Meet the SSAT Team

Senior Leadership Team

Sue Williamson
Chief Executive

Read about Sue

Sue joined SSAT in 2002 and focused on leadership and innovation. She worked with Professor David Hargreaves on the personalising learning agenda, and developed SSAT’s suite of leadership programmes. She was Headteacher of Monks’ Dyke Technology College for eight years. She is trustee of two MATs and Chair of Governing Board at Melbourn Village College.

Angelina Idun
Director

Read about Angelina

Previously Acting Principal at Ark Evelyn Grace Academy, Angelina joined SSAT as Director of School Improvement in 2017. Her school leadership career has been largely focused on south London schools in diverse, vibrant yet challenging communities. Angelina is driven by an unwavering belief in the difference a high-quality learning experience can and must make to the life chances of young people.

Grace Hardy
Director

Read about Grace

With a background in international project management, Grace is Director of Operations with responsibility for our corporate services and ensuring all of SSAT’s membership and CPD activities are delivered to the highest standard.

Julian Elve
Director

Read about Julian

Julian joined SSAT in 2010 after a diverse career spanning project and technical management roles at the BBC. He is passionate about the potential to use technology to enable SSAT deliver a focused service to all members. A strong supporter of the role vocational education and apprenticeships play in social mobility, outside SSAT he is a board member of a London housing association.

Sylvia Paddock
Director

Read about Sylvia

A former Director of Human Resources at the Ministry of Defence, Sylvia is a qualified Project Manager and a National College certified trainer. Working in the education sector since 2000, she was Director of Training at King Edward VII School in Leicestershire. Sylvia supports SSAT’s strategic partnerships and contracts.

Education Team

Alex Galvin
Senior Education Lead
Leading Edge Network
Curriculum Programmes

Read about Alex

Alex joined SSAT in 2008 and is now a senior education lead. She runs SSAT’s Leading Edge network, our network for high performing schools, supporting schools to collaborate, innovate and share best practice. Alex also leads on curriculum for SSAT. Prior to joining SSAT, Alex taught for fifteen years in schools in Oxfordshire and Berkshire.

Andy Williams
Senior Education Lead
Teaching and Learning

Read about Andy

Passionate about the transformative potential of education, Andy offers both challenge and high-quality training to improve teaching and learning across a wide range of institutions, based on his extensive experience in education at a strategic and operational level.

Colin Logan
Senior Education Lead
Accountability and Data

Read about Colin

Colin has worked at five large comprehensive schools as a languages teacher, head of department and faculty, deputy head and finally headteacher. He was also a senior adviser in the National Strategies in the data and evaluation team. He joined SSAT in 2011 and is currently a senior education lead with responsibility for data, accountability and inspection.

Corinne Settle
Senior Education Lead
Teaching and Learning

Read about Corinne

Corinne has an insatiable passion for teaching & learning which is focused through inspiring and supporting teachers and school leaders to become even better. Corinne has worked with hundreds of teachers through the delivery of TEEP and EFA programmes and has considerable experience as a teacher and senior leader herself, having worked in schools in Salford and Hull.

Dr Dan Belcher
Senior Education Lead
Leadership Programmes

Read about Dan

Dan leads on SSAT’s leadership programmes and has a wealth of experience in designing and delivering professional development for all career stages. Before joining SSAT in 2009 he was a senior leader and teacher of French and German. Dan enjoys working with individuals and teams to realise their goals and grow leadership capacity.

Laura Burton
Senior Education Lead, Primary

Read about Laura

Laura joined SSAT in 2019 as a Senior Education Lead for the Primary Network. She has worked in a diverse range of primary schools as a senior leader and has also worked for her local authority. Laura is passionate about enabling meaningful collaboration to share best practice and empowering schools to refine their practice.

Pauline Holbrook
Head of SEND
Special Schools and SEND

Read about Pauline

Pauline has worked in the special education sector for over 30 years. She has experience of teaching, leadership, training and undertaking research. Her philosophy is that all students require outstanding teaching that takes into account their needs, abilities and aspirations in order to prepare them for adult life.

Sylvia King
Senior Education Lead

Read about Sylvia

Sylvia has worked in education for almost 30 years in both schools and colleges. She has specialised in vocational education, careers and assessment working. An experienced teacher and leader she first joined SSAT in 2006 and returned as a Senior Education Lead in 2020. Sylvia is currently completing her MSc in Careers Management and Coaching.

Relationship Managers

Ellen Renton Pearce
Head of Business Development

Read about Ellen

With over 20 years in the healthcare and education sectors Ellen has a diverse range of experience working across SSAT. She is driven by improving the life chances of each person.

Zeynep Koch
Membership Development Manager

Read about Zeynep

Zeynep is a qualified secondary teacher who taught social sciences in London and Essex before joining SSAT in Autumn 2015. She is also a school governor. Zeynep is passionate about improving the life chances of disadvantaged students, and continues to actively support school leaders in overcoming the day-to-day challenges in the current education landscape.

Ejike Agubor
Senior Relationship Manager

Read about Ejike

Following a career in sales and marketing for creative agencies, EJ made the switch to the education sector where he first worked at a secondary school developing community links and promoting the school, before moving to a well-known university. Working at SSAT since 2016, EJ thrives on the inspiration schools give youngsters and is dedicated to supporting them in their journey.

Kirsty Hewett
Relationship Manager (Members and Partners)

Read about Kirsty

Kirsty came to SSAT in 2016 to help expand the network by working with schools to identify their needs and how they can collaborate with us. Prior to working at SSAT, she worked in the International Education sector. Kirsty is passionate about education for everyone, everywhere.

Amanda Reinink
Relationship Manager

Read about Amanda

Amanda has worked in a variety of school settings in London including an outstanding comprehensive, a Pupil Referral Unit and a special school. She is passionate about ensuring students with special educational needs and deprived backgrounds receive the best chances.

Amir Akhtar
Relationship Manager

Read about Amir

Amir has previously worked at accountancy and taxation membership institutes in sponsorship and business development roles, building partnership packages and delivering tailored solutions to meet client needs. With a keen interest in the education sector, Amir moved to SSAT to continue building successful relationships working with schools.

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