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Secretary of State Ed Balls commented:

I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Cresswell, Colin Dennis and Alison Drury as Board Members of TDA.

They will bring considerable experience to the board from the business sector, and I am confident that they will support TDA as it continues to build on the very substantial progress already made in recent years.

Christopher Baker, Chairman of the TDA said:

I am delighted to welcome our three new board members, who have each achieved considerable distinction in their own fields. They each share our commitment to excellence and our passion for education as a force to change lives. I look forward to working with them and to the contribution they will make to the TDA Board.

Dr Michael Cresswell CBE has been director General of the Assessment and Qualification Alliance (AQA), an educational charity, since 2004. Previous to that he was AQA’s Director of Examinations Administration and Head of Research. Dr Cresswell is also a member of the DCSF 14-19 Reform Ministerial Chief Executives’ Group.

Colin Dennis has many years senior and board level experience in the UK financial and aviation sectors. He has a lifelong commitment to education and development, having begun his career as a teacher. He has a Masters Degree in the Psychology of Education and has been responsible for setting up and managing training departments in industry. He is currently Chairman of RVL, a highly specialised aviation business and was previously Group Managing Director of the Atlantic Air Transport Group.

Alison Drury is the owner of ‘thinkvivid’, a marketing and communications research consultancy. She is also Managing Director of Talking Matters Limited, a specialist qualitative research company. Since 1998, Alison has been a Governor of Warwickshire College which is a founder member of the 157 Group of leading FE Colleges. Alison was elected Vice Chair of Governors in 2008.

Further information

The appointments process was run in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. 

Board members receive £300 per day plus expenses for their time spent on TDA business.

The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) is a national agency and recognised sector body, responsible for the training and development of the Children’s Workforce in Schools.

The role of the TDA’s Board is to support and challenge the Executive to ensure that the organisation fulfils its responsibilities. Together they are responsible for developing strategies, plans and policies that uphold and promote TDA’s core values, policies and objectives.