Announcing Liz Robinson as our new Chair of Trustees
We are delighted to announce Liz Robinson, CEO of Big Education, as the new Chair of Trustees for the Fair Education Alliance.
Liz brings extensive experience in values-led leadership and systems change in education. As a headteacher, trust leader and sector leader for over 20 years, she has championed a broader vision of education - a ‘big’ education that integrates ‘head, heart and hand’, and has worked to support innovation across schools and leadership development programmes.
The appointment comes as the FEA continues to deliver our Neighbourhood to National strategy, working with members to address the root causes of socioeconomic inequity in education so that no child’s success is limited by their background.
Liz Robinson said:
Liz Robinson
Chair of Trustees for Fair Education Alliance
“I am delighted to take on the role of Chair of Trustees at the Fair Education Alliance. The Alliance plays a vital role in bringing organisations together to address the complex challenges that shape children and young people’s experiences of education. I strongly believe in the importance of collaboration across sectors to create an education system that supports the whole child, the whole family and the whole community.
“I want to thank Dr Vanessa Ogden for her outstanding leadership and the Board for their trust in appointing me. Addressing inequity requires sustained collaboration and a willingness to rethink how we work together across the system. I am excited to support the Alliance and its members as they continue to build the partnerships and shared understanding needed to improve outcomes for children and young people.”
Big Education is working both ‘in’ the system, through the schools it runs, and also ‘on’ the system, though programmes, projects and collaborations that enable meaningful change. Centre to this approach is Liz’s insight into the critical role leadership plays in this work, and her commitment to working with leaders across sectors to develop the mindsets and skillsets that will enable profoundly improved outcomes for children and communities, those most under-resourced communities. Building on this ambition, and to extend the scale and impact of this work, Big Education is merging with fellow Multi-Academy Trust Oasis Community Learning from the next academic year, September 2026.
Liz succeeds Vanessa Ogden, who has served as Chair since 2019 and is stepping down following her appointment as Regional Director for London at the Department for Education.
Gina Cicerone, CEO of the Fair Education Alliance, said:
“Liz brings deep expertise in leadership, collaboration and system change. Her commitment to a broad and inclusive vision of education strongly aligns with our work to address socioeconomic inequity. We are delighted to welcome Liz as Chair and look forward to working together with our members and partners to build momentum for change.
I would also like to thank Dr Vanessa Ogden for her leadership and stewardship of the Alliance over the past seven years. We are deeply grateful for the insight and leadership she has brought to our work.”