The Oxford to Cambridge pan-Regional Partnership has announced Al Kingsley, CEO of NetSupport and Chair of a Multi-Academy Trust, as a new member of its board. A world-leader in education technology (edtech) and passionate about the region, Kingsley will add to the business voice within the Partnership.
With extensive experience across the area, Kingsley chairs the Peterborough SEND Board and its Business Board, the regional Governors’ Leadership Group, and sits on the Department for Education’s regional advisory board for the East of England.
As a thought leader in edtech, Kingsley is a member of the Forbes Technology Council and regularly speaks to international audiences on the most effective uses of educational technology, including artificial intelligence, and won the EdTech Digest Author/Speaker of the Year award in2022 as well as the BESA 2023 award for Inspirational Leader. He takes over from Peter Horrocks CBE, former Chair of the South East Midlands Enterprise Partnership.
Al Kingsley said: “I am really delighted to step into this role, albeit with some large shoes to fill. I have always seen that working on a pan regional basis has the power to influence far greater and create long-lasting change and I am excited to be working with so many like-minded people on the pan-regional board. When we look long-term, we will always see that education and skills “prime the pump” for economic growth.”
The Oxford to Cambridge pan-Regional Partnership was set up to bring together public and private sector partners from across the region – universities, local authorities, businesses, the sub-national transport body, and central government– to accelerate economic opportunities created through the region's innovation strengths to achieve significant environmental enhancements and unlock investment for inclusive, high quality sustainable development.
Dipesh J Shah OBE, Chair of the Oxford to Cambridge pan-Regional Partnership, said: I’m delighted to welcome Al Kingsley to the partnership board. Our region has a proud history of academic and business excellence that underpins its status as a world-leader in research, science and innovation. Al will bring decades of relevant expertise to help drive the agenda of the Partnership forward in support of the communities within the region and for the nation.”