Our Leadership Team
These are the people responsible for the day to day running of Activate Learning.
A warm welcome from our leadership team
Activate Learning is led by a well-established Group Executive Team, which enjoys both breadth and depth in professional and management experience. This team are responsible for the strategic management of the Activate Learning group, and are supported by a strong Group Leadership Team, comprising Directors from across the business.
At Activate Learning we are well known for developing talented people who are sought after by businesses around the world. This is because we go beyond giving you great qualifications. Our focus is on building the mindset, attributes and skills that are most relevant for the ever-changing workplace, and developing you personally so you open up future career and life possibilities you cannot yet imagine.
Gary Headland
Chief Executive, Activate Learning
Our Leadership Team
Passionate about Activate Learning’s mission to transform lives through its award-winning Learning Philosophy, Cheri’s role as Deputy Chief Executive encompasses responsibility for our curriculum. Furthermore, she has become the nominated individual for leading on behalf of Activate Learning in Ofsted inspections. She has also joined the Trust Board of Activate Learning Education Trust (ALET), which oversees our schools.
With over 25 years’ experience in the Further Education sector, Cheri has undertaken several different roles, including teacher, course leader, curriculum manager, Assistant Principal, Head of Campus, and Group Executive Director.
During 2019-20, Cheri led on the merger of the Surrey Colleges (Guildford College, Merrist Wood College, and Farnham College) into Activate Learning.
Cheri enjoys being part of a large group committed to transforming lives through education. During her employment at Activate Learning, Cheri has had ongoing opportunities to ‘learn on the job’; she is a champion of Activate Learning’s Philosophy and is delighted that the organisation continues to retain a strong focus on learners, learning, curriculum design and delivery.
In her spare time, Cheri enjoys several activities, including travelling (Asia being a particular area of interest), sailing, gardening, walking, and reading.
Jon is one of Activate Learning’s Executive Directors, with responsibility for Business development. He is responsible for the growth of our organisation, especially commercial income, international work, Higher Education, and our stakeholder engagement strategy.
Spending the first twelve years of his career in the welfare to work sector, Jon worked to help long-term unemployed people back into work. Starting out as an Employment Advisor, Jon progressed through various management roles with Ingeus UK (a private provider of employment support services), to become Director of Operations and subsequently Director of Business Development. In 2015 Jon was appointed as CEO of ATG Training, which became part of Activate Learning in 2017 and has since been fully integrated into the organisation.
Jon enjoys working for an organisation that aspires to provide more than just technical training and education, but instead seeks to prepare people for successful careers. He is especially proud of Activate Learning’s work with many young people who have not previously had a positive experience of education. Jon has always been passionate about providing services that make a positive difference to people’s lives, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
As Activate Learning’s Chief People Officer, Louise is responsible for creating and driving the Staff Journey, which focuses on the workplace experience of our employees. Championing a positive and impactful employee experience, Louise has a keen focus on building a participative environment that is fully inclusive, so that everyone can bring their whole selves to work and feel welcomed into the organisation, thriving in whatever their role or chosen pathway.
With a commercial background in Sales, Pharma and Finance, Louise brings a customer and brand focused approach and an ability to work at pace within a changing people climate. Upon joining Activate Learning in early 2019, she immediately established the need to build a specialist Talent Acquisition function as well as a team dedicated to providing Learning and Development for employees to take personal accountability for their careers. Both are now thriving functions and have evolved to meet the diverse needs of our changing workplace culture and employee communities over recent years.
Louise is driven by continuous improvements to the employee experience and channels this people-centric approach through her work both as an organisational leader and as a functional director. Louise has developed the People function to one which partners impactfully with the business through both professional expertise and robust data. Louise balances this by building a culture which nurtures wellbeing and the importance of hearing individual voices, alongside one which recognises potential and develops people to build diverse career pathways within Activate Learning.
Outside of work, Louise prioritises relaxing with family and friends, planning trips away, and reading with her lively Book Club.
Having worked in the Further Education and Skills sector since 2001, Neil has worked as a Learning Support Assistant and teacher of English before moving into leadership roles like course leader, Curriculum Manager and Director. He has also, for many years, held Chief Examiner roles in English qualifications and for Level 5 Subject Specialism qualification for UK Universities.
Being passionate about Further Education and the role it plays both locally and nationally, Neil is a passionate advocate for Activate Learning’s mission of transforming lives through learning. A key area of focus for Neil as an Executive Director for Faculty and College is to maximise skills currency and progression opportunities for all learners through the development of stakeholder relationships across the regions within his portfolio: Oxfordshire and Berkshire (Reading).
Outside of work, Neil enjoys travel and reading as well as spending time with family and friends.
As Executive Director Paul Newman has strategic oversight for our student services, the student experience, student voice, student satisfaction on our campuses and online and the physical environment for our students. Paul is responsible for contributing to Activate Learning’s strategic plan, as well as overseeing regional key stakeholder relationships including membership of the Thames Valley Berkshire LEP, Reading UK and Chair of UTC Reading Local Governance Committee. Having worked with Activate Learning for twenty-four years, Paul has progressed through a number of different roles, including technician support, teacher, manager, senior manager, director, assistant principal and principal (interim).
During his time working with Activate Learning, Paul has enjoyed the support and development opportunities available, as well as the chance to be challenged, particularly when overseeing the Bracknell merger. The variety of work, the people (both colleagues and students), the direction of the organisation and having a manager who invests time into his development are also important elements of Paul’s role at Activate Learning. A significant part of Paul’s interest in his work is also the aspect of understanding people, relationships and behaviours.
Outside of work, Paul’s pastimes include home improvement, motorcycling, walking, cycling and spending time with family.
As Chief Operating Officer, Steve’s main responsibilities include establishing and delivering a group financial strategy, as well as line managing all financial processes within the Group. Steve is also responsible for the line management of IT and Property & Estates and leading on the merger processes (legal and financial structuring) for Bracknell & Wokingham and Guildford.
Steve has significant experience in leadership roles in Retail (Marks & Spencer), Supply Chain (DHL) and Education (SEMTA), and is also a qualified accountant.
In terms of his role with Activate Learning, Steve takes a keen interest in driving change and making a difference. He believes that he is able to use his financial experience and expertise to generate value, knowing that the organisation is helping people to become employable. Steve also takes pride in leading and developing teams, and ensuring that finance (and similar functions) are ‘partners’ to the organisation and supporting and improving decision making – rather than operating as remote disengaged ‘experts’.
In his free time, Steve enjoys good food and wine, spending time with family and friends, travelling, sport (with a particular interest in football) and theatre.
Our Group Directors
As Director of Group Facilities Operations, Alan is responsible for the operational facilities across the group and leads the Property and Environment Team. This includes the maintenance and upgrades of our infrastructure as well as maintaining compliance. He has worked in both the private and public sectors for over 40 years, including NSPCC and Guardian Media Group, and joined Activate Learning in September 2019, as Group Facilities Manager, and became Director of Group Facilities Operations in February 2021. The P&E Team work closely with the IT and H&S teams to keep our colleges functioning on a daily basis as well as future proofing our environments and improving efficiency.
Andy is a seasoned Further Education professional with a distinguished career spanning over three decades, commencing in 1990. Initially an Engineering educator, he transitioned to Sports Science, consistently demonstrating a commitment to delivering exceptional educational experiences. Progressing through various leadership roles, Andy has cultivated environments that prioritise continuous improvement and learner excellence. Driven by a core belief in the transformative power of education, Andy is dedicated to enhancing life chances through accessible and impactful learning opportunities. His collaborative approach to staff development and pedagogy emphasises currency, teamwork, and shared professional growth, fostering a culture of collective success.
During his tenure at Activate Learning, Andy has capitalised on numerous opportunities for professional advancement. As Group Director of Lifestyles Faculty and Banbury & Bicester College and the Technology Campus at Blackbird Leys, Oxford, he spearheads initiatives that align college provision with local skills and community needs. His responsibilities encompass creating vibrant campus experiences, strategically shaping curricula, and prioritising student engagement and success.
Beyond his professional endeavours, Andy is a devoted family man with a passion for competitive sports and fitness. He finds personal fulfilment in long-distance cycling, regularly participating in 100-mile sportives.
Ben Jokiel is the Group Director of Bracknell and Wokingham College alongside the Construction and Engineering faculty at Activate Learning.
Learn more about Ben via his Group Director profile on the Bracknell and Wokingham College website.
An accomplished experienced senior leader and Group Director with a track record of initiating and managing change by turning ideas into viable solutions; a passionate advocate for education who communicates with strategic intent and a solid grasp of context. Cat is a confident public speaker and excellent networker adept at creating lasting connections with stakeholders and industry partners which support strategic planning and commercial decision making.
Cat is an experienced curriculum and quality professional who has a track record of accomplishments in a wide range of academic and pastoral roles several secondary schools. She moved into Further Education to lead the Creative Industries Faculty to sustained, above NA results (91% achievement rate in 2023).
In a seconded role as Group Director of Quality and Consistency, she contributed to a successful Ofsted inspection (GOOD overall and OUTSTANDING for High Needs and STRONG contribution to skills needs) and was instrumental in delivering a new organisation-wide review into Quality Improvement.
As Group Director for Strategy and Innovation, she is responsible for the development of innovative curriculum design solutions, consulting with key stakeholders to identify and understand local and national skills needs and identification and development of strategically significant growth opportunities.
With a first degree in Business and Finance and an early career in IT sales and marketing, Gin came into teaching as a part-time Business teacher for Bracknell & Wokingham College. That was 25 years ago! Since then, she has held several roles, from full-time teacher and Curriculum Manager to Head of Department for A Levels, GCSEs, maths and English and the Creative Arts. Upon the merger with Activate Learning in 2019, Gin took on the role of Director of the Creative Industries for Berkshire and Surrey and moved into her current role in 2023.
As Group Director of Quality and Consistency and a member of the Education Leadership Team, Gin works collaboratively to inspire and influence Faculty colleagues in the compliance and consistency of their areas with quality improvement and assurance processes. She has overall responsibility for leading and directing the quality assurance processes and contributes to quality improvement initiatives for the Activate Learning group. She collaborates with stakeholders across the organisation and the wider FE community to develop and implement quality assurance strategies, monitor performance, and drive continuous improvement to enhance the overall learning experience in support of our learner journey strategic objective.
A key element of her role is to ensure consistent high standards of quality across the organisation's various educational programs, including apprenticeships, further education, higher education, online provision, and English and maths courses.
Gin provides strategic leadership to the team of English and maths and TLA Lead Practitioners to deliver the continuous Quality Improvement programme that promotes and supports outstanding teaching, learning and assessment.
Hannah has been a dedicated professional in the field of Further Education since 2014. Beginning her career as a History and Politics teacher, Hannah has consistently demonstrated a commitment to outstanding education. Over the years, she has progressed through various leadership roles, leveraging her expertise to foster an environment of continuous improvement and excellence.
At the core of Hannah's educational philosophy is a belief in the transformative power of education. She is passionate about creating opportunities for all learners to achieve their full potential. This dedication is reflected in her collaborative approach to staff development, where she emphasises the importance of teamwork, professional growth, and shared success.
Throughout her tenure at Activate Learning, Hannah has benefitted from numerous opportunities to expand her skills and impact. As Group Director of Academic Studies Faculty and City of Oxford College, her role prioritises engagement with local stakeholders to ensure that the college's provision meets local skills and community needs, creating a vibrant campus experience for staff and students, and shaping educational strategies and curricula that prioritise student success and engagement.
Outside of her professional life, Hannah enjoys spending quality time with her family, indulging in a good book, and exploring anything related to History!
Jo Manser is the Group Director of Merrist Wood College and University Centre alongside the Landbased faculty at Activate Learning.
Learn more about Jo her via her Group Director at Merrist Wood College and University Centre profile.
Having worked in the Further Education and Skills sector since 2002, Michelle has worked as a Learning Support Assistant, teacher and Work Experience Coordinator before moving into leadership roles like Faculty Manager and Director. Michelle has also led on high needs commissioning and developing SEND provision including, Learning Companies and Supported Internships.
Being passionate about Further Education and the role it plays both locally and nationally, Michelle is a passionate advocate for Activate Learning’s mission of transforming lives through learning. A key area of focus for Michelle as a Group Director of Reading Campus is to create an outstanding experience for all staff and learners on campus and ensuring excellent opportunities for all learners through the development of stakeholder relationships across Reading and beyond.
Outside of work, Michelle enjoys being a mum of 3 children.
Neil Shoulder is the Group Director of Farnham College and Guildford College alongside the CreaTech faculty at Activate Learning.
Learn more about Neil via his Group Director at Farnham College profile and Group Director of Guildford College profile.
As the Group Director of People and Development, Saskia oversees the Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Learning and Development, and Diversity and Inclusion teams across the organisation. Her focus is on creating a positive employee experience that aligns with the staff journey goals. A firm believer in the potential of every individual, Saskia champions the Learning Philosophy, advocating for an emotionally secure environment where people can thrive for the right reasons.
With over 20 years of experience in Human Resources and Organisational Development, primarily in the Further Education sector, Saskia has held a variety of roles including a period as a teacher during which she obtained her QTLS status. She played a key leadership role in the successful transition during the merger of Bracknell and Wokingham College with Activate Learning.
Saskia is an intuitive leader with a real desire to make a difference and add value. She is driven by a passion to create an environment where employees can come to work and be themselves, at their best with opportunities to grow and develop.
Outside of work, Saskia enjoys spending time pottering in her garden, sharing quality moments with family and friends, making things and experimenting with new culinary creations.