IPDA England Committee
Lizana Oberholzer
Chair
Institution: University of Wolverhampton
Lizana Oberholzer is a senior lecturer in Teacher Education and Postgraduate provision. She is the programme lead for the University of Wolverhampton’s International MA in Education, as well as the Early Careers Framework and National Professional Qualifications for school leaders. She is passionate about leadership development, governance and teacher development. Lizana supports the BELMAS Research Interest Group for Governing and Governance as a convenor. She is also a BELMAS Trustee as well as a BAMEed Trustee. Lizana works with WomenEd as a regional lead in the West Midlands. She currently the IPDA England Chair, as well as Chair of the IPDA International committee. She chairs the UCET’s CPD forum and is a member of the UCET Executive Committee. Lizana is a member of the APPG for the Teaching Profession, and Chairs the APPG SIG for Teacher Development for the APPG for the Teaching Profession. She is a proud trustee of a Multi Academy Trust, and is a committed educator, striving to provide learners with learning opportunities and life-chances. Lizana is actively involved in the British Psychological Society’s Division of Coaching, and she is the Chair Elect for the division. Lizana is a Founding Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, an IPDA Fellow as well as a CMI Fellow. Her research interests centre around professional learning, mentoring, coaching and leadership development within education.
Find out more about Lizana in this podcast from our IPDA England series:
Nathan Douglas
Vice Chair
Institution: Futures Trust
Dr. Nathan Douglas is the Deputy Headteacher of Camp Hill Primary School, in North Warwickshire, which is part of the Futures Trust. Nathan has nearly 20 years’ experience of working in primary schools, with varied leadership roles including curriculum development, teaching and learning, assessment, attendance, pupil premium and as a teacher coach. Nathan completed his Doctorate in 2025, focusing on the English primary education context. Nathan’s research interests include teacher professional identity, teacher retention, accountability measures, neoliberalism, policy and practice, professional learning, and coaching. As Vice-Chair of IPDA England, Nathan organises and co-ordinates a range of supportive and collegial events for Emerging/Early Career Researchers.
Find out more about Nathan in this podcast from our IPDA England series:
Karen Vincent
Secretary
Institution: Canterbury Christ Church University
Karen Vincent (SFHEA) is a Senior Lecturer in Early Years and Primary Education at Canterbury Christ Church University. Karen teaches across many of the Early Childhood and Primary initial teacher education routes supporting new teachers on routes to both Qualified Teacher Status and Early Years Teacher Status. Karen’s research interests are focused on the professional learning of early childhood and primary teacher educators. Karen has written several chapters and articles relating to early years and primary initial teacher education. These include pedagogies of play, play and mathematics, literacy transition from EYFS to KS1 and mentoring. Karen is a member of IPDA, TACTYC and The Chartered College of Teaching.
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Derek Boyle
Derek has been the SCITT director at Bromley Schools’ Collegiate since September 2013, but prior to this, he worked in a variety of teaching roles across a number of different schools in Kent. Originally qualifying as a physics teacher, he has also worked as an Advanced Skills Teacher in Medway and as an assistant head teacher in Tonbridge, with pastoral, vocational and careers guidance areas of responsibility. During his time as an assistant head teacher, he had the privilege to work with the link governors from the school and play a significant role in peer mentoring.
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Dr Linda Devlin
Institution: University of Wolverhampton
Linda Devlin is an Associate Professor at the University of Wolverhampton. She is the faculty Head of International Outreach & Recruitment, and Linda leads on the PHD in Education. Linda is a IPDA International Committee Member, and treasurer for both the IPDA IC committee and IPDA England. Linda’s experience and research includes educational leadership, and professional learning, and Linda supports a wide range of national and local partnerships, including the West Midlands CPD partnership.
Faye Glendenning
Stuart Mitchell
Stuart Mitchell is Senior Lecturer and Post-Compulsory Education and Training Course Leader within the Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences at Birmingham City University. Stuart is also Chair of the Faculty Academic Ethics Committee and is currently engaged in doctoral study, considering the impact of routine and disruption caused by policy-churn on the role of Initial Teacher Educators within the PCE sector. Formerly a lecturer at a number of Further Education colleges he has taught across a range of subject areas including Sociology, ESOL, Construction, ICT & Key Skills. Recent research projects have focused on international professional development within Vietnam and initial teacher training mentor support.
Find out more about Stuart in this podcast from our IPDA England series:
Pauline Smith
Pauline is an Independent Consultant. She has worked nationally as a senior education advisor for DFE, working in close partnership with local authorities and schools in raising attainment; and contributing to the National CPD Policy. Pauline has also worked for the TDA and the National College for School Leadership, providing support for the Teaching School Alliances and the School-based ITT, school to school support, CPD, Research and Leadership Development agendas.
Before her national advisory roles, Pauline was Head of CPD in Manchester Metropolitan University, lecturing and external examining at post graduate level in CPD, leadership development, school- based training, induction, mentor development and performance management. She has also published books and articles in these fields; and has carried out national evaluations.
Pauline has been an IPDA member for the past 30 years and has been a past President and Chair of the association. Her research interest is in the Quality of CPD and it effectiveness. She is an active member of the west midland’s CPD Partnership.
Find out more about Pauline in this podcast from our IPDA England series:
