Tim Balcon Appointed as Ofqual Board Member
22 February 2010
Energy & Utility Skills is delighted to announce that Tim Balcon, Chief Executive, has been appointed on to the Board of Ofqual. The announcement was officially made by Ofqual on Friday 19 February with confirmation of the appointment of 11 members on its new Board.
The Apprenticeships, Schools, Children and Learning Act 2009 established Ofqual as the independent regulator of general and vocational qualifications in England and of vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland.
Kathleen Tattersall, Chair of Ofqual, said: "The Board will play a key role in providing leadership to Ofqual, helping to set the organisation's strategic aims, values and standards.
"The appointments are the result of an extensive recruitment process which has resulted in a diverse Board, with excellent skills and wide experience. I believe the Board is well placed to take Ofqual forward as the independent regulator."
Schools Minister Iain Wright said: "I am very pleased to announce these appointments to the Board of Ofqual.
"They will bring considerable experience and rigour to the Board, ensuring that this country can have an exams regulator that is independent and high quality. I am confident that they will support Ofqual as it continues to build on the very substantial progress it has already made."
One of the Board members has been specifically appointed to represent the interests of Northern Ireland.
The Ofqual Board members are:
Ray Coughlin has a background in the financial services industry having held general management positions in HR and Strategic Management. Additionally he has served on a number of public bodies focusing on equal opportunities, labour relations and pay determination. Retired, he works part time as a consultant and is involved with a charity which sends refurbished computers to village schools in Africa. He has been appointed to represent the interests of Northern Ireland and his appointment is for four years.
Neil Watts is an experienced former secondary school headteacher now working in educational consultancy. He is a Council member of the Advertising Standards Authority, a member of the Architects Registration Board, and is on the Board of Trustees of the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. His appointment is for four years.
Gillian Easson has extensive experience of regulation, risk and organisational change. She is currently Deputy Chair of the University of Manchester's Board of Governors and is Vice-Chair of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust. A former solicitor, she was also a board member of UMIST, a technology transfer company and the Christie Hospital. Her appointment is for four years.
Fay Scott is currently employed as Head of Equality and Diversity at the Legal Services Commission. Fay worked in the Further and Higher Education Sectors for many years and she is a member of the Institute of Leadership and Management. Her appointment is for four years.
Denise Holt was British Ambassador to Spain (2007-9) and Mexico (2002-5) following earlier overseas postings to Ireland and Brazil. She joined the FCO in 1970 as Research Analyst for Iberia; subsequent London appointments included HR Director (1999-2002), Director for Migration and Director for the Overseas Territories (2005-7). Her appointment is for four years.
Maggie Galliers has been Principal of Leicester College since 2002, having previously been Principal of Henley College Coventry. She has broad experience at Board level nationally and she was awarded a CBE in 2009 in recognition of services to local and national FE. Her appointment is for three years.
Tanvi Davda is currently a Director at Barclays Wealth within the Global Banking and Investment Solutions business where she is Head of Business Management. She has spent 17 years within the Financial Services sector where she has had extensive experience in managing strategic change agendas across different organisations, countries and cultures having been based in Europe, Asia and the US. She has been appointed for four years.
Sandra Burslem is a former Vice-Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University and is now a Civil Service Commissioner, Chair of the Education Honours Committee and the first independent Chair of the British Council's Education-UK partnership. She also holds a number of other academic appointments, including Chair of the Capital Committee and Chair of the National Quality Assurance Framework Review Group for HE, and she was previously Deputy Chair of the Learning and Skills Council. She sits on the Boards of a number of educational institutions and was awarded an OBE in 1992 and became a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2004. She has been appointed for three years.
Tim Balcon is Chief Executive of Energy, Utility and Skills. He began his career as an Apprentice Service Engineer for British Gas, where he went on to work as a Training Advisor and National Project Manager. He has previously managed an Inward Investment Project aimed at reskilling the workforce in Nottingham made redundant from the mining and textile trades and been the Chief Executive Officer of the Gas Industry National Training Organisation (GINTO). He has been appointed for two years.
Philip Fletcher is Chairman of Ofwat (the Water Services Regulation Authority). His previous career was mainly in the former Department of the Environment, helping to develop and implement policy on issues from land use planning and urban regeneration to environmental protection and local government finance. Subsequently, he was Chief Executive of PSA Services, the provider of Government property services, overseeing its privatisation, and Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District, providing financial and other services to the Metropolitan Police. He has been appointed for three years.
John Townsley is headteacher of Morley High School in Leeds, one of just four schools in the UK to have achieved Investors in People Champion status. He is also Executive Headteacher of Rodillian School and Chairs the Aimhigher Implementation Group for Leeds and the National Headteacher Steering Group for Technology Colleges. He has been appointed for two years.
