The most recent election of directors took place in October 2011. Their election was formally endorsed at our AGM on 17 October 2011. Elected directors serve for three years. Branch directors are elected annually at their respective local AGMs.
The full list of NAEGA officers and directors for 2011-2012 is as follows:
Elected directors
- President Stephen McNair:
Stephen McNair has worked in adult learning for over 40 years, much of it in NIACE. In the 1980’s he led UDACE in its pioneering work on adult guidance, and helped found the National Guidance Council. He is a Fellow of NICEC, now semi-retired, and working mainly as a researcher into age, work and learning.
- Vice-President Joy Boyle:
Joy is based in Fife in Scotland and is Course Co-ordinator for the Postgraduate Adult Guidance Programme at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. Joy has a broad range of experience within the retail, manufacturing and educational sectors. She is a qualified guidance practitioner who worked within the Further Education Sector for nearly nine years before setting up her own consultancy in 2001.
- Chair Heather Jackson:
Heather Jackson has worked in adult learning and career guidance for over 30 years. Among her roles she has held regional development posts on initiatives for the adult unemployed, was Head of Information, Advice and Guidance at the National Health Service University and was external policy adviser to the cross-government review of information, advice and guidance for adults from 2005-2007.
- Vice-Chair Tricia Wray:
Tricia Wray has many years’ experience in adult guidance, including managing a Next Step contract and a diverse range of other publicly funded contracts. She is now a consultant based in Leicestershire, working in both the adult and schools side of the sector.
- Company Secretary Liz Gillings:
Liz has worked in careers guidance for over twenty years, most of which has been within the FE sector. She has been a member of NAEGA for over ten years which includes helping to run the Eastern Branch and also on the NAEGA board initially at a regional director and now as Company Secretary.
- Finance Director Martin Peel:
Recently retired after over 30 years in careers guidance. Began as a Careers Service trainee and subsequently worked in schools, FE and with adult clients. Then as a manager and Head of Services, most recently in the East of England and responsible for the region’s nextstep service. A member of NAEGA for over 10 years. Initially helping at Branch level before joining the NAEGA Board. Currently NAEGA’s Treasurer.
Branch directors
- Northern Ireland (vacancy)
- Scotland Joy Boyle:
Joy is based in Fife in Scotland and is Course Co-ordinator for the Postgraduate Adult Guidance Programme at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. Joy has a broad range of experience within the retail, manufacturing and educational sectors. She is a qualified guidance practitioner who worked within the Further Education Sector for nearly nine years before setting up her own consultancy in 2001.
- North West England Karen Royle:
Karen Royle has worked in the Further Education and Adult and Community Learning sector for 22 years. Her work has been primarily in the Greater Manchester area and she is currently a senior manager with the Oldham Lifelong Learning Service. She has been on the NAEGA Board as the North West representative for several years.
- North East England Laura Bell:
Laura worked in the private sector for over 20 years, predominantly in call centre management. Her career in guidance started in 2007 when she became Operations Director for a private training organisation and joined CfBT who are the prime contractor for the National Careers Service in the North East in 2008.
- Yorkshire and Humberside (vacancy)
- Wales (vacancy)
- West Midlands (vacancy)
- East Midlands Siobhan Neary:
Siobhan’s background in the guidance sector encompasses over twenty years as a practitioner, trainer, manager, researcher and lecturer. She has developed and delivered an international training portfolio including the UAE and Sri Lanka. Siobhan’s research interest focuses on continuing professional development and the professional identity of careers practitioners.
- East of England Kathy Blackmore:
Kathy’s early career was in personnel and recruitment consultancy followed by 10 years in Adult Basic Education. After completing an MA in Careers Education and Guidance she managed a local authority adult guidance service from 1996; became a Registered matrix Practitioner in 2003; she retired at the end of 2011.
- London Martin Oakeshott:
Martin joined NAGA in the 1980s and became Vice Chair (Clients) while working as an educational advice worker, adult education teacher and researcher. Since 1993 he has worked in further education in London, as a manager of student services, admissions and marketing.
- South West England Ann Ruthven:
Ann Ruthven is Head of Learning and Learner Support at LSIS. She has been involved in career development for over 20 years having originally trained as a careers adviser. Ann has been on the NAEGA Board for a number of years including serving as Chair.
- South East England (vacancy)
All of the directors can be contacted by email via admin@naega.org.uk.