Zoë is Head of Policy and Engagement at the Centre for Progressive Policy. With previous experience spanning the private and public sector, Zoë most recently worked at Lazard, advising both large scale and startup technology, media and telecoms clients on M&A situations. Zoë has also held several roles in government including as Senior Policy Adviser at HM Treasury, advising the Chancellor on EU economic policy and as Economic Policy Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister during the coalition government.

David Hughes became Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges in September 2016. Before that he was CEO at Learning and Work Institute, a leading think tank, research and policy organisation which was formed in 2016 from a merger he led between NIACE and Inclusion. From 2000 to 2011, David worked in senior roles at the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). At the LSC and SFA David led the funding and improvement relationships with colleges and providers and successfully took on trouble-shooting roles to rescue crises in capital funding and Educational Maintenance Allowances. Prior to that, David worked in the voluntary sector across a wide range of roles and organisations in the UK and Australia, in social housing, cooperatives, welfare, regeneration and community development. David has held many Board and Committee roles, including a few years as Vice-Chair of the East Midlands Regional Assembly in the 1990s. He played a leading role in establishing the new Education and Training Foundation in 2013 and has established and supported several third sector organisations

Nick Linford is the Editor of FE Week, the specialist magazine focusing on Further Education. Nick is also author of the Complete guide to funding apprenticeships, two books about funding and data, and is the founding editor for Lsect’s weekly newspapers: FE Week and Schools Week. Prior to setting-up Lsect in 2010, Nick established an education think-tank at the publishers Pearson, and before that was for seven years director of planning and performance at Lewisham College, during which time they achieved an Ofsted grade one.

Ruby leads on FSB’s engagement in Westminster on issues impacting small business owners and the self-employed. She established the FSB’s diversity policy area, including producing Women in Enterprise: The Untapped Potential. Prior to joining the FSB, Ruby worked at London Councils, before that at The Children’s Society. She worked across a number of areas including housing, welfare reform and looked after children.

Nigel Whitehead is Chief Technology Officer at BAE Systems. Nigel is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. Nigel was previously Group Managing Director of the company's UK defence businesses, delivering over £7bn turnover in the UK and international markets, and has been active in defence programmes for 33 years, working in the UK, Sweden and Australia. Nigel is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
He was appointed CBE in the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to vocational education and skills.