Skip to main content

CAVA appoints Emily Ross as next CEO

 The CAVA Board is pleased to announce that Emily Ross has been appointed as the next CEO of CAVA, following an extensive recruitment process.


Emily has been an integral part of CAVA’s journey over the past 16 years, since she joined the team as an Administrative Officer in June 2008. She moved through the ranks in the organisation, progressing to Office Manager, then Quality Manager, and more recently as Deputy CEO. Her focus on continuous improvement and high-quality service for members has continually pushed the organisation to grow and develop over the years. Emily holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Education Studies from the University of Cambridge and a Masters in English from Anglia Ruskin University.


CAVA’s Chair, Gavin Tash, shared: “The CAVA Board and I are delighted to appoint Emily. Following a rigorous recruitment process, we felt Emily has the right blend of experience and knowledge of CAVA, as well as an innovative approach to take CAVA forward. Emily has been a huge asset to CAVA for many years in a number of roles and we are sure she will continue to excel in the CEO position.”


CAVA’s outgoing CEO, Flóra Raffai, said: “Over the past five years, I have consistently been impressed by Emily’s deep expertise in Access to HE, her passion for our members and students, and her strategic acumen. It is with great pleasure that I pass the leadership reins to her, confident that CAVA will thrive under her capable guidance.”


CAVA’s incoming CEO, Emily Ross, shared: “I am thrilled and deeply honoured to be appointed as the next CEO at CAVA. I want to express my sincere appreciation to Flóra for her dedicated service and leadership. Alongside our exceptional team and committed membership community, I am excited to lead CAVA into its next chapter of growth and impact. We remain committed to our mission to enable adults to achieve their aspirations through education and to adapt to the challenges of a rapidly changing education sector.”


Emily will officially start in post as CEO on 1 August 2024. Our outgoing CEO, Flóra Raffai, will remain at CAVA until 31 July 2024, with a planned handover over the coming two months.

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

CAVA reveals 2024-25 Award winners, celebrating exceptional learners and the first Inspirational Tutor Award

Cambridge Access Validating Agency (CAVA) has announced the winners and runners-up of the 2024-25 CAVA Awards, recognising exceptional learners and educators across Access to Higher Education. These annual awards celebrate academic excellence, resilience, and inspirational teaching across CAVA’s network of Access to HE Diplomas. Winners of the student categories Outstanding Academic Achievement and Outstanding Commitment to Study, will be nominated for the national Keith Fletcher Memorial Prize, a prestigious award honouring the legacy of Keith Fletcher, a champion of widening participation across the South West. CAVA received an extraordinary number of powerful nominations this year. “The stories shared with us were inspiring, moving, and a testament to the life-changing impact of Access to HE,” CEO, Emily Ross said. “Choosing a winner and runner-up was exceptionally difficult.” Outstanding Academic Achievement Winner: David Langley (Nottingham College) After 20 years away from educat...
Read more

CAVA collaborates with NOCN Group to Launch New AI Awareness Qualifications Aligned to the UK’s National AI Skills Agenda

The government’s recent announcement of free AI training for all UK adults marks an important moment for the country’s digital skills agenda. With the launch of TechLocal ,   part of the national TechFirst initiative, the UK is committing to equipping people, employers, and local communities with the skills needed to thrive in an AI-enabled economy. Introducing NOCN Group’s New AI Qualifications In support of this growing national focus on AI capability, we are proud to announce with NOCN Group the launch of two new qualifications: NOCN Level 2 Award in AI Awareness NOCN Level 2 Certificate in AI Awareness These qualifications have been designed to equip learners with essential knowledge and skills to understand and engage with artificial intelligence tools - recognising their practical uses, opportunities, risks, and implications for workplace roles and digital development. They offer accessible, structured routes for individuals wanting to build foundational AI understanding and ...
Read more

CAVA: The Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper: What it means for Adult Learners and Access to HE

The Department for Education’s Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper sets out an ambitious programme to reshape England’s skills system. It places employers at the heart of planning, strengthens regional responsiveness, and expands opportunities for adults to study flexibly throughout their lives. For the many adults who begin their higher education journey through the Access to HE Diploma, this reform agenda is significant. It opens new pathways, particularly through modular learning, while placing greater expectations on providers to demonstrate how their provision contributes to local and national workforce needs. A Changing Skills Landscape The White Paper, alongside the updated Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) Guidance published in November 2025, sets a direction of travel that will shape the environment in which Access to HE operates. Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs), developed by Employer Representative Bodies and Strategic Authorities, will increasingly determine ...
Read more