National executive acts as the principal democratic governing body within the union, it is responsible for implementing the decisions of NAHT’s Annual Conference and AGM, for determining policy in between those annual meetings, and for directing the work and strategy of NAHT.
National executive members are elected representatives of their sector or regional constituencies and are responsible for providing a voice for members, acting as stewards of the union, and for providing strategic direction to the union’s affairs.
Contact our democracy and governance team to learn more about the role and get in touch with NAHT's national executive.
The role and responsibilities of national executive members
All members of NAHT's national executive are elected to represent a region or sector of our membership. National executive members:
- participate in the strategic oversight of the union’s affairs and direct the work of NAHT between Annual Conferences
- oversee the implementation of policy decisions from Annual Conference and participate in determining the policy priorities for the union
- participate in national committees, sector councils, and task and finish groups to support and guide the campaigns, policy, and governance work of the union
- give voice to the views of members in their regions and sectors
- provide support to local officials through their participation in the regional democracy of the union.
National executive vacancies
National executive vacancies
The following seats will be open for nomination on 1 May 2025 as part of national executive’s triennial election cycle:
- Deputy/assistant heads sector representative (A)
- Early years sector representative (A)
- Primary sector representative (A)
- East Midlands regional representative (A)
- Eastern regional representative (A)
- Greater London regional representative (A)
- North West regional representative (A) and (B)
- South Central regional representative (A)
- South East regional representative (A)
- West Midlands regional representative (A)
- Yorkshire regional representative (A).
All seats open under the triennial election cycle will be for a term of three years.
Due to vacancies outside of the triennial election cycle, national executive also has the following shorter-term length seats open for nomination:
- North West (D) – two-year term
- South Central (B) – two-year term
- Greater London (C) – one-year term.
The nomination period for all seats opens on 1 May 2025 and closes on 1 June 2025, and all nomination forms must be completed digitally using the form provided by NAHT’s independent scrutineer, Civica Election Services.
Nominations should come from an NAHT branch and must be decided by agreement at the branch level to nominate the candidate. The successful nominees for all seats will begin their term of office on 1 September 2025 but will be invited to an optional national executive summer school from 28 to 29 August 2025 as part of their induction programme.
NAHT will strive, as far as is possible, to provide any reasonable adjustments required to ensure all members can fully engage with the role. This includes any adjustments you may need during both the application process and any subsequent tenure if successful. Please get in touch with NAHT governance and executive officer Adam Ives at adam.ives@naht.org.uk should you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, or if you have any questions relating to the accessibility of the role.
Should you have any questions about the nomination process please contact Adam Ives, NAHT governance and executive officer, at adam.ives@naht.org.uk.
Regional representatives
Eastern
- Alan Garnett
- Diana Ohene-Darko
- Steve Mills
East Midlands
- Joanne Sanchez-Thompson
- Nazma Jassat
Greater London
- Lorraine Flanagan
- Dave Woods
- James Lacey
- Jonathan Bailey
North East
- Angi Gibson (NAHT vice-president)
- Dame Nicola Stephenson
North West
- Amanda Hulme
- Simon Kidwell (NAHT immediate past president)
- Nicola Kearney
- Vacant
South Central
South East
- Hilary Goldsmith
- Ollie Burcombe
South West
- Ruhaina Alford
- Lorna Legg
West Midlands
- Emily Jones
- Clare Evans
- Amy Lassman
Yorkshire
- Martin Vayro
- Cathy Rowland
- David Pattison
Cymru
Northern Ireland
Overseas
Sector representatives
Early years
Primary
- Graham Frost
- Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson
Secondary
- Jackie Bartley
- Chris Parry
SEND
Deputy and assistant heads
- Melanie Collins
- James Hawkins
School business leaders
- Rachel Younger (NAHT president)
Middle leaders (Edge)
Life members