Natspec’s team continues to grow to support our membership. Find out more about the team and how to get in touch with them below. If you’re not sure who you should get in contact with about something, email info@natspec.org.uk and we’ll direct it to the appropriate person!
Table of contents
Clare Howard, Chief Executive
Based in: Derbyshire
When did you join Natspec: January 2016
After 25 years’ experience in the public, private and voluntary sectors, Clare became chief executive of Natspec in January 2016. Clare previously worked at the Association of Colleges for six years and in local authorities, funding agencies, schools and colleges. As a consultant in the 2000s, Clare worked on more than 200 projects and took interim posts across the education, sport and health sectors, developing a passion for further education and a particular interest in services and education for people with learning difficulties and disabilities. She has worked with special schools, specialist colleges and national disability organisations and her expertise includes organisational development, funding bids, training, change management and governance projects. She was awarded an OBE in 2023, enjoys walking, running, open water swimming and watching football with her husband and three children.
Get in touch with Clare at clare.howard@natspec.org.uk if you’d like to talk about specialist colleges, FE generally, anything funding related, or the latest football results!
Policy team
Ruth Perry, Senior Policy Manager
Based in: London
When did you join Natspec: January 2017
Ruth leads Natspec’s policy team in lobbying and advocating on behalf of members. This involves developing and communicating policy positions, overseeing parliamentary affairs work, liaison with government officials, coordinating organisational responses to calls for evidence and consultations, and representing Natspec and its members in public forums and on advisory groups. Before joining Natspec, Ruth worked for 12 years as an independent consultant specialising in special educational needs and disabilities. Prior to that, she held the policy lead for foundation learning at the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, having started her career as a secondary school teacher of English and drama. When she’s not beating the drum for specialist colleges and their learners, she enjoys making art, a passion she developed during the pandemic.
Get in touch with Ruth at ruth.perry@natspec.org.uk if you want to find out more about or get involved in Natspec’s policy work.
Kirsten Jones, Senior Policy Officer
Kirsten is currently on secondment until April 2025.
Based in: Wales
When did you join Natspec: September 2020
Kirsten leads on policy, lobbying, quality improvement and partnership working in Wales, mental health policy, learner voice and the Student Voice Parliament. She joined Natspec following five years as vice principal of Coleg Elidyr in Carmarthenshire. Previously she worked in higher education as a departmental head with responsibility for widening access to higher education to disadvantaged groups in the south Wales valleys. She is a Doctor of Education and a Senior Fellow of Advance HE. Her research areas include special education needs and disabilities, vocational curriculum, pedagogy and assessment.
Kirsten has a keen interest in how specialist further education and effective partnership working impact positively on individuals’ life chances. She works in a voluntary capacity for the National Autistic Society and has served as a consultant visiting schools in Saudia Arabia seeking to improve provision for learners with autism.
Kirsten is currently on secondment to Estyn, His Majesty’s inspectorate for education and training in Wales, as an additional inspector where she is working on a thematic review of independent living skills (ILS) curriculum in further education institutions in Wales.
Get in touch with Kirsten at kirsten.jones@natspec.org.uk if you would like to talk about any area of her work and responsibilities.
Will Marshall, Policy Officer
Based in: London
When did you join Natspec: August 2024
Will provides support to the policy team, both in interpreting and relaying policy that impacts colleges. He has a particular responsibility for parliamentary affairs including monitoring and analysis and stakeholder mapping and tracking, Will has previously worked in research and policy roles in the recruitment and healthcare sector, following the completion of his masters in international relations. Will is dedicated to advancing equity and supporting individuals with the most significant needs, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Get in touch with Will at will.marshall@natspec.org.uk if you would like to discuss Natspec’s policies or for advice on engaging with your local MP in order to promote the work of specialist colleges.
Learning and development team
Dawn Green, Quality Improvement Lead
Based in: Worksop
When did you join Natspec: September 2023 as Quality Improvement Lead, on Natspec’s board from 2016–2023
Dawn is Natspec’s Quality Improvement Lead. She is also Director of DEG Consultancy Ltd, the Karten Network’s Development Co-ordinator based in the UK and a Natspec associate, providing bespoke consultancy and improvement partner support to colleges including supporting organisations with their quality improvement journeys, implementation of management information systems, and the use of assistive technologies. She has over 25 years’ experience working in further education, with most of this time spent in senior leadership roles in specialist FE. Dawn has always been motivated to deploy innovative methods to enable people with disabilities to engage optimally in all aspects of their lives. She is chair of the board of a specialist college where she takes a keen interest in the oversight of quality, curriculum and standards in both education and care. Dawn is the SEND representative on the Association of College’s National Chairs Council. Outside of work, Dawn enjoys spending time with her horses and is a massive show-jumping enthusiast.
Get in touch with Dawn at dawn.green@natspec.org.uk if you would like help with quality improvement in your college.
Yola Jacobsen, Transform Manager
Based in: London
When did you join Natspec: July 2019
Yola manages Natspec’s staff training and consultancy support services. Her background is in further and adult education for students with learning difficulties and disabilities as a tutor and staff trainer. She has managed national DfE development and training programmes including ‘Finished at School: Supporting young people with autism to move from school to college’. As the post-16 expert advisor for the Department of Health’s Valuing People Support Team, she ran national training programmes on person-centred working and supported employment.
Away from work Yola sings with the Crouch End Festival Chorus whose gigs have included Glastonbury with Ray Davies, first night of the Proms, backing Noel Gallagher and singing with the late, great Ennio Morricone and his band.
Get in touch with Yola at yola.jacobsen@natspec.org.uk if you have any questions about the staff training and consultancy support services at Natspec.
Fil McIntyre, TechAbility Manager and Assistive Technology Lead
Based in: Lancaster
When did you join Natspec: February 2018
Fil manages and delivers Natspec’s TechAbility Assistive Technology service. He assists Natspec and Karten Network members to maximise the accessibility advantages provided by technology. Alongside this, Fil delivers other elements of Natspec’s provision via member networks and engagements. He moved to Natspec full time in 2021 after three years in a split role between TechAbility and Beaumont College in Lancaster where he managed a team that assessed and supported students to gain maximum advantage from technology. Prior to this, Fil delivered Assistive Technology training and support to every college in Scotland. He has also been part of the training team at Inclusive Technology and developed the first Assistive Technologist post at Seashell Trust specialist school and college. Fil is currently wrestling with his latest instrument – the double bass – alongside trying to persuade all who will listen that electronica is ‘real music’. He is also Lead Volunteer and Trustee of a local Scout group that gives multiple opportunities for young people to get active and adventurous.
Get in touch with Fil at fil.mcintyre@natspec.org.uk if you want to know how technology can change lives and how your organisation can make this happen.
Neil Harrod-Beck, Assistive Technology Projects Lead
Based in: Cheltenham
When did you join Natspec: February 2018
Neil is an experienced Assistive Technologist working to help people with disabilities through technology. He has experience at local, national and international levels in specialist and mainstream environments.
He has a record of delivering high quality training, assessments, webinars, seminars and projects, and is passionate about using what he has learned to improve educational outcomes and standards of living. European experience has come about through Erasmus project work and international experience through work in India. Sitting on the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Assistive Technology and the subsequent DfE expert group has enabled him to learn about and contribute to policy – notably the 2019 EdTech Policy.
Previous work has included co-authoring the TechAbility standards, helping to drive the definition of the role of the Assistive Technologist through the ESCO Framework and delivering the Accessible Tech Thursdays webinar series for the DfE EdTech Demonstrators Programme. His current role is focused on delivering the TechAbility webinar programme, carrying out consultations with specialist colleges, delivering TechAbility training, updating the TechAbility Standards and organising the TechAbility AT Champions network. Neil has a background in delivering care and education, working for National Star College and is interested in politics, nature, technology and yoga.
Get in touch with Neil at neil.harrodbeck@natspec.org.uk if you want to find out how technology can improve your learners’ lives.
Business support team
Beth Mobbs-White, Business Support Manager
Based in: Nottingham
When did you join Natspec: June 2019
Beth manages Natspec’s business support team. She also helps to manage Natspec’s conferences, large events and the Innovation Awards, as well as trying to keep Natspec in order behind the scenes. She has previously worked in a wide range of senior administration positions across the education, legal and health sectors. You’ll often find her looking over spreadsheets, with a coffee in one hand and a book in the other.
Get in touch with Beth at beth.mobbswhite@natspec.org.uk if you’d like to discuss her projects.
Fathia Saripuspita, Learning and Development Administrator
Based in: Nottingham
When did you join Natspec: August 2022
Fathia supports the organisation and administration of consultancy and training across Natspec, as well as member networks and events. She worked previously in human resources and learning and development in hospitality, education, and real estate industries. Away from work, Fathia loves exercising, cooking, and cats!
Get in touch with Fathia at fathia.saripuspita@natspec.org.uk if you have any queries regarding training and member events.
Olabisi Olusanya, Business Support Administrator
Based in: Derby
When did you join Natspec: September 2024
Olabisi provides essential administrative support to enhance operational efficiency and effectively support the team. Before completing her master’s degree in human resource management, Olabisi gained extensive experience in various roles as an office administrator, accountant and customer service manager across different organizations. She also served as a third-party monitoring team member on a World Bank-assisted agricultural project, aimed at supporting policy thrusts on food security, local production, job creation and economic diversification.
When not at work, Olabisi enjoys listening to music and spending time with her family, creating memories and sharing good times.
Get in touch with Ola at olabisi.olusanya@natspec.org.uk if you have questions about our activities, the services we provide, or with any other general inquiries.
Amanda Tribble, Communications, Marketing and Publicity Officer
Based in: Nottingham
Joined Natspec in: March 2019
Amanda undertakes a sometimes eclectic collective of work for Natspec, leading on communications and social media whilst also helping out with IT and web development. After a childhood full of pursuits from maths quizzes to science festivals to violin playing, Amanda headed to university to study illustration. She went on to combine her mixed childhood interests working at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Chemistry designing documents and communications. Outside of work, Amanda has a keen interest in Chinese culture (she speaks conversational Mandarin!) and sings in a local choir.
Get in touch with Amanda at amanda.tribble@natspec.org.uk if you have a communications question or query, have any problems with the website or need help accessing the digital parts of your Natspec membership.
Julian Stokes, IT and Web Development
Based in: Oswestry
When did you join Natspec: April 2000
Julian is a web developer and a Microsoft certified systems engineer. He specialises in creating bespoke web-based solutions for Natspec and other organisations. Utilising his IT expertise, Julian ensures that Natspec’s websites and IT systems operate smoothly and efficiently, enabling the team to focus on their mission. He is also committed to assisting individuals as they navigate challenges in their relationship with technology.
When he’s not busy with his IT responsibilities, Julian is an avid photographer with a passion for film. He prefers the traditional film medium over digital and enjoys the captivating process of developing images in his own darkroom.
Centre for Excellence team
Jane Ragless, Natspec Centre for Excellence in SEND Lead
Based in: West Sussex
Joined Natspec in: June 2023
Jane leads Natspec’s Centre for Excellence in SEND. She has worked with Natspec as an associate for the past six years developing and sharing her knowledge and passion for RARPA both locally and nationally, as well as conducting peer reviews. She is also a Natspec coach on the successful SEND leadership programme.
Jane has worked in SEND for over twenty five years, mostly with the Chichester College Group. She is committed to creating quality study programmes that enable learners to achieve successful outcomes and best possible life choices. She was instrumental in the creation and implementation of a robust RARPA provision across the group of five colleges. Under her leadership, the SEND provision at Brinsbury and Chichester colleges was consistently graded outstanding.
When not working, Jane loves to walk around the beautiful Sussex seaside.
Get in touch with Jane at jane.ragless@natspec.org.uk if you would like more details about Natspec’s Centre for Excellence offer or RARPA.
Jo Byrne, Natspec Centre for Excellence in SEND Project Coordinator
Based in: Leicestershire
Joined Natspec in: May 2023
Jo’s focus at Natspec is co-ordinating the Natspec Centre for Excellence in SEND. She has worked in education for over 20 years as a project manager, managing regional and national projects on budget, to target, and regularly exceeding client expectations. Jo also has extensive experience of data management, ensuring required information is captured and analysed, as well as administration processes such as course and event management. .
Get in touch with Jo at CfESEND@natspec.org.uk if you have any questions about Natspec Centre for Excellence in SEND.
Learner voice team
Andrew Evans, Learner Voice Coordinator
Based in: Cheltenham
Joined Natspec in: November 2020
Originally, Andrew’s background was within mainstream FE, leading bespoke programmes for young people with behavioural, emotional, social difficulties (BESD) as well as providing behaviour and classroom management training to trainee teachers. Andrew has a range of experience working with people with physical and learning disabilities in FE and specialist colleges, previously managing learner programmes at National Star. Andrew now leads on learner voice at National Star and has a passion for promoting, listening and responding to the voices of students and young people.
Andrew has a four-year-old son who keeps him busy and likes to trail run in his spare time.
Get in touch with Andrew at andrew.evans@natspec.org.uk if you have any questions related to anything learner voice.
Andrew is assisted in learner voice work by Fathia Saripuspita and Kirsten Jones.