Noel has over 30 years’ experience working across the private, public, and charitable sectors, supporting individuals with a wide range of needs including autism, SEMH, PMLD, sight loss, epilepsy, and complex learning and physical disabilities.  Noel has held roles as practitioner, manager, and senior leader in organisations such as the RNIB, National Autistic Society, Ruskin Mill Trust, and Brunel Academies Trust; managing several special schools and colleges and overseeing others within large SEND trusts and academies. Currently chairing Brent Mencap, he has also been a volunteer advocate for an autistic adult and learning difficulties for over 20 years.

Nicola has over 15 years’ experience in developing and managing complex services and teams within a variety of post-16 SEN settings. Nicola joined Ambitious about Autism in July 2015 and brings her expertise in operational and service management to the team. Nicola holds an ILM Level 5 in Leadership and Management and is currently undertaking an MSc in Positive Behaviour Support. Nicola is passionate that all young people are supported to work towards their own meaningful outcomes and develop skills for future success.

Marta is the Principal and CEO of West Thames College and an Ofsted Inspector, with over 20 years of experience in post-16 education. She began her career as an ESOL teacher, working extensively with children of migrant workers, refugees, and asylum seekers. Marta has a long-standing commitment to inclusive education and has championed support for vulnerable young people, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). 

Originally from Poland, Marta moved to the UK in 2003 and is a proud mother of two boys. She is passionate about the transformative power of education and is guided by the core values of integrity, excellence, equality, and respect — principles she actively promotes in her leadership and professional practice. 

Adam has been working in Further Education for 17 years and is currently Assistant Principal working at Capital City College. Before moving into education, Adam was a dog trainer and animal behaviourist supporting people improve their relationship with their pets. In 2013, Adam worked with the charity Dogs For Good to complete his Masters in Clinical Animal Behaviour by researching the positive impact pet dogs can have in families with an autistic child. These two passions continue to intertwine, and Adam often spends time working with students alongside his dog Ziggy. Adam also has experience volunteering on governing bodies and boards, most notably having been the secretary for Switchboard, the national LGBTQIA+ support line, for seven years.

Sam Newton's career focus has been in the SEND sector since 1998 with experience of supporting learners aged two to post-19 requiring support from education, health and care. Previous leadership experience includes experience across all key stage phases and in a variety of roles as Director of Education, Headteacher, Head of School, Assistant Head – KS3/4 Transformation, Assistant Headteacher for securing capital development projects for Specialist Status and Head of Primary in both day and residential, maintained, non-maintained and Charity settings. 

During the entirety of her career to date, she has worked with provisions who work as local, regional and national settings across a range of local authorities, social care and health funded. Leading and facilitating transformational change and turnaround where significant improvements are required has been a passion of hers, with an aim to ensure that provisions provide leading educational standards. Sam advocates a systems leadership approach whereby leaders at all levels are empowered to learn from each other and others for continual improvement in delivery to learners. Sam is proud that her efforts resulted in a Pearson’s National Teaching Award in 2021 but as she wholeheartedly recognises the work of the staff in any setting, it is by rights theirs too!

Charlotte is the Senior Learning Support Coordinator at Ambitious College, West Thames, where she has worked since August 2020.

Her role is to oversee and manage the Specialist Teaching Assistant teams. Before joining Ambitious about Autism, Charlotte worked in various roles across the charity and care sectors.

Charlotte is committed to ensuring best practice and continuous improvement at the college, in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for our learners. 

Outside of work, Charlotte has a passion for music and sings in a choir.
 

Ian is a Chartered Accountant (FCA), having worked with Grant Thornton and Deloitte before leaving the profession and moving to London to work in a Music Management Co, followed by 2 years at Stiff Records. He then joined a music distribution company, becoming Finance Director. After 7 years, Ian moved to BT, initially leading Financial Planning for BT’s Broadcast and Visual Services division, subsequently moving on to BT Business and finally Openreach, where he was engaged in large scale transformation projects.

After 25 years at BT Group, Ian retired and is now able to focus on other activities, including investing.

Ian is married and his son, Jamie, recently started at Ambitious College. He also has a daughter who is studying for a Masters at the University of Warwick. Ian is Vice-Chair of Governors of Springhallow School, an autism-specific setting and one of the 6 special schools in Ealing, which Jamie had attended for 11 years. He is also a member of the Ealing Schools Forum.

Other interests include keeping focus on improvements to a home in Llandudno, being a member of Ealing Rock Choir and enjoying collecting (and drinking) wine.
 

Tom works with schools, community groups, parents and charities to set up new state free schools around the country. Experienced in working with a multitude of stakeholders across the education sector, Tom has supported local authorities to establish new special and alternative provision schools in communities where young people’s needs are struggling to be met.

Tom specialises in academy trust development and works with school and trust leaders in a consultative capacity to strengthen their institutions. In recent years, he has channelled a passion for innovation and design into creating tailored services for new, growing and established schools.

A reluctant Arsenal fan, Tom also has an interest in music, architecture and politics.
 

David is the dad of two learners at the CONEL site. They previously attended TreeHouse School. David is the Director of a Mental Health NHS Trust and has been a member of NHS boards since 2000 holding roles in corporate governance, planning and strategy. David was previously a parent governor at a primary age school and special needs centre. In the past, he served for eight years as an elected London Borough councillor. David is also a committee member of the South Woodford Society, a residents’ group in his local community.