Who’s who at NATECLA

NATECLA Management Council is comprised of trustees and volunteer members who represent the interests of ESOL and Community Language practitioners in the overall running and policy making of the organisation. Each NATECLA branch is represented on the council and we have Co-Chairs, a treasurer, various working party representatives and co-opted members.

Management Council meet formally three times a year in January, April and September/October and holds it AGM in June or July at the NATECLA Annual Conference. However, we are always active on members' behalf on national consultations, lobbying and responding to issues. Inline with our sustainability statement, we now choose to hold most (if not all) our meetings online.

Co-chairs

Co-Chairs play an integral role in the Management Council; leading our termly meetings, chairing our National Conference and hosting the AGM. Each co-chair has a term of 3 years interleaving with one another so they can support their replacement as their term ends. All our chairs are long-standing members of NATECLA who care about the charity and our sector passionately.

Naeema Hann

Paul Sceeny

Paul Sceeny
Naeema Hann

“I originally joined NATECLA because it was the only way to link up with other ESOL teachers, find out more about funding, good practice, etc. Then I got involved in my branch in the North West because I wanted to offer that to others too.

When I became more involved at a national level, I realised that NATECLA could make a difference as an organisation.”

— Mary Osmaston, NATECLA volunteer.

NATECLA trustees

  • Mary Osmaston

  • Greg Dugdale

    Greg Dugdale

  • Jenny Roden

    Jenny Roden

  • Rachel Öner

    Rachel Öner

  • Paul Sceeny

    Paul Sceeny

  • Nafisah Graham Brown

    Nafisah Graham Brown

“It is a fantastic organisation to volunteer for. The organisation is full of passionate people promoting good practice in ESOL, supporting teachers and defending the importance of this subject to integration and cohesion in society. Being a member of NATECLA means you will never feel isolated, but always supported.”

— Rachel Öner, NATECLA volunteer.

Meet our volunteers

If you would like to volunteer for NATECLA, get in touch with your local branch and see how you can support them.

Jenny Roden

  • Trustee 2016 to present. Co-chair 2015-2018. Editor NATECLA News 2007-2012. Co-editor Language Issues 2003-2007

    40-years managing, teaching, training, research, writing and editing in ESOL and ELT. Led NATECLA campaign for national ESOL strategy.

  • Member of NATECLA Management Council since 2013.

  • Coopted Management Council member; FE and Policy.

    Teacher since 1990, manager and director in large FE colleges in London.

    X and Bluesky @jense10. You can also find Jennie on Linked In.

  • Has been volunteering for NATECLA since 2016. Helped to set up the Northwest England branch in 2016 and became chair 2018-2023. NATECLA trainer and consultant. Co-opted digital rep from 2024. Was very happy to work as content designer for the new NATECLA website (2024)!

    Connect with her on X @ChloeFibonacci.

    You can also find Chloë on LinkedIn.

  • Midlands branch chair & member of the NATECLA training arm. Started volunteering for NATECLA in 2000.

    25 years teaching ESOL and 20 years teacher training in ESOL context.

    You can find Christine on LinkedIn and Facebook.

  • Volunteered for NATECLA since 2017 when she set up the East of England branch and was branch chair until 2020. Co-chair of NATECLA 2020-2023. Trustee 2020 to present.

    Rachel has over 30 years' of experience teaching and managing EFL and ESOL provision in a number of settings.

    Find her on X @NATECLAeast and LinkedIn.

  • NATECLA policy group rep, London Co-chair since 2017.

  • Keeley has been volunteering for NATECLA since 2022 when she was co-opted onto Management Council as the ACL rep.

  • Worked as ESOL tutor, manager and teacher trainer at community centres, FE Colleges in Yorkshire.
    Editor for Language Issues 2020 - 2023. Delivered training for NATECLA and hosted regional and national conferences. Naeema has volunteered for NATECLA for more than 30 years. Naeema is currently co-chair of NATECLA.

    You can find connect with Naeema on X @NaeemaHann or LinkedIn.

    https://www.englishscholarsbeyondborders.org/members-profiles/naeema-hann/

  • Anne has been volunteering for NATECLA since 2004 and is currently the secretary for the NATECLA Midlands (England) branch.

    She has been teaching ESOL since 1999. She has experience in teaching ESOL beginners and Jobseekers. She enjoys teaching basic literacy skils.

    You can find Anne on Linked In.

Anna

  • Anna has been chair of the Yorkshire & Humber branch since 2021.

  • Greg has been volunteering for NATECLA since 2022 when he became co-chair. He is currently a trustee.

  • Paul has been co-chair of the NATECLA northwest (England) branch since 2024.

  • Management Council rep for NATECLA Island of Ireland since 2019. Volunteering to provide ESOL and related training for adult refugees and asylum seekers face-to-face and online.

    https://www.natecla-ioi.org/

  • Trustee 2017 to present. Co-chair 2017-2020.

    Mary has 40 years in ESOL teaching, management and teacher training; now she offers CPD for ESOL teachers and quality improvement.

  • Declan has been volunteering for NATECLA since 2020. He is currently the chair of the Island of Ireland branch and Editor of Language Issues Journal.

    Dr Declan Flanagan is an English language practitioner with over twenty years of experience in various contexts (EFL, ESOL, and EAL) and is currently a senior lecturer in EAP at Queen’s University Belfast.

    You can connect with Declan on X @flanagandeclan6

  • Trustee, Treasurer, Former co-chair. Has been a NATECLA volunteer since 2013.

    As a teacher of ESOL, she has 15 years' experience in classrooms across multiple sectors and settings, mainly with ELATT, a Grade 1 education charity in London and most recently teaching as an adjunct instructor at Westchester Community College, New York. Nafisah gained her Doctor in Education from UCL Institute of Education in 2020 researching the topic of ESOL and belonging.

    Find Naffy on X @naffygb and LinkedIn.

  • Helped set up the Cymru (Wales) branch and became co-chair in 2023.

    ESOL learner, tutor, and researcher in ESOL/ learning difficulties

  • North west England branch chair since 2023.

    Eve has taught ESOL and Functional Maths to adults and young people for 20 years.

    You can find Eve on X @ESOL_Eve and LinkedIn.

  • Previously worked in a range of roles with City & Guilds, including as ESOL Technical Advisor and Portfolio Manager.


    Paul attended his first NATECLA conference in 2006 and became involved in establishing the Island of Ireland branch in 2021. He is currently co-chair of NATECLA.

    You can find Paul on X @PaulSceeny_AdEd and LinkedIn.

  • Mel has been volunteering for NATECLA since 2023 when she helped set up the Wales branch. She is current co-chair of the branch.

Hayley

  • Currently the co-chair of the Midlands (England) branch.

    She currently holds the position of Advanced Skills Teacher (AST) and ESOL lecturer within Stoke on Trent college, a role she has developed into since 1999.

“It's a great way to connect with other passionate ESOL teachers, and to develop new skills. I enjoy being part of conversations about national issues in ESOL, current trends and future developments. It has opened up opportunities to speak at webinars and conferences. I have made great friends and it is a joy to work with the team at NATECLA.”

— Eve Sheppard, NATECLA volunteer

Not forgetting… National Centre!

The team at our National Centre are the charity’s only paid members of staff. They keep NATECLA running year on year working on the finer details of the events, bookings and your memberships.

  • Laura at a NATECLA exhibition table

    Laura Plotnek-Jones

    National Centre Manager

    laura@natecla.org.uk

    Laura has been involved with NATECLA’s work since 2012 when she became a member whilst teaching ESOL at colleges in the West Midlands. She then went on to become the organisations’ National Coordinator – a role which she enjoyed for 6 years before taking a break to concentrate on her teaching and spend more time with her young family. Laura returned to NATELCA in 2023 as their National Centre Manager. 

  • Irene Ostos

    Irene Ostos

    Assistant Coordinator

    irene@natecla.org.uk

    Irene started with NATECLA in 2023, shortly after moving from Barcelona, where she has been teaching English as a Foreign Language since 2012. She is currently enjoying the opportunity to explore and contribute to the ESOL field, valuing the professional growth and fresh perspectives that her role at NATECLA offers.