IPDA Cymru Committee
Committee
This page features information and biographies for the IPDA Cymru Committee. If you are interested in joining IPDA Cymru or being on the committee please get in touch.
Andrew Bury
Vice-Chair
Andrew Bury has been CEO/Director of IntroTeach/Cyfle Dysgu since July 2007. Upon completing an honours degree in Education at Trinity St David’s Carmarthen in 2001 where he began his Primary teaching career, Andrew’s passion for education led to him establishing The Introsport Trust in 2010, which is a charity focusing on advancing the education of young people by providing facilities for education in schools- in particular sport.
In 2017 Andrew was one of the original team that wrote ‘Llwdda/Thrive’ a successful wellbeing programme for Head Teachers that has now been rolled out to local authorities throughout Wales.
In 2018 Andrew joined the IPDA Cymru committee and recently Andrew has been a key figure in numerous International School projects including a 2 year study on the wellbeing of school staff in Sweden and Finland. Andrew is now working on two separate International projects. The first project examines: the management of funding in schools, the wellbeing of school staff, the accountability of Headteachers and their role in Spain and Romania.
The second project looks carefully at the wellbeing and support of teacher training students and N.Q.T’s in Wales in comparison to Poland.
Dr Alex Morgan
Treasurer
Alex is a Lecturer in Education in the School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University. She has 20 years of experience of working in HE during which time she has contributed to and led on a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the areas Education and Childhood studies.
She began her academic career as a scientist completing a degree in Biosciences and then a PHD in Artificial Intelligence (focused on the semantics of learning) at Cardiff University. She gained QTS through the graduate teacher training scheme and has experience of teaching at both Primary and Secondary level, working as an advisory ICT teacher, supporting practitioners in the classroom and contributing to the primary and secondary PGCE programmes at Swansea University.
Most recently she has made a significant contribution to the Masters in Educational Practice programme and to the Innovative teaching programme an international educational programme focussed on raising the quality of educational practice in HE. She also undertakes PhD research supervision and is an external examiner for PGCE and EdD programmes at other UK HE institutions.
She has a strong track record of working collaboratively on and successfully managing funded research projects using mixed-method approaches and has received external funding from the (TLRP, ESRC, WG, Booktrust, Esmee Fairbairn). She regularly works in partnership with a number of stakeholders such as Welsh Government, Cardiff ITE partnership, National Academy for Educational Leadership (NAEL) to undertake research and to support research-based activity. Alex is currently working with practitioners in schools in Wales to develop new approaches to professional learning that support research engagement, collaborative critical inquiry.
Judith Penikett
Secretary
Judith was a secondary school teacher for 30 years in RCT and Cardiff. Occupying a range of roles, including Head of Department, Head of Sixth and Deputy Head Teacher she has experience of working in schools with above average levels of eFSM, socio-economic deprivation and ALN.
As Deputy Head Teacher, Judith oversaw the professional development of beginning teachers [ITET, NQT and GTP] whilst having whole school responsibility for the professional learning of all teaching and learning staff through her Performance Management, Monitoring and Evaluation and Staff Development remit.
In 2012, Judith became one of the first External Mentors to be recruited to work on the Masters in Education Practice [MEP]: a Welsh Government funded masters programme for Newly Qualified Teachers across Wales. In 2014 Judith became a Consultant Mentor on the MEP and subsequently, Lead Mentor of cohorts 2 and 3. Based on this work Judith published a paper: ‘A study of mentors in Wales ‘coming to closure’’, and has continued to work in a research capacity for Cardiff University. She is to complete her Professional Doctorate in Education in 2021.
Jordan Allers
South Wales Coordinator
Jordan Allers is currently the Programme Director of the BA (Hons) Primary Education with QTS course at Cardiff Metropolitan University, but contributes to several undergraduate and post-graduate courses across the School of Education and Social Policy in his capacity as a Lecturer in Teacher Education and Professional Learning. Jordan joined Cardiff Metropolitan University from the University of South Wales, where he worked as a Senior Lecturer and Year 3 Coordinator on their undergraduate ITE provision. Prior to this, Jordan worked as a primary school teacher in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales.
Jordan completed an MA Leadership and Management (Education) focused on conflict resolution in Welsh primary schools, and is currently conducting a cross-university longitudinal study into simulated learning within ITE, which he has presented at several research conferences including BERA and IPDA. Jordan actively researches and embeds processes of peer-coaching within education, and continues to further develop/ explore creative classroom management techniques across all education settings.
Jordan joined IPDA Cymru in 2019, and is currently the Joint IPDA Cymru South Wales Coordinator.
Kelly Wegener
South Wales Coordinator
Kelly graduated from Loughborough College of Art and Design with a BA Honours in Three Dimensional Design, before gaining a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at Nottingham Trent University. She taught in a variety of primary schools across South Wales for eighteen years, becoming co-ordinator for Art & Design and Design & Technology. Kelly recently completed her Master’s degree focusing on teachers’ perceptions of growth mind-set and hopes to share these findings through publication in the near future.
Kelly believe fervently in the importance of creativity within the primary classroom and her current position as a Course Leader on the Primary Studies with QTS course at the University of South Wales allows her to continue to develop her passion for the Expressive Arts.
Kelly’s areas of research interest include; how the use of simulation technology can be used to enhance initial teacher education, the use of growth mind-set in primary education and how art can enhance positive mental health in children.
Kelly has recently become the co-regional coordinator for IPDA Cymru’s South East area and looks forward to sharing professional development opportunities across the organisation.
Rebecca Barker
Headteacher Representative
After graduating from the University of Wales in Carmarthen, Rebecca began her primary teaching career in outer London, before returning to Wales to teach in Cardiff and Swansea. She took up her Deputy Headship in Neath Port Talbot in 2008, whilst studying for a Post Graduate Diploma in Swansea Metropolitan University. She is currently the headteacher of a Quality Improvement school for Language, Literacy & Communication as part of the new Curriculum for Wales, and is a Peer Inspector for Estyn, the school’s inspectorate for Wales.
Nia Richards
Nia began her teaching career in York after completing her PGCE at Bangor University. She then took up a post at a secondary school in Harrogate in 2004 as teacher of art and Head of PSHE and Citizenship. This period developed Nia’s interest in active and participatory forms of education as well as the social and emotional aspects of learning.
She returned to Wales in 2014 to take up a post at Coleg Menai and achieved an MA in Practitioner Research from York St. John University the following year. Her dissertation was a study of dialogic feedback and an exploration of democratic education.
In 2015, she was appointed Regional Lead for North Wales, responsible for the roll-out and quality assurance of the Lead Creative Schools scheme – a joint initiative between the Welsh Government and Arts Council of Wales, supporting teachers to explore creative learning approaches in the classroom in order to nurture creative learners. The scheme worked with over 600 schools in its initial phase and garnered international recognition. In 2019, Nia initiated and designed a professional creative learning programme for senior leaders with support from the National Academy Educational for Leadership (NAEL), to cascade the learning from the scheme more widely.
Nia is now the director of Tybed, a professional learning and education consultancy and continues to volunteer with the Anglesey and Gwynedd Youth Justice service.
Emmajane Milton
Emmajane has worked in Education for 20 years, enjoying a wide range of senior leadership roles within academia, policy development and the statutory school sector. Her work is underpinned by a strong sense of ‘moral purpose’ in supporting the learning and development of educators, who inspire, educate and nurture learners (whether pupils, students or colleague scholars). The learner experience is central to all her work as she fully believes education can and should have a transformative effect.
Having made a successful transition into academia Emmajane has exhibited sustained and effective leadership of a significant education portfolio whilst at Cardiff University, including the development and delivery of the Masters in Educational Practice (MEP) – a Welsh Government funded masters programme for Newly Qualified Teachers across Wales. This professional learning programme was successfully delivered, bilingually to 1355 teachers in 580 schools across Wales. Emmajane continues to work extensively across Wales with a range of stakeholders including: Welsh Government, the Cardiff ITE Partnership; the National Academy Educational for Leadership (NAEL) and individual schools, headteachers and teachers to develop bespoke approaches to professional learning and teacher enquiry, research engagement and education mentoring.
Emmajane is a senior fellow of Advance-HE and was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2018. She has been instrumental in leading learning and teaching developments for Cardiff University’s academic staff and has extensively supported colleagues with regard to their teaching practice influencing their support of student learning and wellbeing. Most recently her leadership and design of international programmes for academics focused on high quality educational practice in Higher Education has had a significant impact on the quality of student learning and experience in many institutions. Emmajane’s research interests are focused around professional learning, educative mentoring and the recruitment and retention of education professionals.
Dr Andrew James Davies
Dr Andrew James Davies is Head of the School of Education at Aberystwyth University. His research interests focus on professional learning, teacher recruitment and retention, the sociology of education and childhood, and post-compulsory bilingual education. He teaches in the areas of research methods in education and work-based professional enquiry, and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Tegwen Ellis
Tegwen Ellis is the Chief Executive of the National Academy for Educational Leadership, she started in this role on April 1st 2020. She joined the Leadership Academy in January 2019 as the Assistant Director for Leadership Development and Quality Assurance. She started her teaching career in 1988 and during that time has taken on various leadership roles including performance management advisor, HLTA assessor and national moderator, peer assessor role with Estyn and also held a position on the Academy’s shadow Board. In 2015 she set up the Welsh Medium Federation of schools in Central South Consortia and chaired it, from its inception ensuring that professional learning and school to school work was integral to its philosophy. Tegwen was headteacher at Ysgol Cynwyd Sant for nearly 20 years and led the school successfully through several inspections where her leadership was noted to be ‘progressive and innovative’ and ensured ‘that her vision and philosophy are shared very successfully with all stakeholders’. (Estyn 2016)
In 2017, Tegwen was the chair of the Executive Committee for the Urdd Eisteddfod in Pencoed and celebrates her love for the Welsh language, Wales and its culture whenever possible. She is married to Dyfrig who is an Assistant Director with Estyn and they have twin boys. Jacob is the Lead Change Maker to the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales and Efan is a Welsh medium primary school teacher. Tegwen enjoys caravanning, attending cultural events and in her spare time is studying for her Professional Doctorate in Education at University of Wales Trinity Saint David.
Mark Flagg
Mark is a University Teacher at CARBS (MEO) and also is a Lecturer at UWTSD, where he is Programme Director of the PG Cert in Teaching in Higher Education. He also teaches on the Post Compulsory Education (PCET) programme and is also Tutor at University of Essex Online.
Mark’s background is work based learning , having worked in a number of managerial and leadership roles at a range of organisations, including Royal Mail, and the NHS. His teaching career began when first appointed Vocational Development Manager at Royal Mail, in 1995. This move from Distribution and Logistics Management to Learning and Development was an important transformation, and began Mark’s career path towards teaching in Higher Education.
Mark is passionate about Education and in particular Professional Development, since he celebrates the opportunities accorded him by Further Education then the Open University and the former Swansea Metropolitan University with his own professional and career development.
His experience and expertise therefore spans the range of provision in Post Compulsory Education. He has experience is in a range teaching interventions, including distance learning, vocational development and contemporary pedagogies. He is Chartered CIPD, and has an MBA and MA in Professional Development Education and Training. He is currently part way through his Ed Doc studies and is keen to add to the research and understanding of Professional Development in the post compulsory education sector.
Sophie Hadaway
Sophie Hadaway is currently Project Lead for the Creative Learning programme at the Arts Council of Wales. The programme is a joint initiative between the Arts Council of Wales and Welsh Government seeking to encourage teachers to explore creative approaches to teaching and learning, develop pupil engagement and deliver the national priorities. The scheme provides ongoing professional development and has been widely recognised in enabling schools to prepare for the new curriculum.
Sophie started her career as a primary and middle school teacher in London having gained her PGCE at the Institute of Education and then taught in West Wales before joining the education advisory team for Carmarthenshire (and Ceredigion). Here her roles included Art and Design advisor and co-delivery of county wide developments such as the Assessment for Learning programme, the ACTS initiative and curriculum development and innovation.
In 2012 Sophie became an external mentor on the Masters in Educational Practice in Wales, a Welsh Government funded masters programme for Newly Qualified Teachers across Wales.
She has served on government working groups in Wales to develop the Art and Design curriculum (pre-2022 versions) and has been an active member of the Art and Design national advisors group working in collaboration with Estyn and WJEC.
Her professional areas of interest include professional dialogue, cross professionalism and professional development through action enquiry and reflective practice. Sophie is also studying for an MPhil with Nottingham University – her research is focused on creative practitioner dialogue and exploratory learning.
Professor Ken Jones
Ken taught in London for 13 years before returning to Wales to work as Head of the School of Education and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities in Swansea Metropolitan University. He was Senior Consultant for Professional Learning and Development at UWTSD and is now Professor Emeritus.
He has been involved locally and nationally as a consultant in the field of school leadership and professional learning. His international work has included the organisation of symposia on the themes of Professional Learning and Leadership in many European countries, in the USA and in India. He is co-convenor of Network 1 (Professional Learning and Development) of the European Education Research Association (EERA)
He now works as an independent education consultant and has recently been engaged in projects including the Belmas comparative review of school leadership in the UK and two national reports for Welsh Government / EWC on the Professional Learning Blend.
For over twenty years he has been Managing Editor of the journal Professional Development in Education and is now Chair of the Editorial Board. He was one of the founding members of the International Professional Development Association (IPDA) and of IPDA Cymru.
Dr Helen Lewis
Helen has worked as a primary school teacher, a curriculum adviser and teacher educator, and has supported teachers at all stages of their careers. Her current role is as Director of Initial Teacher Education at Swansea University, a role which also involves supporting schools and settings to develop their research practices. She supervises Masters and doctoral level students, as well as mentoring participants on the Chartered Teaching programme.
Her PhD focused on the development of young children’s thinking, and on how teachers reflected on their practices to support this development. She is currently involved in a number of research projects that explore effective feedback in classrooms; curriculum development and innovation; learner wellbeing and the development of reflective practice.
She is author of a wide range of articles and has co-authored several books relating to classroom practice. She is an Associate for Early Education, Honorary Secretary of the IPDA International Committee, a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teachers and a member of the Let’s Think National Forum.
Ceri Morris
Dr Ceri Morris is a qualified rehabilitation officer for visually impaired people. Prior to returning to a career in HE, she worked with disabled people in social care, Special Educational Needs (SEN) departments in local authorities, and further education settings. Her research and teaching interests include inclusive pedagogy, disability and post-compulsory education. Ceri’s PhD explored inclusion and additional learning needs and she has taught extensively in these areas whilst at Cardiff University on the BA Education, PGCE (PCET), and Masters in Educational Practice IMEP). She is now Academic Practice Lead Lecturer at Cardiff Met, responsible for supporting the development of excellent inclusive teaching practices across the university.
Neil Mosley
Neil Mosley is an experienced digital and online learning designer, producer and strategist. He works across Cardiff University with schools and academics to design and deliver high-quality online and distance education.
He has designed a range of online/distance courses and programmes across the University. Working alongside academics to define overall objectives, learning outcomes and target audiences.
He is actively engaged in online education research and networks of learning/instructional designers both in the UK and overseas, and contributes towards University approaches and strategy in respect to online and distance education.
Prior to joining the University he worked in the EdTech Lab at Imperial College, a world-leading centre for education technology and online learning.
Heather Pennington
Heather has held a variety of teaching and leadership roles across the Further Education and Higher Education sectors for 19 years. Having enjoyed roles such as Head of Teaching and Learning and Scholarship, Teacher Educator (PGCE PCET) and Advanced Practitioner, she has experience of supporting teaching staff in developing their teaching practices and pedagogies. She is currently a lecturer at Cardiff University, specialising in education, initial teacher education (PGCE Pcet), inclusive practice, education policy and the sociologically-informed study of education. Heather is a fellow of the Higher Education Association.
Anya Richards
Anya is a highly experienced communications and marketing professional who has led communications, marketing and engagement in the public sector for two decades. She has extensive senior management experience in complex political environments (most recently at Powys County Council). In local government she was part of the senior leadership team and strategic lead for internal and external communications, marketing, digital media, public engagement, events, employee engagement and Welsh language and translation services.
She has developed highly effective communications teams – devising and implementing multi-award winning communications and marketing campaigns (CIPR Excellence, CIPR Cymru, and CIPR Local Public Services Awards).
Anya has a First Class degree in Journalism, Film and Broadcasting from Cardiff University School of Journalism, Media and Culture (JOMEC). She was awarded a Dean’s Scholarship for Academic Merit from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, where she gained an MA in Communication, Culture and Technology. She worked as a researcher in the US at the not-for-profit, non-partisan Center for Public Integrity working on Presidential and Congressional campaign finance projects.
On returning to the UK she completed her professional qualification in Public Relations through the CIPR and gained senior leadership roles in communications, marketing and engagement in Welsh local government. She has wide senior management experience in public service and has an MBA (Distinction) from Cardiff University Business School. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and has been an elected member of the CIPR Local Public Services Committee.
Anya is passionate about citizen engagement and local democracy, especially about involving citizens in improving the quality of local decision making. She has returned to JOMEC where she is completing a PhD in Digital Media and Society, looking at how local councils can use digital platforms to have better dialogue and involve citizens in local decision making.
James Snook
James taught at Cardiff High School as a Science specialist, before continuing his career at Cardiff University as a lecturer in Education. During his time at Cardiff university he was integral in delivering the Master’s in Educational Practice (MEP) a bilingual , professional learning programme for early career teachers in Wales, on which is his doctoral research is based. His research was a focus on the ways in which early career teacher’s professional identities developed on the the national professional learning programme the MEP. In wider roles he taught and supervised on undergraduate and postgraduate courses such as the BSc Education, PGCE (PCET), MA in Education, and doctoral studies in (Science/education) while also being involved in aspects of design, and delivery of the international professional learning programme to develop innovative educational practice for Chinese academics.
His leadership roles included coordinating International, ERASMUS and Study abroad provision for the School of Social Sciences, leading student support for the MEP, acting as lead undergraduate personal tutor (Year 3), lead educational mentor.
James has worked closely with Cardiff Metropolitan university to deliver their PGCE Science provision, and was a teach first practice tutor for the University, as well as being an external Examiner for Bangor university.
He is now programme area leader and Senior Lecturer at Plymouth Marjon University for the suite of four Master’s in Education programmes ( MA in Education, MA in Education (Leadership & Management), MA in Education (Coaching & Mentoring), and MA in Education (Disability).
James’ research interests include professional learning and development of early and mid career teachers, Science education, Coaching and Mentoring, professional identities and the use of digital technologies for teaching and learning enhancement, on which his national and emerging international research is based.
Junnine Thomas-Walters
Junnine is a Senior Lecturer (Professional Learning Programmes) and the Programme Director of three Master of Arts Programmes at University of Wales Trinity Saint David. She is also the UWTSD Strategic Lead for the Outstanding Teacher Programme (OTP) Improving Teacher Programme (ITP) and Outstanding Teaching assistant Programme (OTAP).
Junnine’s teaching career began in 1995 as a Reception class teacher where she predominantly taught Early Years within the Primary sector before moving into HE as Head of SEN in 2006. Her particular interests are in Early Years, Additional Learning Needs, Coaching and Mentoring and CPLD. These have become the focus for her professional work within HE and led to her role as CPLD Leadership and Quality Assurance Manager overseeing all aspects of continuing professional learning and development. Junnine is currently Chair of Governors in a Primary School in Swansea. Her particular interest in Early Years has led to her being appointed as a trustee of Early Education (British Association for Early Childhood Education). Junnine’s research interests are centered around creative and imaginative play in the Foundation Phase in Wales.
Junnine was Chair of IPDA Cymru (2016-2019). She currently sits as a member of both IPDA and the International Committee. In June 2018 she took over the role of Honorary Treasurer for IPDA. Junnine reviews for the PDiE journal and sits on the editorial board for PRACTICE a new journal launched at the end of 2018.
Dr Jane Waters-Davies
Jane is Associate Professor and Applied Research Lead (Education) in the Institute of Education and Humanities at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. She has 20 years of experience of working in HE during which time she has contributed to and led on a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the areas of Education, Teacher Professional Learning, Early Years and Childhood Studies.
Jane’s first career was as a primary teacher working in the richly multicultural areas of West London. She moved to Swansea and began her second career as a lecturer, in Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and Early Childhood. She undertook an Ma in Education and PhD in Early Childhood while working in HE, and has been working in leadership roles for the past decade. She now works most closely with doctoral research students, leads the Professional Doctorate in Education (Ed D) programme, and regularly examines doctoral candidates across the UK.
While leading ITE provision for the South West Wales Centre for Teacher Education, Jane chaired the national committee for the Universities Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET) in Wales overseeing the transformation of this body, during a time of significant change in the Welsh education system, to an inclusive forum for all those involved in teacher education. In her current role, Jane leads the development of practice-facing and learner-focussed education research activity across the University. This involves working closely with schools and regional consortia to support the development of pedagogical enquiry skills and dispositions across the school-based education workforce. She is currently involved in projects funded by Welsh Government, the Association for the Study of Primary Education, and the British Education Research Association.
Jane’s PhD focus and research interests lie in early childhood education; pedagogical framing; and young children’s agency, voice and experience of outdoor spaces. She sits on the Welsh Government expert panel for early years, currently supporting the development of guidance for the early years of the new Curriculum for Wales. Jane’s current research activity involves an exploration of the opportunities available for young children’s early science concept development, and the associated development of pedagogies.
