John Stone is the Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Network, which took over the delivery of development and support services from Learning and Skills Development Agency in April 2006. His key focus is ensuring that the independent organisation delivers on its promise to make a tangible difference to education and training.

He has a first degree in physics and his education career spans more than 30 years. While at university he developed a keen interest in education and turned down the offer of a research post in Education Technology. He opted for a more hands-on career path and became a lecturer at Merton Technical College, after successfully replying to an advertisement for a ‘physicist with an interest in music’. He was hooked into education by his first job and held several lecturing posts before becoming vice principal of Swindon College in 1992.

Prior to joining LSN, he was principal of Hammersmith and West London College. During his time at the College he led the merger of Hammersmith and Ealing College, to form one of the largest FE colleges in the UK.

He has an active role in the London Development Agency, serving on both the Business and Skills sub-committee and the Regeneration and Development sub-committee. He also maintains a strong interest in e-learning and is a member of the e-skills 14-19 Diploma Development Group.

In his spare time he is a keen pianist and plays the guitar. In 1997 he published his first book, ‘Increasing Effectiveness - the Management of Quality’.

Source TES Online