One of the country’s leading black businesswomen has been appointed the new chair of Teach First.
Dame Vivian Hunt will succeed Paul Drechsler as the teacher training charity’s next chair of trustees.
Profile: Paul Drechsler
Exclusive: Teach First turns the corner on declining recruitment
Need to know: Teach First’s new strategy
Dame Vivian is the managing partner for the consultancy McKinsey & Company in the UK and Ireland.
She has been named as one of the top 10 most influential black people in Britain by the Powerlist Foundation, and the Financial Times recently identified her as one of the 30 most influential people in the City of London.
She serves on the board of Business in the Community and has been a member of Teach First’s business leaders’ council since 2012.
‘Bold vision’ for Teach First
Her appointment follows a competitive process led by Teach First’s trustees and will be effective at the end of 2019.
She will take over from Paul Drechsler, the former president of the CBI. During his tenure, Mr Dreschler called for the status of the teaching profession to be raised, highlighted the teacher recruitment crisis, and criticised ideology being placed over evidence in education.
Russell Hobby, Teach First’s CEO, said: “I would like to thank Paul for the incredible difference he’s made as our chair during nearly six years at the helm. His passion and determination to ensure that every child has a fair education has been fundamental to the growth and success of Teach First.
“As we focus on our new strategy, I’m delighted to welcome Vivian on board. The whole Teach First community - the teachers we work with and the pupils we support - will benefit from her experience and expertise.
“I am confident that under her guidance we will achieve our vision of attracting more inspirational people from diverse backgrounds into the profession to help unlock the potential in all of our children.”
Dame Vivian said: “As the proud daughter of a teacher, I’ve seen how an outstanding education can help all children fulfil their potential. I know that at the heart of greater equality are great teachers, brilliant leaders and thriving schools connected to their communities.
“I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Teach First through their business leaders’ council and I’m thrilled to join as their chair at such an exciting time in their journey. The charity has a bold vision for the future - to reach two million children in disadvantaged communities over the next five years - by training more teachers and leaders than ever before.
“This will be no easy task, but I’m excited to work with the team at Teach First to drive this vision forward, and to help build a better future together.”
