Andrew was the UK's E-Envoy between October 2000 and August 2004, responsible directly to the Prime Minister for co-ordinating the development of the knowledge economy in the UK. During that period, the UK moved to the top of world league tables for the use of digital technology. His responsibilities included helping to ensure internet access for everyone in the UK, and working with business and the public sector to make services accessible online. During that time Andrew had significant involvement with the education sector, especially in relation to the large investment that has been made over the last few years in technology.

Before becoming E-Envoy, Andrew had a long career in both the public and private sector. He was a civil servant in the Inland Revenue for 18 years, working in a wide range of senior jobs, including Director of IT. He then moved to Prudential, where he ran operations and technology for almost five years, before having a stint at Citibank, initially as European Director of Operations and technology, before moving to the US to take up a global role with the Bank. He left Citibank in 1999, and became involved with venture capital, as well as carrying out some consultancy assignments within Government, including leading the first ever 'Gateway Review'. During this period, he was also Chairman of the Shropshire Learning and Skills Council, during its set up period.

Andrew left the E-Envoy role in August 2004. He now runs a small management consultancy, and has advised a number of other Governments in Asia, North America and Eastern Europe on how to develop the use of technology in their countries.

Andrew is a non executive director of United Utilities plc, and Spring Group plc, and Senior Vice President, Global Solutions, Entrust, a Dallas based software company. He is a member of Intel's Global Advisory Board, and a frequent speaker at conferences and seminars here and abroad.

He was awarded the CBE in the 2004 new year's Honours list.

John Roberts CBE

John Roberts joined the Board of the Post Office (now the Royal Mail Group plc) in 1985 and had Board responsibility, at different times, for Counter Services (the high street retail network) and group wide services such as IT, purchasing and management development and training. He became Chief Executive in 1995 and saw the organisation through major organisational and cultural changes related to the ending of monopoly, the emergence of competition and regulation and various mergers and acquisitions.

During this time he was also a member of the CBI's President's Committee; Chairman of the CBI's Education & Training Affairs Committee; Member of the Government's National Employment Panel; Governor of Henley Management College and President of the Institute of Employment Studies.

After retiring from Royal Mail in 2004, John worked as an Adviser to Deloitte for two years and now is a Board Member of Ofsted; member of the Royal Mail Stamp Advisory Board; and a member of the Home Office Risk Committee. He was made a CBE in 1991.

Stephen Gill

Stephen Gill is the Vice President and Managing Director of HP UK and Ireland. He is responsible for all country operations and oversees HP's four business divisions: Enterprise Systems, Imaging and Printing, Personal Systems and Services. After qualifying as an accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers (London), Stephen joined Sony. He was headhunted by Digital Equipment in 1984, and played a fundamental role in its growth in the UK and at a global level.

After leaving Digital, Stephen joined Lotus as Chief Financial Officer for its international business. He left to join Ingram Micro Europe as Senior Vice President and CFO. Joining Compaq as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), he was responsible for leading major organisational change across 95 countries. Stephen holds a degree in mathematics from the University of Surrey in the UK and is a member of the CBI President's Committee, the Development and Technology Leadership Boards of the Prince of Wales' Trusts, the Technology Board of e-skills and City University's Technology Committee

Ralph Tabberer (DCSF Assessor)

Ralph is the Director General for Schools at the DCSF appointed in February 2006. As well as his role managing the Schools Directorate of the DCSF, Ralph is the DCSF Board member responsible for championing the use of technology in support of teaching and learning across all sectors, ensuring that technology is considered early in the development of policy.

Starting as a teacher, Ralph worked as a senior official in local government and between 1988 and 1990 he was Schools Director for Becta’s predecessor organisation, the National Council for Educational Technology. Between 1994 and 1997 he was Assistant Director of the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER). In 1997, he joined the Standards and Effectiveness Unit in the Department as senior education adviser and after a period as Divisional Manager in charge of ICT and the National Grid for Learning he was appointed in 2000 as Chief Executive of the Teacher Training Agency and its successor the Training and Development Agency for Schools.

John Landeryou (DIUS Observer)

John Landeryou is the Director, Learning, Quality and Systems Directorate, Department for Innovation Universities and Skills (DIUS). Originally a teacher, John has been involved in post-16 work throughout his career. He has worked in most parts of the system including curriculum development, advisory services and planning and funding. He has held senior positions in local authorities, the Training Standards Council and the Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI).

Immediately prior to joining DIUS, John worked for Ofsted where he led their post-16 and learning and skills work. He acted as Project Director for ALI’s merger with Ofsted.

He has also chaired the governing body of a secondary school and served on a local education authority education committee. John's specific professional interests include skills and the labour market and equality and diversity.

Graham Badman CBE

Graham Badman is Kent County Council's Managing Director for the Children, Families and Education Directorate. Graham began his educational career as a science teacher moving to deputy head and then headteacher. He was appointed Chief Adviser and then Director of Education to Avon and took responsibility for the reorganisation of local government in Avon. Prior to his current post he was Chief Education Officer of Oxfordshire local education authority. 

Graham has had substantial experience as chairman of various educational bodies and committees, as adviser to the education parliamentary select committee and international experience as a consultant and trainer.

Derek Wise

Derek Wise is Headteacher at Cramlington High School in Northumberland, which Ofsted twice rated as outstanding, in 2002 and 2006. His school was also re-designated as a Specialist Science College and achieved another designation for second specialism (vocational). Derrek has a wide range of experience in teaching in secondary schools. 

His professional involvements include membership of the Northumberland Family and Children's Trust Leadership team and Executive group of Northumberland's Learning and Skills Council. He is also a member of the DEMOS working group set up by David Miliband and the Gilbert review group: Teaching and Learning in 2020.

Graham Moore OBE

Graham Moore is Principal and Chief Executive of Stoke on Trent College. He has considerable experience in further education, with sixteen years as a principal. He contributed to the Foster Review of Colleges and served on the LSC "Agenda for Change" Business Excellence Group. Currently he is Treasurer of the 157 Group, comprising 23 of the largest further education colleges in the country. He also chairs the West Midland E-learning company which was successful as a Learndirect hub. His knowledge and experience enable him to speak about the key importance of ICT skills to this country's future prosperity with authority. 

In 2004 he was awarded an OBE for services to further education.

Rosemary Luckin

Rosemary Luckin is currently Professor of Learner Centred Design at the London Knowledge Lab, part of the Institute of Education. Until recently she was Pro-Vice Chancellor Teaching and Learning at the University of Sussex and Director of the Human Centred Technology Research Group, one of the UK's leading, internationally renowned research centres in ICT in education. 

Rosemary brings with her a strong understanding and experience of the application of technology in education combined with her strategic leadership experience in her field. She has also acted as a consultant for various organisations including Becta, Pearson Broadband, Open Mind Ltd, DfES and the BBC. Within higher education, Rosemary has taught undergraduate and postgraduate Informatics courses. She has also taught business, IT and general studies courses in both secondary and further education.

Lopa Patel

Lopa Patel is an entrepreneur with extensive experience in building and developing successful business ventures, most recently in establishing Redhotcurry.com, Britain’s leading online South Asian lifestyle & shopping portal.

Following a Diploma in Computing and graduation from the University of Manchester, Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) with a joint honours degree in Biochemistry & Applied Molecular Biology, Lopa worked for ICI in a range of roles. She then worked with a partner to develop DMS DIRECT Ltd, a company providing direct marketing support and services for corporate clients.

Lopa is a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Marketing, Institute of Direct Marketing and the Royal Society of Arts. She has attained a Diploma in Marketing, a Diploma in Direct Marketing and is one of the few Chartered Marketers in the UK. Her other activities have included supporting the development of Asian women’s business activities, being a branch committee member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and setting up a networking group for women involved in the new media sector. She has received a number of awards from a wide range of sectors.

John Newbigin (photograph available shortly)

John Newbigin is a freelance consultant and cultural entrepreneur. From 2000 until 2005 he was Head of Corporate Relations for Channel 4 Television. From 1997 until 2000 he was Special Advisor to the Rt Hon Chris Smith, MP, the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport. Prior to that, he worked as executive assistant to Lord Puttnam, then the Chairman of Enigma Productions Ltd and, from 1986 until 1992, was a policy advisor to the Rt Hon Neil Kinnock, MP, Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition. He has also worked as a journalist and youth worker.

He is Chairman of Culture24 (previously the 24 Hour Museum) a Trustee of the Whitechapel Art Gallery, and a Board member of Theatre Royal Stratford East, Keen Students School, First Light Movies Ltd and the Cultural Industries Development Agency. He is a Visiting Professor at the University of East London.