Ray Barker, Director, British Education Suppliers Association (BESA) Part 1

[audio:https://mindsharelearning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Ray%20Barker%20BESA.mp3]

Ray Barker, Director, British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA) Ray taught English in secondary schools before working in educational print publishing. After moving into electronic publishing, he ran the Docklands Project for the London Docklands Development Corporation, one of the first attempts to improve literacy using innovative ICT in an area of urban deprivation, which became a featured project of UNESCO. Subsequently he has worked with the UK’s National Literacy Strategy, an American software corporation and for government education initiatives such as Education Action Zones. He is the author of educational textbooks, academic articles and software resources. Ray gained his first degree in English and American Studies from the University of East Anglia and his postgraduate teaching qualifications at the University of London. He has been elected a Member of the College of Preceptors, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. He sits on the executive committees of the National Literacy Association, WebPlay and the Digital Content Forum as well as serving as Chair of Governors for a London primary school. As Director of BESA, the trade association for the UK educational supplies industry, Ray is responsible for the development of BETT, the biggest educational technology event in the world, and works closely with ICT members of the association. For two years BESA organised Moving Young Minds, the government ICT event that brought together over 60 ministers of education from all over the world to discuss ICT issues. He speaks internationally on ICT policy and developments.

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