New Head for GTA University Centre

Thursday 09 December 2010

A new chief executive has been appointed to lead the GTA University Centre.

Deputy chief executive, Mrs Fiona Naftel, will take over the role on 1 February 2011 following the retirement of the current chief executive, Professor Richard Conder.

Mrs Naftel is well qualified to take up the challenges of leading the training organisation having spent a significant period of her career pioneering learning and development solutions for both the public and private sectors in Guernsey. She was part of the team which founded the Guernsey Training Agency in 1996 and has been instrumental in the continued growth of the organisation since it gained university centre status in 2006.

Prior to joining the Guernsey Training Agency Mrs Naftel held a number of positions in the public sector, including taking on the role of the States of Guernsey’s first ever training manager.

She is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, a member of the Institute of Directors, is an active community supporter and is the chair of St John Training.

David Leafe, chairman of the GTA University Centre is pleased that Mrs Naftel will be taking on this key role at what is an important time for the organisation.

‘Fiona is highly experienced and crucially understands the island’s training requirements and therefore is the ideal candidate to steer the organisation through the next stage of its development,’ he said.

In accepting the position Mrs Naftel said she was keen to focus on the challenges that faced the GTA University Centre and the island as a whole.

‘I am grateful to the Board for giving me the opportunity to lead the GTA and to help to continue to change the face of business education in the Bailiwick. I believe that the organisation will continue to make a significant contribution to the island’s economic success in the years ahead by working in partnership with local and international training providers and by giving the people of Guernsey access to the changing world of professional and higher education.

‘I would like to offer my thanks to Professor Richard Conder for his generous support and hard work over the past nine years, without his ceaseless enthusiasm, drive and vision the GTA would not have developed to be the centre of excellence it is today. ’

’I could not be more pleased to hear the news of the appointment of Fiona as my successor. No one has given more to the GTA or is better equipped to lead the organisation in the next phase of its development. She has worked tirelessly on behalf of training and development in Guernsey and has made a huge contribution to the institution. It has been a privilege to work with her for the past nine years, she has been a loyal and inspirational deputy and I owe her a huge debt of gratitude. I wish her every success in her new role for which she has and will continue to have my unqualified support,’ said Professor Conder.