Appointment of Chief Executive and Secretary for Education

The State Services Commissioner, Iain Rennie, today announced the appointment of Lesley Longstone to the position of Chief Executive and Secretary for Education, Ministry for Education.

Ms Longstone is currently Director General for Infrastructure and Funding, in the English Department for Education, a position she has held since September 2010.

"Lesley Longstone has 25 years' experience in the education and employment sectors in the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia, and she understands the economic importance of education and its contribution to the broader skills agenda.

"Ms Longstone has been a second tier manager in the education sector in England since June 2007. She is experienced in developing and implementing policy and strategies and in introducing and implementing legislation. She has successfully managed change in large service delivery organisations in challenging circumstances," Iain Rennie said.

Ms Longstone was appointed to her current role of Director General for Infrastructure and Funding in September 2010 where she has been responsible for delivering a major plank of the Government's public sector reform programme, a significant change programme for schooling in England.

Ms Longstone has held a number of other roles in the department, including from June 2007 to September 2010 as the Director General for Young People, from 2006 to 2007 as the Director School Formation, and from September 2004 to 2006 as the Director for International Strategy where she was responsible for all aspects of the Ministry's international work.

Other roles that Ms Longstone has held include at the Australian Department for Employment, the Training Agency and Employment Service and the European Commission in Luxembourg.

Ms Longstone has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Sheffield.

Ms Longstone has been appointed for a five year term and will take up the role in early November, 2011. Karen Sewell continues to act in the role until that time.

ENDS

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