SKILLS 26

TUDOR PRICE (Host)
Chief Executive at Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce

A skilled business leader within both the private and public sector. Proven operational and contract delivery experience with broad commercial expertise in all corporate functions. Experienced Chairperson and facilitator at national and regional level representing cross sector engagement.

Specialities: Leadership, Presentation & communication, Committee work, Bid writing, Economic Development
Relationship management, Operational design & delivery, Contract performance and delivery.

FACILITATED BY: JONATHAN SHAW
Strategic Director at Kent Further Education

Jonathan’s career has been remarkably diverse, spanning roles as a farm worker, care assistant, and social worker before entering politics. He served as a Member of Parliament for three terms (1997–2010), during which he held several ministerial positions, including roles at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). He was also the Regional Minister for the South East and served as a Government Whip.

In addition, Jonathan contributed as a Private Parliamentary Secretary at the Department for Education (DfE) and was an active member of the Education and Skills Select Committee for four years.

Currently, Jonathan is the Strategic Director for Kent Further Education and serves as a board member, having previously been the Chief Executive of the think tank Policy Connect. He is also the Chair of the Blackthorn Trust, a Kent-based mental health charity, and has been running the Medway Leadership Programme for the past 14 years.

FACILITATED BY: LUCY DRUESNE
Chief Contracts and Policy Officer at Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce

Lucy is the Chief Contracts and Policy Officer and the Kent & Medway Locals Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) strategic lead at Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce. The Kent & Medway LSIP works with employers and employer representative groups to identify the local skills needs and solutions to address them in our key sectors, in collaboration with the local education providers. 

Lucy grew up in France and came to the UK to work on a European project for Kent Invicta Chamber after which she moved to roles in Higher Education and has spent the last 20 years at the interface of education and business in her roles, in particular as Deputy Director of Innovation at the University of Kent and as Manager of GOETEC, a partnership of Kent & Medway Higher and Further Education and public sector organisations.

CELINE McGEOWN
Customer Engagement Manager South East, CITB

Celine has extensive experience working in the construction sector over the last 18 years. Working in the Further Education Sector running construction training provision, setting up a construction training centre and managing apprenticeship provision.

She has been with CITB for the past 7 years and her current role as Customer Engagement Manager for Southeast works with strategic partners and major projects focussing on construction skills and employment.

DEBORAH SHAW
Chief Executive, The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury

Deborah Shaw is Chief Executive of the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury (Theatre of the Year 2022 UK Theatre Awards).

During 8 years as Associate Director at the Royal Shakespeare Company she was Director of the World Shakespeare Festival for the London2012 Olympics.

As Creative Director of Historic Royal Palaces she commissioned a range of large-scale artworks including Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red (the Poppies) at the Tower of London, which won the Sky Southbank Award.  

She has directed over 30 productions in regional theatres across the UK and has commissioned and produced theatre in London, New York, Washington, Mexico City, Baghdad, Moscow, St Petersburg, Damascus, Rio de Janeiro, Ottawa, Cape Town, Rome, Prague, Mumbai and Beijing.

She has an MA in History from Cambridge University and is an honorary Doctor of Arts for services to theatre (Oxford Brookes University).

AARON WHITE
Assistant Director of Corporate Services & Sustainability at Oakland Care Homes

Aaron has over 15 years’ experience in care operations and project delivery, with a previous career in hospitality and a BSc. Environmental Management.

He is passionate about the environment and believes strongly that all businesses must do their part to move the sector to a more sustainable way of working. Aaron also believes that being more sustainable has a wide range of business benefits, and that being ‘Green’ is crucial as we move forward.

Oakland Care have been committed to sustainability since 2020 – they have been carbon neutral since 2021 and are actively evolving to Net Zero.

Aaron has developed a strategy and team within Oakland Care that has led to engagement across all levels of the organisation, with tangible results. They are leaders in sustainability with multiple accreditations and awards to their name.