
I want ASDAN to progress and help young people to achieve their goals in life as well as make them better citizens.
I am quite passionate about character building and inculcating values and morals in young people.
I believe education is not just about a career path. Education helps you to understand life and cope with/solve problems of life in a better way.
I would want to be a teacher and a creative writer.
I wanted to join the army as my father was an army officer and my three older brothers were in the army.
Imagination and ideas, they keep flowing in my mind.
Paul Jacobs
Paul has extensive experience as both Director and Assistant Director of Education and Skills in local government in the south west. He has served as a team inspector for Ofsted amd worked in secondary schools as a science teacher, middle and senior leader for over 20 years. Paul is a school improvement specialist, skilled convenor of partnerships and a leadership coach and mentor. He now works as an education consultant supporting individuals, schools, multi academy trusts and local government.
I was a big fan of ASDAN when teaching in secondary schools. Now that I have more time, I wanted to support ASDAN through being a trustee
To offer brilliant alternative curriculum options for those who are not primarily academic
Helping people make the most of their gifts and develop their talents
A massive part – I was a teacher for 20 years and then worked in education in local government, so I never really left school!
I think physics again but maybe with something else like music
Being a teacher (or bus driver or astronaut)
Walking by the coast or reading.
Linda Peck
Linda's background is in secondary education. She has held several school leadership posts including headship and has also worked as a local authority adviser, School Improvement Partner, National Challenge Adviser and Ofsted Inspector. She currently works independently both inspecting and offering tailored support and advice to UK schools. She is a Curriculum Foundation associate working on assignments in the UK and overseas. Linda is committed to working with leaders to promote equality and equity and achieve the best outcomes for all learners.
Jack Price
Jack is the Managing Director at Computershare Communicarions Services, UK. His commercial expertise will support the board in strategic decision making, particularly in relation to sales and return on investment. Jack is the vice-chair of ASDAN's Performance, Audit, Risk and Compliance committee.
I saw an opportunity to support a great organisation and bring some of my commercial experience to ASDAN. With the organisation looking to gain expertise from people with a background of digital transformation and commercial expertise, I thought my skill set would help drive the organisation forward.
My ambition is for ASDAN to be in the position to help every child that needs it.
Sports, reading, travelling and seeing new places.
Education has played a big role in my life. My parents instilled a deep belief in education and a drive to complete higher education. Since then, while moving away from my degree subject matter, I’ve always lent on the learnings from my education throughout my career.
I’d love to! I’d study ancient history. I find the Greeks, Egyptians and Romans fascinating.
Probably being a professional rugby player! The job I’d like most now is an architect, the idea of bringing something from paper to reality fascinates me.
Reading. I often mean to spend a short time reading and then 3 hours later find myself still going!
Chris Smith
Chris' background is in senior roles within the food industry, he is a regional council member of the CBI and Chair of the Gloucester branch of the Institute of Directors. Chris has been involved in school and academy governance for over 20 years and is a council member of the Digitech Studio School.
Jemma Stapleton
Jemma is Head of HR Projects at Great Western Railway. She brings expertise at a senior level in relation to personnel, HR and employment law. In addition to her trustee role, Jemma also mentors ASDAN's Chair of Staff Forum.
Pauline Trapp
Pauline is a former assistant Headteacher and SENCO, and is currently an education consultant with a strong track record of innovative and inclusive leadership and strategic development in schools across North Somerset, including implementing and embedding the SEN Code of Practice.
To become part of a vibrant team of dedicated professionals on the exciting next stage of ASDAN’s journey.
To use my experience in school leadership to make a difference to pupils who thrive when given accessible, flexible pathways that lead to employability.
To join the ASDAN mission to make learning relevant, motivating and rewarding for all in the 21st century.
For ASDAN to be recognised as a central voice in the educational debate.
For ASDAN to expand nationally and internationally and be celebrated as the quality personalised curriculum pathway for the 21st century.
For ASDAN to be applauded as a quality curriculum pathway in every school or academy.
For Ofsted to validate ASDAN courses for its quality pedagogy and preparation for work.
I am not planning on formal study at the moment. However, I read widely and love learning new things. I began learning the piano two years ago; enjoy courses to improve my understanding of art history; and have recently started birdwatching.
I have always wanted to be a teacher and never really left school!
Coastal and countryside walks.