R Peter Upton CMG

An experienced international leader with extensive board level experience who has worked in Higher Education and cultural relations with national governments and senior policy makers. He has led multi-disciplinary teams on global programmes, led the UK National Agency for Socrates and the UK National Commission for UNESCO. He led contract teams to win international tenders for 166 million GBP projects and has worked in Nigeria, Thailand, China, Europe and the USA. Peter is skilled in managing complex Partnerships, led large system wide reform programmes in Higher and Secondary Education and has a track record of success in a competitive environment. He has wide experience working with media and is a regular presenter at Conferences. He was recently Director of the British Council Pakistan. His current portfolio includes working with HMG, two INGOs and advising on Education policy issues. Peter is a Trustee of the University of Sussex Students Union, an independent Governor of the University of St Mark and St. John and is an advisor to Cambridge Assessment. 2016 (June) Executive Director K2P2 Consulting K2P2 is a specialist consultancy focusing on Education system reform, Higher Education policy development, Cultural Relations policy and HR transformation. Current projects include supporting overseas Governments in Teaching and Learning reform, working with a UK based INGO (8,000+ staff) on Workforce restructuring, supporting a Government department on cross- Whitehall funds and working with the British Council on a 711 million soft power fund. He is a member of the Cross-Whitehall Empowerment Board and the MOOC Advisory Board. 2012 -2016 (May) Director British Council Pakistan, Regional Lead for Higher Education and Diversity Responsible for 240 staff in 4 offices in Pakistan in Lahore, Multan, Karachi and Islamabad. Managing a turnover of 35 million GBP across of portfolio of examination services, DfID contract management, Higher Education partnerships and English. Core task included managing access and delivery in a high risk environment, leading a campaign to get 100,000 children into school within 5 months, Transforming Education through English - a project to training 250,000 teachers using multimedia delivery channels. Led the Higher Education Policy Dialogues series and the Creative Arts Strategy for Pakistan including research work with the Economist Intelligence Unit. He was Chair of the South Asia Libraries Board, a member of the Chief Ministers Delivery Unit and the FCO Engagement Board. 2009 -2012 Director South China Global lead for Higher Education Responsible for 300 staff in two offices in Hong Kong and Guangzhou with a turnover of 20 million GBP. Core tasks involve relationship with MFA, National and regional education bureaus and cultural agencies supporting partnership with the UK. Negotiating contracts on Education and Arts and supervision of a business portfolio of 20,000 students and 30,000 exams. Responsible for the British Council's Global Higher Education programme in 55 countries leading a dispersed team of 55 staff with a budget of 10 million GBP. The HE offer includes 35 partnerships between Government, Industry and HE, Regional Policy Dialogues, Student Mobility and Strategic Educational Intelligence. Coordinated and led the Going Global International Conference in Hong Kong which had 1500 delegates and 10 ministers of education. Extensive work with the Public and Private sector networks for impact. He was a member of the University of Hong Kong Board Advisory Board, the SAMEO Board and led multiple working groups for the British Council and FCO. 2006-09 Role: Director Nigeria Sub Saharan Africa Lead for Education and Society Responsible for a team of 200 staff in 5 offices with a turnover of 40 million GBP. Leadership of major DfID contracts in Education and Human Rights and Governance valued at 20 million GBP. Extensive work with the Nigerian Government on Higher Education reform and management, complex partnership management with the Islamic Caliphate of Kano on Human Rights programmes as well as re-aligning the British Council operation for strategic Impact. National Programme Lead for two large DfID contracts on Education and Security and Justice and was responsible for the key report on "Nigeria the Next Generation" featured in the economist Extensive work with Nigerian Higher Education Commission on reform and funding of higher education and work across SSA on educational programmes. He was a member of the Nigerian Open University Advisory Board and led Board level groups for the British Council across SSA. 2003-06 Role: Director Thailand and regional lead for Education in East Asia Led and managed a team of 150 staff across Thailand with a budget of 12 million GBP. Responsible for complex change programmes, developed new HE initiatives with SAMEO and Thai Government, delivered new partnership programmes for schools and undertook extensive work with Department for Education and senior policy makers. 1999-03 Role: Director Education and Training Group, British Council and Head UK National Agency for Socrates Created the Education and Training Group that brought together the BC offer in Education (Schools, FE and HE) with 240 staff and a turnover of 20 million GBP. The group was responsible for EU agency contracts such as Socrates and Leonardo, bi-lateral programmes with 15 countries including the Language Assistant programme placing 5,000 LA's per year. Led the DfID Schools Development Programme, designed the education work for the centenary celebrations of Anglo-French entente cordiale, developed the China exchange system, and led the Teachers International Professional Development programme. Led the EdUK programme and the Higher Education strategy of the British Council. He was a member of multiple Boards. 1997 -1999 Chief Executive Special Schools and Academies Trust A NDPB (non departmental public body) accountable to government leading major education reform initiatives in secondary and tertiary education. Working with over 600 schools and multiple agencies on the management of reform programmes. Extensive work with government agencies and accountable bodies. He was a member of the Teacher Training Agency Advisory Board, the DfE Languages Advisory Board, the Thinking Skills strategy Board and the York City Learning Initiative Board