Who's who at DEA
DEA is an education charity with a national network of member organisations and supporters, administered by a small staff team and managed through a Board of Trustees with support from an Advisory Council.
DEA staff team
- Hetan Shah, Chief Executive email: hetan.shah@dea.org.uk
Responsible for the overall strategy and operations of the organisation and management of staff.
Hetan began as Chief Executive of DEA in January 2007. He was previously policy director at the pressure group Compass and before that was director of the New Economics programme at the think-tank nef (the new economics foundation) and a director of the Social Enterprise Partnership. His publications include The Good Society, A New Political Economy, Democracy and the Public Realm, A Well-being Manifesto for a Flourishing Society and Behavioural Economics: seven principles for policymakers. Hetan has wide ranging media experience including Newsnight, the Today programme, The Guardian, FT and Time Magazine. Hetan has a Masters in Contemporary History and Politics, and a Postgraduate certificate in Economics both from Birkbeck College, London. He is also a qualified lawyer. - Reshma Biring, Youth Programme Officer tel: 0207 922 7939, email: reshma.biring@dea.org.uk
Reshma focusses on strengthening youth involvement in the Global Youth Action project and using her experience in journalism and creative arts to bring a youth voice to the communications of our youth programme. - James Edleston, Youth Programme Manager tel: 020 7922 7936, email: james.edleston@dea.org.uk
Responsible for DEA’s global youth work, including the Big Lottery funded Global Youth Action Project.
James has a degree in Development Studies and a postgraduate qualification in Education and International Development. Before joining DEA in October 2005, he set up and managed TimeBank’s national youth project that aimed to facilitate young people’s involvement in their community; he also ran the overseas project. - Moira Jenkins, Schools Communications Manager tel: 020 7922 7937, email: moira.jenkins@dea.org.uk
Responsible for communicating DEA's mission to schools and teachers and managing the Global Dimension Website for teachers.
Before joining DEA in October 2004, Moira worked for the British Council where she was variously responsible for editing publications, developing websites and promoting their sport leadership programmes. Moira has a degree in French, German and International Relations. - Sejal Patel, Education Projects Manager tel: 020 7922 7935, email: sejal.patel@dea.org.uk
Responsible for managing DFID mini grants, the EC Capacity Building project and wider liaison with our networks.
Sejal joined DEA in May 2008, having previously worked for the Department for International Development (DFID). She graduated from Kingston University in 2006, with an Honours degree in Business Information Technology. - Amanda Thomson, Finance and Operations Director tel: 020 7922 7933, email: amanda.thomson@dea.org.uk
Responsible for DEA's operational administration and financial affairs.
Amanda is a qualified accountant with over 20 years' experience gained with FTSE100 companies in the commercial sector, as well as more recently in the Third Sector, both in finance and consulting roles in the UK and abroad. Amanda has a degree in business and finance and is a member of CIMA. - Melanie Ward, Head of Communications tel: 020 7922 7938, email: melanie.ward@dea.org.uk
Responsible for DEA's overall communications and public affairs work.
Melanie joined DEA in April 2008, having previously worked for Rt Hon David Blunkett MP, where she handled his press and political work and developed and researched new projects. Prior to this, she was President of NUS Scotland for two years and also held responsibility for the internationalism work of NUS UK. Melanie is a graduate of the University of Stirling and currrently studies part-time for an MA in International Studies and Diplomacy at SOAS. - Helen Young, Policy and Research Manager tel: 020 7922 7934, email: helen.young@dea.org.uk
Helen has an MA in Values in Education. She has worked in both Kenya and the UK: for the UN and national government; in national and local NGOs; and in schools and a college. She joined DEA in September 2003.
DEA Board of Trustees and Advisory Council
An 11-member Board of Trustees is elected by DEA members. Trustees are currently as follows:
- Roger Clarke Chair of Board of Trustees
- Adetoro Adeniran-Kane MBE African Women's Culture, Art and Development
- Cathryn Gathercole Practical Action
- David Lambert Geographical Association
- Carole Milner UKOWLA
- Deepak Naik Minorities of Europe
- Shan Oakes Voice International
DEA also has an Advisory Council of up to 20 members, also elected by DEA members. Advisory Council members are currently as follows:
- George Anang’a Plan UK
- Linda Barker Global Education Derby
- Vic Craggs Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council
- John Davidson OBE Gloucestershire DEC
- Chrissie Dell Centre for Global Education York
- Vandana Desai Institute of Development
- Bob Hirst Manchester Metropolitan University Development Education Project
- Sally Issler
- Celia Mather Development Education Centre South Yorkshire
- Raul Pardinaz-Solis Skillshare International
- Nigel Rayment Magnified Learning
- Ian Richards Lincolnshire Youth Service Entry to Employment (e2e) Project
- Scott Sinclair Tide~ Global Learning
- Stuart Wroe Y Care International