Lesley joined Pearson UK in October 2012 as Director of Quality, Standards & Research - a role created to reflect our continued commitment to placing high standards and quality assurance at the front and centre of all our work. She is responsible for ensuring high standards across our qualifications, working with colleagues to ensure we develop qualifications and examinations which are effective, rigorous, fit for purpose in the modern world and grounded in research. Lesley also is also the regulatory Responsible Officer for qualifications awarded by Pearson UK at home and internationally.

Lesley joined from the Association of Colleges (AOC), where she was Deputy Chief Executive responsible for policy development and international work. Her background is in teaching and she worked as a Senior Manager in further and higher education. She was also Director of Inspection for the Adult Learning Inspectorate where she was responsible for the inspection service in the UK and the organisation’s commercial operation. Immediately prior to her role at AOC she was National director of Quality at the Learning and Skills Council.