Right2Learn was set up by four education campaigners.
Matt Waddup was a national trade union official for thirty years, working for RMT, AUT and, since 2006, the University and College Union (UCU). He led UCU’s policy, political and campaigning units from 2013 to 2020, advocating for greater investment in education. He was a member of the 2019 Lifelong Learning Commission.
Gordon Marsden was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Blackpool South from 1997 to 2019. He was a Shadow Minister for ten years , latterly for Higher, Further Education and Skills from 2015-19 and set up the independent Lifelong Learning Commission. Before that , Gordon served on Select Committees in Parliament covering education , business and skills as well as chairing the All- Party Group for Employment and Skills. Prior to becoming an MP , he worked as an Open University course tutor for nineteen years and editor of the magazine History Today for twelve years.
Professor Vicky Duckworth has developed an international reputation for her research in Adult Education and Literacy. Alongside Rob Smith, Vicky led the ground-breaking Transforming Lives project which aimed to showcase the benefits of education throughout life. Vicky was a member of the 2019 Lifelong Learning Commission.
Professor Graeme Atherton is an international leader & researcher in the field of access and diversity in higher education. He founded both AccessHE and the National Education Opportunities Network (NEON) in the UK. Graeme is the Head, Centre for Levelling Up at the University of West London and leads NEON. Graeme was a member of the 2019 Lifelong Learning Commission.
Our grateful thanks for their help in our launch go to First Internet for their help and expertise and to Richard Walker for his wonderful, original logo design.