Next Debate
Next Debate
Newcastle Debates: Opportunities for all: How can we improve access to education and employment in the North East?
Date and time: Wednesday 19 March, 6.00-7.30pm
Venue: Curtis Auditorium, Herschel Building, Newcastle University
The event is part of Newcastle University's series of debates inspired by the Government’s five missions.
The Labour government has promised to reform the education system and break down barriers to opportunity. Meanwhile, reports indicate that a third of all babies, children and young people in the North East are living in poverty. A panel of experts will explore the solutions needed to create a brighter future in the region.
Panellists:
- Amanda Bailey, Director, North East Child Poverty Commission
- Dame Irene Lucas-Hays, Chair of the Hays Travel Group
- Chris Zarraga, Director, Schools North East
The panel will be chaired by Jane Robinson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Engagement and Place, Newcastle University.
Meet the Panellists
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Amanda Bailey, Director, North East Child Poverty Commission Amanda Bailey is the director of the North East Child Poverty Commission (https://nechildpoverty.org.uk), a stakeholder network of representatives from different sectors in the region dedicated to building support for actions which improve the lives of the more than 1 in 3 children growing up in poverty in the North East. The Commission is hosted by, but independent of, Newcastle University. |
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Dame Irene Lucas-Hays, Chair of the Hays Travel Group
Irene Lucas is the chair of the Hays Travel group, a board member of Sport England and The Academy for Sustainable Communities and was a director general at the Department of Communities and Local Government. She was a non-executive board member at the Department for Education between November 2018 and December 2021. Irene received a CBE for services to local government in 2008 and was made a dame for services to training, to education and to young people in 2021. |
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Chris Zarraga, Director, Schools North East
Chris Zarraga is the Director of School North East. He has been part of the Schools North East team since its operational inception in 2008 and in 2019 he was appointed Director. Chris works with senior leaders across the North East and nationally in the education and charity sectors, to represent the voice of North East schools. A central part of his work is to lobby politicians, policy makers, and the media to put a strong ‘regional accent’ on the education debate, so that North East schools are not left behind when it comes to education policy. |
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(Chair) Jane Robinson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Engagement and Place, Newcastle University Jane Robinson joined Newcastle University in 2019, having previously been COO at Durham University and CEX of Gateshead Council. She leads the University’s Engagement & Place Strategy, focussing on building partnerships to enhance our contribution socially, economically and culturally. |
