Chair of the Association
The Chair is a vital role to our Association and the elected chair provides an authoritative voice for the thousands of members ASE supports and the wider science education community. Elected candidates remain part of the chair trio for three consecutive years. The roles are assumed from the 1st August each year.
Our next Chair elect of the Association
Applications to be our next Chair elect have now closed. We will update details shortly.
The Chair Trio
ASE Chair Elect: Jane Oldham
Jane studied chemistry at what is now Derby University, while employed as a Laboratory Technician in the Research and Development facility of a multi-national chemical company. After graduation, her career continued as a project team leader and technical specialist.
She joined The de Ferrers Academy in 2005 as a Science Technician specialising in Chemistry. As Senior Technician, then Lead Science Technician Jane oversaw the set-up of laboratories and introduced new working practices and systems to improve operation of the practical support to the science departments within the de Ferrers Trust, and currently works as the Trust Leader for science technicians.
ASE Chair: Alex Sinclair and Leigh Hoath
(The position of the Chair this year is a joint appointment - a move approved by ASE Trustees - with Dr Alex Sinclair and Dr Leigh Hoath sharing the role)
Dr Alex Sinclair is Science Lead at St Mary’s University, Twickenham for their primary Initial Teacher Education courses. Previously he taught science in schools for 13 years. His interests are how science can promote equity, diversity and inclusion. He writes regularly for the ASE’s Primary Science journal and has co-authored 'Superhero Scientists' and ‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’. He is also member of the Primary Curriculum Advisory Group formed on behalf of the RSC, RSB and IOP.
Dr Leigh Hoath is a Senior Fellow at Leeds Trinity University where she leads science education across the primary and secondary age phases. She had an established career as a teacher before moving into HE. She is a regular conference presenter, author of science related articles and of primary and secondary books. Leigh also works as an education consultant to both the BBC on their science education campaigns and the world’s largest chemical industry, BASF, developing their outreach provision.
ASE Past Chair: Helen Harden
Helen is the chemistry curriculum specialist for the University of York Science Education Group’s BEST project. She combines this role with UK and international curriculum consultancy work and the authoring of science resources for schools. She is a former science teacher and regularly runs intervention groups at a local secondary school. Helen has been a member of ASE for almost 25 years and has recently completed her term as chair of 11 to 19 committee. Helen is passionate about conveying the importance of subject associations and the huge professional and personal benefits that being actively involved with ASE can bring.