Amanda Olvanhill – Governor
Profile:
Amanda has recently retired from Redcar and Cleveland Council, she is married with two adult children, and a granddaughter and lives in Stockton on Tees, with her husband Gary.
Amanda has worked in the education and skills sector for the past 30 years and this is where her passion lies. She is a strong advocate for lifelong learning, and passionate about the region, and this is why she feels it an honour to be a governor for Etc.
She believes that anyone has the potential to achieve their ambitions and there should be no timeframe on this; she has seen the impact of education and learning through her work when young people (who have not always engaged well in school) grow in confidence and self-esteem, when they are undertaking learning that they enjoy and they can relate to their future career goals.
She returned to education as an adult learner and undertook a degree when her children were quite young; managing this alongside part-time work was challenging and Durham University was not necessarily set up for part-time learners at that time, but she absolutely loved it. She felt fulfilled, challenged in a good way and developed strong bonds and friendships with her peers on the degree course; it built her confidence and helped with personal development and career progression.
Her early career was in the Hospitality Sector, and she moved quickly into management roles, then progressed to community education and worked very closely with Stockton Adult Education and what was then, Stockton and Billingham College, developing strong partnerships to respond to community education and learning needs to support economic and social regeneration.
She also worked as a part-time Tutor, delivering training to diverse groups of students (including learners with special educational needs and disabilities) and has managed alternative education programmes and an Education Business Partnership before progressing to senior roles nationally, both in operational management and business development (but all in the education and skills sector).
Amanda returned to work in the Tees Valley in 2018 for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council in the Children and Families Directorate. She thoroughly enjoyed her role manging both the Attendance and Welfare Officer and Post-16 Progression and Careers Teams and developed strong partnerships with local colleges, training provider partners and businesses to ensure children and young people remained in education or training until at least their 18th birthday. Amanda has recently taken early retirement to take on some new challenges and spend more time with her family.
Committee membership:
- People Committee (Chair)
- Link Governor for Student Inclusion
