Post-16 Education and Skills Reform Conference

Kirsten Trussell is a strategist with extensive experience aligning employer demand, labour-market intelligence and education provision to shape effective local skills systems. She plays a leading role in the Sussex and Brighton Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), working with employers, FE and HE providers and local partners to translate workforce needs into clear curriculum priorities and progression pathways.

Kirsten has held senior strategy and policy roles across the public sector, including at Coast to Capital LEP, where she led employer-led skills and economic strategy. Her work focuses on balancing local, regional and national skills priorities, building long-term employer partnerships and co-designing programmes that address real skills gaps and support inclusive, sustainable growth.

My introduction to the FE sector was through CELTEC. I transferred to the Further Education Funding Council for Wales (FEFCW) which became the Department for Children Education & Lifelong Learning (DCELLS). My first FE FD role was with the Welsh College of Horticulture before moving to Reaseheath college.  I am currently the Vice Principal Finance & Resources with responsibilities for Finance, Facilities, IT, MIS/Registry, Catering, Domestics, Reactive and Planned maintenance along with Capital projects.  I have continued to support the sector and currently joint chair the NW AOC FD’s network, the Landex Funding Committee and chair the College Finance Directors Group (CFDG).   I was on the steering group for the CFFR which worked closely with ESFA & DfE colleagues.  I continue to sit on the DfE’s College (Funding) Group, supporting a wide range of discussions on funding ranging from bursary support to capital projects.  I have also recently become the FE representative on the British Universities Finance Directors Group (BUFDG).

Vikki is Executive Director – Education and Standards at the Education Training Foundation (ETF). Her remit includes External Affairs and Communications, Policy and Research (research and evaluation, impact, education policy strategists, mentors, and employer engagement), and Standards and CPD (quality and standards, online learning design, CPD trainers, professional standards and statuses).  

Vikki is a seasoned executive leader, whose career spans both public and private sectors, and further and higher education. Prior to Joining ETF, Vikki was the Special Education Adviser at the British Medical Association, where she engineered increases in member engagement and strategic advancements; she also has a rich background organisational development and change management from her time with Oxford University Press and City & Guilds Group. Vikki holds a PGCE in Further Education and a Ph.D. in Education; she is a Fellow of the RSA and Senior Fellow of the Staff and Educational Development Association. Vikki is motivated by driving positive change and fostering impactful outcomes in further education and skills.  

Jenifer is a Director of Programmes for the Gatsby Charitable Foundation leading on a number of programmes to support delivery of technical education, including work with colleges to develop and evaluate training for Industry Associates. Her interests include further education recruitment and retention, international comparison for education systems, and the development of local coherent technical education pathways. She is a member of the governing Board for East Lancashire Learning Group. Previously Jenifer taught for 13 years, worked for the University of York and Association for Science Education, and prior to joining Gatsby was inaugural Director of the National STEM Centre.

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

As the deputy CEO and principal, Asfa has over two decades of transformational and inclusive leadership across further and higher Education. She has consistently delivered improved learner outcomes, aligned education with the skills and employment agenda, led successful Ofsted inspections and strategic curriculum reforms.

Asfa’s leadership has secured national recognition through prestigious kitemarks and accreditations. She has built strong employer and community partnerships that have enhanced both institutional reputation and revenue, particularly in advancing the skills and employment agenda.

She has led complex change management initiatives, including the demerger and merger of colleges and moved institutions from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’ within tight timelines. Her strategic vision and operational acumen have been instrumental in delivering sustainable improvements.

Asfa is passionate about leadership development, having designed frameworks that empower emerging leaders and foster cultures of high performance and inclusion. Asfa’s national influence is reflected in her active roles with the Association of Colleges, Greater London Agency,  Local London partnerships, South East London Chamber of Commerce and Business London.