Family Learning in the Early Years Award
Janet King
Janet King is the Sector Manager for Education and Childcare at educational charity NCFE and plays a crucial role in developing new and existing qualifications under the CACHE brand, ensuring they are market leaders. Janet’s previous work has involved management in both Further and Higher Education across care provision and within social services and education.
Dr June O'Sullivan OBE
Dr June O'Sullivan OBE is an accomplished leader with a proven record of driving social impact in Early Years education. As the creator of LEYF’s sustainable business model and the LEYF Pedagogy for Social Justice, she has championed the belief that every child, regardless of background, deserves the opportunity to thrive. Known as an inspiring speaker, author, and media commentator, June's expertise spans social business, child poverty, and sustainability. Awarded an MBE in 2013 and an OBE in 2023 for her services to education, she continues to advise international governments and organisations on Early Years Education and Care (EYEC) to foster long-term social change..
Family Learning to Support Health and Wellbeing
Miranda Baxter
Miranda Baxter is the Deputy Director (Families) at Campaign for Learning, bringing with her a passion for understanding, creating and emboldening learning cultures, particularly in family engagement contexts. She leads the National Centre for Family Learning, the Family Learning Festival and the Family Learning Awards. Miranda brings 20 years' experience from the museum and gallery sector in creative, human-centred audience and programme development prioritising collaboration, inclusion and diversity.
Dr Jitka Vseteckova
Dr Jitka Vseteckova is Chair of the Carers Research Group and a Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Care at The Open University. Her work focuses on government-aligned priorities in prevention and self‑management, underpinned by inclusive, participatory research methods. She leads research, teaching, supervision, and external collaborations across health policy, public health, and improving outcomes for older adults and underserved groups. Jitka translates research into practical community initiatives. As part of this work Jitka founded the Ageing Well Public Talk Series (AWPTS) and the Take Five to Age Well (Take Five) public health campaign, co‑designed with multisector partners, achieving national and international impact in helping people learn, self-case/self-manage and become more confident in taking daily actions towards healthy ageing.
Family Learning Innovation Award
Dr Rebecca Conway
Dr Rebecca Conway is Director of Research and Innovation at NCFE. She began her career in Higher Education as a PhD researcher and tutor before moving into the awarding sector in 2012, later holding senior assessment roles across several organisations, including Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Rebecca has a longstanding interest in practitioner research and professional development, having trained hundreds of assessment and education professionals on CPD and postgraduate programmes for Cambridge Assessment Network, international schools, universities and awarding organisations. She also supports practitioner research projects as part-time Academic Supervisor on the University of Cambridge’s postgraduate assessment programme and is a member of AEA-Europe and a Trustee of Laser Learning Awards.
Karen Chetwynd
Karen Chetwynd, CEO of Montessori Global Education, has worked extensively in the education sector supporting charitable and commercial success for over 20 years. Consistently focused on achieving high-quality sustainable outcomes, Karen has worked with a variety of education providers across the UK and internationally, many in fairly unique and innovative circumstances! Karen is passionate about setting the tone of Montessori as an accessible, beneficial and attractive educational pedagogy for everyone, everywhere; able to present learning opportunities that are supportive and nurturing to all our young people.
Family Learning to Support STEM
Dean Blewitt
Dean Blewitt is Senior Innovation and Investments Manager at NCFE. With a background in Further Education and as a former Secondary Mathematics teacher, Dean has held various roles at NCFE since 2018. He manages NCFE's assessment innovation projects and social investment portfolio, leading initiatives that advance NCFE's mission of promoting and enhancing education. Dean has overseen key programmes, including the Assessment Innovation Fund, and took on his current role in October 2023. He brings extensive experience in project management and a strong commitment to driving social impact through education. Dean holds a BSc in Accounting and Mathematics and a PGCE in Secondary Mathematics Education - and yes, he still loves to talk about maths if you give him the chance!
Katy Pallister
Katy Pallister is the Public Engagement Manager at Diamond Light Source, where she draws on her diverse skills and experience to ensure that as many members of the public as possible can feel a sense of belonging to science. Following an undergraduate degree in Maths and Physics and a master’s degree in science communication, Katy has enjoyed a wide-ranging career across the field of public engagement, including roles in TV, podcasting, journalism, museums, teaching, campaigning, and events. Katy is particularly motivated to support young people from groups currently underrepresented in science, helping them see that becoming a next-generation scientist is a realistic and attainable path.