as a teacher before unintentionally specialising in Early Years education when she became a deputy head and was given responsibility for the youngest children. This was quite a “culture shock” after


Year 6. She then worked for West Sussex Advisory Service


teaching before


being seconded to the Department for Education. Following that, she took a “leap of faith” and moved into consultancy for the first time, establishing her own small business. Her first foray into international


education came via a speaking engagement at a conference in Japan, before working with GEMS International


Schools Group


in Dubai. There she met Ann McPhee, who she describes as “a real role model for me”. She describes her as “the kind


of woman who had presence, who would walk into a room and you'd know she was there without her saying a word”. “She taught me a lot about


leadership,” Pam says. “She was straightforward, direct


and


she knew what she wanted. She wouldn't take substandard work and she made me see that as a female leader you could actually make a real difference.” From there, Pam worked with


Fieldwork Education (now part of Nord Anglia Education), where she spoke at conferences and worked with schools on the implementation of


the International Primary


Curriculum, visiting Singapore, Malaysia, Nigeria and a host of other countries. Her varied consultancy work now includes leadership development, early years


education, curriculum


training, school reviews and keynote speaking. “I’m an entrepreneur


by


accident,” she says. “Serendipity is my favourite word and my career path has evolved organically rather than being meticulously planned. Many people say that they are a ‘people person’. I think that’s true of


me too, although I’m not sure what the alternative is! However I'm also fascinated by every aspect of what it means for us to ‘be human’. I’m blessed with a very good memory and so I remember the small and yet very important things about people beyond their working lives. I think that’s what has opened doors for me in my professional life.”


FUTURE-FOCUSED CONSULTANCY Pam has held a variety


of


executive roles with leading school groups and education-focused organisations, most recently being involved in NEOM, a ground- breaking project to develop a giga- city in Saudi Arabia, where she lived and served as the founding director of schools and education. She says it was fascinating to be involved in the plans for innovation and sustainability within schools, the development of ‘Women in Leadership’ across the Kingdom and the opportunities available from a no holds barred, technology- driven approach to education in an authentically future-focused city. Her current work is mainly with schools, and brokering


start-up


partnerships between British school groups, American school groups


and international school groups


who are looking to expand overseas. “One of our most recent projects


is with the Charterhouse School, which is just about to open a school in Lagos in Nigeria in partnership with Huntington Education, and I am working with other British public schools, looking at territories such as the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, United States, Asia and Japan and beyond,” she says. On a personal level, Pam has


had to find ways to be resilient after a bout of the shingles seven years ago left


her with facial


paralysis and a problem with her speech, a condition which is now almost resolved. As for the future, she says her


diary is “pretty much professional work travel


for the foreseeable


future, which is fantastic”. “For me, it doesn't matter


whether we're having a conversation with an investor, a school group, or giving a keynote speech or meeting one-to-one with a teacher or child. The only thing that's important at the end of it is: Did I say the things and make the decisions today that will make life different and better for children today, tomorrow and in the future? That’s my driver – and that will never change.”


79


“ IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO WE'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH. THE ONLY THING THAT'S IMPORTANT AT THE END OF IT IS: DID I SAY THE THINGS AND MAKE THE DECISIONS TODAY THAT WILL MAKE LIFE DIFFERENT AND BETTER FOR CHILDREN TODAY, TOMORROW AND IN THE FUTURE?”


THINK WOMEN


INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION


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