AoC Senior Leadership Development Programme

Barbara Van der Eecken

Dr Barbara Van der Eecken is an education and training consultant with over 30 years’ experience across colleges, adult education, independent training providers and universities. After 15 years as a lecturer, assessor and Advanced Teaching Practitioner, she moved into senior leadership roles leading quality assurance, governance, strategic improvement and cultural transformation across diverse delivery models.

Her work now focuses on strategic leadership, governance advisory, quality improvement and executive coaching. She is well versed in all major educational frameworks and draws on global approaches including the Pacific Institute® to support organisations to strengthen culture, performance and leadership capability.

Barbara is a Governor at Walsall College and holds several non executive roles across large independent training providers. She chairs the Apprenticeship Strategy and Excellence Taskforce for London South East Colleges and co leads the Association of Colleges’ Senior Leadership Development Programme. Her previous roles with SET and ETF continue to inform her national perspective and sector insight.

Hannah Wilson

Hannah is a dynamic leadership development consultant, coach and trainer. She is the Co-Founder of #WomenEd and #DiverseEd. She is the Co-Editor of Diverse Educators: A Manifesto. She is an experienced outward-facing systems leader who is passionate about disseminating best practice and believes that partnerships & collaboration are key.

Hannah previously taught English, Drama and Media Studies over a 20 year career in schools. She has held multiple leadership roles including head of department, head of year, assistant/ deputy/ executive headteacher and trust-wide/ teaching Sshool wide roles as well. She has also been newly appointed as a governor for a Primary School in Bath