IfL announces 2009 Council election results

The elected fellows and full members are:

  • Jacki Hughes from Preston College, whose third career, teaching in FE, started with temporary and then part-time roles
  • Rania Hafez, who leads post-compulsory initial teacher education and training at the University of East London (re-elected after a two-year term)
  • Anthony Earle Wilkes, an education and training adviser who has worked in a diverse range of schools, colleges and work-based training organisations for 23 years
  • Debbie Betteridge, from Ambazac Ltd, who has worked on local, regional and national projects right across the sector
  • John Chorley, a senior lecturer and admissions tutor in post-compulsory education at the University of Wolverhampton who has been teaching RAF instructors for 11 years

The elected associate member is:

Susie Andrade, whose expertise is in management and leadership, and who recently joined BPP Guernsey as a professional examinations tutor.

IfL commissioned Electoral Reform Services to run the election. Voting started on 4 March and closed on 25 March 2009. Of the 84,238 people eligible to vote for fellows and full members, 4,493 (5.3 per cent) cast their vote. The turnout for associate members was slightly higher, with 5.9 per cent of the 17,942 eligible voters registering their preference.

"FE is often referred to as the Cinderella of education," said Jacki Hughes, "but it's not, it's the fairy godmother. The staff in FE change lives; we inspire, stimulate, challenge and help our learners achieve their potential in ways that deserve to be recognised. Our professional body should be one we are proud to be part of, but only our membership can make it so."

Anthony Wilkes said, "I strongly believe in the work of IfL as the voice for our profession and have been an IfL Fellow since 2002."

Sue Crowley, chair of IfL, said, "IfL is governed by its Council, with the majority being elected from the membership. This is a good turnout, and we encourage members to have their say and exercise their vote in future elections.

"I am pleased to welcome one returning and five new Council members, and would like to thank them for volunteering to help govern their professional body. My sincere thanks go to the outgoing Council members – Doug Dummett, Debbie Hunn, Nick Napper, Conchita Varicak and Lilia Knight – for their sterling contributions over the past two years."