Hazel Hagger worked in secondary schools as a teacher and leader for a number of years before joining the University of Oxford. At the university she contributed to planning and developing one of the first partnerships in ITE.

As Director of Professional Courses at the Department of Education, Oxford University, Hazel aquired considerable experience in developing and leading courses and programmes in ITE and continuing professional learning. She continues to work in an advisory capacity at a number of universities in the UK and abroad.

She has been involved in national reviews of ITE provision, and in both partnership and mentor development in many countries. As an adjunct Senior Research Fellow at Auckland University she also has experience of developing research capacity in educational research.

Hazel’s research interests are in the nature, acquisition and development of teachers’ expertise, and on mentoring and partnerships in education. She has written extensively in these areas.

Áine Lawlor qualified as a Primary Teacher in 1969, and holds a B.A., Higher Diploma in Education, Diploma in Education Administration, and an M.A., Ph.D. and a PG Diploma in Irish Translation.

Áine’s career spans a number of firsts. She was appointed Head at a newly founded school in Dublin in 1975 starting with just 33 pupils. Subsequently she was appointed Assistant National Co-ordinator for the Relationships and Sexuality Education Support Service, National Co-ordinator for the Primary Curriculum Support Programme, and the first CEO of the Teaching Council, Ireland.

After retiring in 2011, Áine continued to be involved in education, including Advisor and Rapporteur for the first Sahlberg Report on the structure of ITE in Ireland, a member of the Welsh Government Task and Finish Group on Criteria for ITE, a member of the Welsh Government ITE Expert Forum, Deputy Chair of the Board of Trustees and the Governing Authority at Mary Immaculate College (MIC) Limerick, Chair MIC Research Ethics Committee, and Chairperson of the Steering Group for the National Centre for School Leadership.

Áine has been a deputy chairperson of the EWC ITE Accreditation Board since its inception in 2017.

Following a degree in Welsh in Aberystwyth, Christine Jones completed her PhD on the Welsh dialect of Pembrokeshire in Lampeter. Whilst there, she took up a lecturing post at Lampeter in 1988, becoming Head of Department in 2007. In 2010 she was appointed Head of the School of Welsh in the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), before moving to the role of Assistant Dean of Quality in 2015. She became Dean of the Institute of Education and Humanities in UWTSD in 2020 and retired from full-time employment in 2022.

Christine has published books and articles on sociolinguistics and applied linguistics including several books for Welsh language learners. She was a reviewer for the UK Quality Assurance Agency between 2018 and 2022 and worked part time for the QAA as a Quality Manager until April 2025. She also worked part time in a teaching and learning role in the Academic Office in UWTSD  until August 2025. Christine is Chair of Governors in Ysgol Bro Dinefwr and was previously Chair of Governors in a primary school for many years.

Anita Rees graduated from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, with a History degree. Her research interest for Ph.D. was on 18th century politics.

Anita was a teacher for 34 years and spent her whole career in Welsh-medium secondary education. She served widely in middle and senior leadership roles, gaining experience and particular interest in areas of assessment, Additional Learning Needs (ALN), and professional development. After a period as Acting Headteacher, she retired in 2017. She has since served as a schools’ improvement officer and Estyn Additional Inspector.

Since 2018, Richard Parsons has been working for the WJEC as a Joint Council for Qualifications Inspector, as well as serving on the WJEC Appeals and Malpractice Panel.

Prior to that, Richard taught Modern Foreign Languages in various English and Welsh-medium secondary schools across South Wales. Richard left his post as Assistant Head in Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni to project manage the successful all-Wales CILT Cymru-Wales primary MFL pilot, on behalf of Welsh Government.

Richard moved to Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council as Senior Advisor, before being appointed Assistant Director of Education. In 2012, Richard moved to the EAS Consortium with responsibility on the Senior Leadership Team for the Welsh-medium sector. Richard set up Erwlas Educational Consulting in 2014, and assumed consultancy roles, primarily as a Challenge Advisor, for both the EAS and the Central South Consortium.

Richard worked on numerous Welsh Government consultations and reviews in various fields, but primarily in education. Richard has been involved in many school inspections for Estyn across Wales, both as an Inspector and as a Challenge Advisor.

Richard has been a member of the EWC ITE Accreditation Board since its inception in 2017. For over 35 years, he has also served as a governor at various schools ,and is currently a member of two governing bodies for Welsh-medium schools.

Penny Lewis studied at the University of Liverpool before completing teacher training at the University of Nottingham. She took up her first teaching appointment in 1975 at The Harwich School, Essex. Penny went on to teachand lead languages in a variety of schools and contexts across south London. In 1985, Penny was seconded to Homerton College, Cambridge as part of Croydon’s curriculum development programme for the first National Curriculum.

Between 1989 and 1992, she worked as an advisor for languages for the London boroughs of Sutton and Bromley, working alongside teachers to develop new ways of teaching languages to primary pupils through to the adults. This work contributed to her completing a Masters’ degree in education.

In 1993, Penny moved to The Open University helping to develop the UK’s first distance learning teacher training programme. She subsequently became Deputy Director for the programme with a particular responsibility for the programme in Wales and Northern Ireland. Whilst there, she developed research interests in teacher identity and development.

In 2001, Penny took up the post of Her Majesty's Inspector with Estyn. In this capacity, she has worked in inspection teams in most sectors of education in Wales and represented Estyn on many advisory groups. Penny currently works part-time for Estyn, since 2016.

T Anne Morris gained her BA in Welsh from University College Wales, Aberystwyth, where she also completed her Master’s degree in Welsh.

She started her career as a teacher in Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera, before having the unique experience of being one of the first ten teachers at Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr, when it was established in 1984. A highly experienced middle and senior leader, she was Deputy Headteacher at the school for 12 years, developing areas such as assessment, and integrated pedagogical practice and professional development.

T Anne was Headteacher of Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari for five years before becoming Principal of the 3-19+ Learning Community at Garth Olwg until 2012, and Headteacher of Ysgol Gyfun Garth olwg until 2012.

Now an independent education consultant, Anne has worked with individual schools and regions on school improvement and raising standards issues. She was an honorary tutor at Cardiff University, and contributed extensively towards developing the Mentor role within the innovative Masters in Educational Practice programme, introduced in 2013.

She continues to be highly committed to the professional development of teachers by being a Mentor and External Verifier supporting the Induction process for newly qualified teachers. Trained as an Estyn peer inspector since 2010, she continues to be an Estyn Team Inspector.

Gemma Long is Head of Quality at the Office for Students, the regulator for higher education in England. Prior to this, she was the Head of Education Quality and Policy at the University of Cambridge, a bye-fellow of St Edmund's College, Cambridge. Since 2021 she has been a Governor at Long Road Sixth Form College. The college became the Sixth Form Colleges Trust in 2024, where she is a trustee. In addition, she co-chairs the research special interest group for the Institue of Regulation.

In 2022 she completed a secondment to the Welsh Government to further develop the quality assurance and enhancement elements of its tertiary education reforms. She also saw the establishment of a Commission for Tertiary Education and Research.

She spent seven years at the UK Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) in several roles including Assistant Director for its Concerns scheme, and Lead Officer for Wales. Since 2019 she has been a reviewer for both the QAA and for Quality and Qualifications Ireland.

Gemma holds degrees from both Cardiff University and the University of Bath. This includes a Masters in Education, specialising in higher education, and she holds a Masters of Arts from the University of Cambridge.

Her professional interests centre on the student experience, the quality, management, and governance of education, and its assurance and enhancement.

Emma Cavender-Morris graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and went on to complete her BA in Education at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC). Recognising a deep interest in educational leadership, Emma furthered her studies with an ILM qualification in Educational Leadership and Management from University of South Wales. Emma continues her love of learning through her recent induction in the OLEVI Professional Alliance for Learning fellowship.

Emma's teaching career began at Cathays High School, where she taught Music and Performing Arts. She took on various roles, including Head of Year and Senior Mentor for ITE.

Her drive and passion have culminated in her role as acting deputy headteacher at Tredegar Comprehensive School. Emma is an excellent mentor for ITE and NQTs, and is an exceptional Professional Coach within the school. In her role as assistant headteacher, she has been instrumental in implementing an exemplary teaching and learning vision, whilst organising and facilitating professional learning programmes for all leaders of learning. She fosters a culture of high performance, continuous learning and collaboration among the staff.

Sharon Macleod studied Sociolinguistics at the University of Surrey and then completed ITE PGCE Secondary at Swansea University. Sharon taught briefly in London and then returned to Cardiff, to become head of year at Corpus Christi Catholic High School.

Sharon has a breadth of school educational experience having been involved in learner wellbeing as a Head of Key Stage to leading a successful English department for 20 years. Presently she leads on Quality Assurance of Teaching and Learning, supports NQTs and whole-school continuing professional development at St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School.

Sharon has been involved in ITE throughout her career. Initially working as a school English subject mentor, and going on to becoming a senior mentor at St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School, and ITE Lead in partnership with Cardiff Metropolitan University. Sharon was involved from the inception in developing the Cardiff partnership model of ITE.

Nick Dyer began his teaching career in 1994 after gaining a PGCE in Primary Education from Lancaster University. Prior ro this, he ad graduated with an MA in History and American Studies from the University of Dundee.

Nick went on to become a headteacher at a number of schools, and as executive headteacher, Nick led Hakin Community School and Hubberston VC Primary School through the process of amalgamation. In 2017 Nick was the of the new Gelliswick Church in Wales VC Primary School in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, where he was headteacher until 2024.

Prior to headship Nick worked in schools in Hampshire, including Purbrook Junior School where he was deputy headteacher.

In addition to high quality ITE programmes, Nick’s professional interests of note include a commitment to supporting learners who live in under-resourced communities, and in developing the ways that schools work together in partnerships and networks.

Tracy Jones began her career as a teacher in Liverpool after graduating from Hope University in 1998 with a BA in Education. She went on to become Headteacher of a few primary schools in Flintshire for 12 years.

Tracy worked as a Gwe School Improvement Advisor from 2022 to 2025. She has also been an Estyn Peer Inspector, taking part in the Headteacher focus group working with Estyn on developing the new inspection framework. Tracy is currently a Fitness to Practice committee member for both the EWC and the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

As well as supporting schools in Wrexham, she was the pedagogy lead, working with Welsh Government on various projects, and represented GWE on the Camau project. The project focused on curriculum design, progression and assessment within a purposes-focused, process-orientated curriculum. Tracy was also seconded to Welsh Government to deliver training to 200 schools on the National Curriculum and Assessment project.

Tracy takes a keen interest in educational research, and how this transcends into classroom practice. When she was a Headteacher, her school won an international award for raising standards through research informed practices.

Dr Trevor Mutton has a background in teaching modern languages, having studied for both his initial degree and his subsequent PGCE at Bangor. He taught for a number of years in Oxfordshire before joining the University of Oxford as a PGCE tutor. He worked at the Department of Education at Oxford until 2025 and had various senior roles, including PGCE Course Director, Director of Professional Programmes, Director of Graduate Studies and Deputy Director of the Department.

Trevor has had an active role with the University Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET), having been an Executive Board member for many years, and Vice-Chair from 2019 to 2022. He is Deputy Editor of the Journal of Education for Teaching and a board member of two other teacher education journals. He is an Emeritus Professor of Teacher Education at the University of Oxford and a Visiting Professor at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Trevor’s research interests focus on the nature of beginning teachers’ learning, the work of teacher educators, teacher education partnerships and teacher education policy. He has written extensively in each of these areas, as well as maintaining a research interest in modern languages education.

Dylan Gwyer-Roberts is Head of ITE at Bath Spa University, which includes overseeing various programmes and training routes.

Dylan has considerable experience in developing courses and programmes in ITE. Since September 2021 he has successfully led Bath Spa University’s re-accreditation to continue to educate aspiring teachers. He has extensive experience as an external examiner for several universities, and is currently an external examiner for Plymouth Marjohn University.

Prior to working at Bath Spa, Dylan was a teacher, senior leader, governor, senior examiner, and school inspector. He is a Cardiff University graduate and holds a masters degree from Swansea University. He is a founding fellow of the Chartered College of Teachers and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Dylan’s research interests are in music education, teaching and learning and quality assurance.