High-achieving, entrepreneurial and adaptable senior technology executive, offering 29 years of experience of working in partnership with business leaders to plan and deliver digital transformation. Bringing a positive, innovative mindset, specialising in business performance improvement and digitally enabled teaching, learning, assessment and analysis, with a track record of successful problem solving, solution design and delivery, driven by whole team engagement and alignment.As Chief Digital Officer at the National Foundation for Educational Research, my role centred around understanding NFER's strategic priorities, identifying opportunities for improvement, delivering solutions and driving adoption- ensuring that technology serves and protects NFER's stakeholders and integrity. I was responsible for driving delivery of digital transformation programmes for business development and stakeholder relationship management, business performance and employee engagement and onscreen assessment and data analysis, as well as operational improvements within the Technology team. I focus on team engagement at all levels in order to create a collaborative environment to deliver solutions which enhance digital teaching, learning and assessment experiences, and improve business performanceWith a passion for excellence in education and a mission to innovate, I'm privileged to be involved in shaping the future of digitally-enabled learning.
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Digital ConsultantSelf-EmployedLewes, Gb
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TrusteeSpeakers Trust Sep 2024 - PresentGreater London, England, United KingdomThe Speakers Trust works with over 600 state secondary schools in England to develop the public speaking skills of young people who are often underestimated, helping them build confidence to advocate for themselves and share their stories.I have joined the Board of Trustees as their Digital lead, helping the Speakers Trust to harness technology in order to improve the delivery of their programmes and expand their reach, so that more schools and young people are able to benefit from the fantastic work that they do. -
Chief Digital Officer (Cdo)National Foundation For Educational Research Nov 2021 - Jun 2024Slough, England, United KingdomExecutive leadership role focussed on developing and driving the delivery of digital transformation programmes at NFER, a not-for-profit foundation established for over 75 years to carry out research to inform policy and best practice in education:- Worked in partnership with Senior Leadership team to define technology strategy aligned with NFER’s strategic priorities and goals- including enterprise architecture blueprint, analysis of Total Cost of Ownership and roadmap for all of NFER’s IT systems- Supported international business development, for example providing consultancy for Kenya’s National Exams Council’s eAssessment programme, and successful bids in UK assessment market- Transformed NFER’s stakeholder engagement capability- including redevelopment of NFER’s website and delivery of eCommerce and CRM systems- Senior Responsible Officer for NFER’s eAssessment programme, delivering capabilities required by NFER’s strategic plan, and product strategy- Implemented new Portfolio and Project Management (PPM) solution integrated with NFER’s ERP- Increased employee engagement, productivity and collaboration in a hybrid working environment through migration to Microsoft 365 and redevelopment of NFER’s intranet.- Introduced Robotic Process Automation to improve efficiency and quality- Restructured NFER Technology team, introducing hybrid resourcing model with third party supplier - Professionalised IT Service management through introduction of ITIL based processes- Reduced on-premise data centre footprint by >50%, and introduced ETL solutions and Master Data Management to improve data quality and facilitate systems integration between IT systems utilised within NFER. -
Parent Governor / Vice Chair Of GovernorsWallands Community Primary And Nursery School Nov 2015 - Jun 2023Lewes, England, United KingdomVoluntary role as a school governor at Wallands Community Primary School in Lewes.- Supported the school from "Requires Improvement" to "Good" Ofsted rating- Crisis management: Covid pandemic- Head teacher performance reviews- Scrutiny of school performance through Data sub-committee- Strategic planning- developed 5 year plan based on Wallands' Mission, Vision and Values- Community liaison through controversial review of potential academisation -
Vp Technology Business Partner- Uk, Europe, Africa And Global Online LearningPearson Sep 2017 - Aug 2021London, United KingdomPromoted to Vice President role, accountable for technology delivery and digital transformation of Pearson's publishing and assessment businesses across UK, Europe and Africa. Representing global technology across seven Senior Leadership teams:- working with Global Portfolio Management team to produce and secure approval of plans to invest in technology for Pearson's EMEA businesses- 2020: Led delivery of “UK Learns”- a site providing >£5m of free and discounted online learning opportunities for furloughed employees during the Covid pandemic- which went from conception to market in 6 weeks, exceeding adoption targets- 2019: Successfully led recovery of failing programme to roll out Pearson’s integrated CRM/ERP platform across Pearson's UK business, launching on time and exceeding adoption targets- 2018: Delivered digital publishing transformation initiatives in South Africa, Italy, Nordic and DACH regions -
Uk Technology DirectorPearson Jul 2014 - Aug 2017London, UkPromoted to the role of UK Technology Director accountable for delivery of Technology services to support all of Pearson’s UK business units- covering a range of verticals in early years, primary, secondary, further education, higher education and work based learning:- Educational Publishing (B2B and B2C)- EdTech: Digital teaching, learning, formative assessment and diagnostic reporting solutions- Assessment: Including high stakes qualifications (GCSE, A Level, BTEC etc) and clinical assessments (eg cognitive and psychometric testing)- Online Programme Management: developing, marketing and delivering online programmes of study in partnership with Higher Education institutions- Direct Delivery: Supporting Pearson-owned learning providers- including Pearson College London (Business School and Escape Virtual Effects Studio), online schools (eg Harrow Online) and tutoring programmes. -
Head Of Learning TechnologiesPearson Mar 2010 - Jul 2014London/Oxford, UkLeading the UK Schools product engineering team- including user experience designers, technical product owners, software developers, testers and devops resources- working alongside Pearson’s educational publishing teams to evolve Pearson’s digital offering to UK Schools.- Active Learn: Consolidated 14 monolithic product platforms to a single, market leading, integrated digital teaching and learning service for Primary and Secondary schools- including the award winning "Bug Club" primary literacy programme- Design and development of digital services supporting Edexcel/BTEC qualifications- including Results Plus Direct (exam results analysis service for students) and MyBTEC (digital tools for help institutions design, validate, deliver, assess and award BTEC courses)- Responsible for evolving web marketing, eCommerce and customer support capabilities for Pearson's UK Schools business -
Programme Manager- Digital ServicesEdexcel Sep 2008 - Mar 2010London Area, United KingdomDigital programme management focused on delivery of Edexcel's Exams Analysis Service: - The shift to onscreen marking of examination papers generated granular data about exam performance at question and trait level- significantly beyond the data collected through paper based marking. - The “Results Plus” service sought to leverage this data to provide detailed insight into individual pupil, class and school/college performance in their qualifications- both in terms of overall achievement, and by curriculum area- a powerful tool to assist schools and colleges in understanding strengths and weaknesses in their course delivery. -
Programme Manager- Computer Based TestingEdexcel Sep 2006 - Sep 2008London Area, United KingdomMoved to "hands on" role in digital programme management, planning and driving delivery of Edexcel's Onscreen Testing programme: - Migrating the delivery of Edexcel’s on demand onscreen tests for Basic and Key Skills from a third party provider to Pearson VUE, and launching the first pilot onscreen tests for GCSEs in Modern Foreign Languages and Construction and the Built Environment. -
Strategic ConsultantEdexcel Sep 2005 - Sep 2006London Area, United KingdomContinued internal consultancy role, focused on opportunities arising from the acquisition of Edexcel by Pearson:- back office systems integration and migration- onscreen testing capabilities- learning platforms and educational publishing -
Business Consultant- It ArchitectureEdexcel Sep 2003 - Sep 2005London Area, United KingdomEnterprise Architecture role, assisting business leaders in identifying and planning delivery of priorities to improve Edexcel's market offering following its acquisition by Pearson:- evaluation of strengths and weaknesses of Edexcel's IT systems- developing architectural "blue prints" to underpin Edexcel's strategic goals- defining investment plans to enable delivery of prioritised goals -
Business AnalystEdexcel Sep 2001 - Sep 2003London Area, United KingdomRetrained as BCS certified Business Analyst in order to assist in driving improvements to Pearson Edexcel's IT systems:- Requirements analysis for implementation of Oracle ERP- Design, development and testing of "Edexcel Online" middleware solution, successfully integrating BTEC and ULEAC production systems to enable customer self-service for the administration for all Pearson Edexcel qualifications -
Head Of Entries / Head Of OperationsEdexcel Limited Jul 1996 - Sep 2001Greater London, England, United KingdomManaging administration of Edexcel's General and Vocational Qualifications, including:- General (first line) and specialist (second/third line) customer services- Candidate examination entries and results distribution- Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) integration between Edexcel and Schools MIS systems- Identifying opportunities to streamline and improve operational processes -
Entries Team LeaderUniversity Of London Exams And Assessment Council (Uleac) Sep 1995 - Jul 1996Greater London, England, United KingdomManaging candidate entries and results distribution for General Qualifications for the University of London Exams and Assessment Council
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Centre Liaison OfficerBusiness And Technology Education Council (Btec) Sep 1994 - Sep 1995Greater London, England, United KingdomProviding 1st and 2nd line support for colleges in the North of England delivering delivering BTEC qualifications
Al Read Education Details
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English -
English
Frequently Asked Questions about Al Read
What company does Al Read work for?
Al Read works for Self-Employed
What is Al Read's role at the current company?
Al Read's current role is Digital Consultant.
What schools did Al Read attend?
Al Read attended University Of Oxford, University Of Oxford, Glyn School, Glyn School, Glyn School, Glyn School.
Who are Al Read's colleagues?
Al Read's colleagues are Neil Gow, Izzy Hilton, Rebecca Griffiths, Anne Cameron, Jane Chambers, James Lawrence (Davies), Hilary Lyons.
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Albert Read
Exec Chairman Of The Standard, Former Managing Director Of Conde Nast, Author Of The Imagination MuscleLondon1condenast.co.uk -
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