Meet the team
Staff
Lizzie Harewood, Executive Officer
Lizzie joined ACT in September 2020 after twelve years working in Secondary Education as an English teacher. Her passion is to equip Christians to be ‘salt and light’ in the nation’s schools, and is guiding the organisation in its recruitment and resourcing of members.
Outside of work, Lizzie supports her husband as he pastors an evangelical church in Yorkshire. The rest of her time is taken up with being a busy mum of two kids, trialling experimental recipes and drinking good coffee!
Jo Boorne, Administration and Development Officer
Jo joined the team in March 2022 and brings a wealth of Business Management expertise to ACT. Aside from having run an Ofsted registered preschool and being married to a secondary teacher, her other connection with education is having four children! Jo lives in Cheshire and enjoys walks with her mischievous Labrador, Buddy.
Board of Directors
Our directors all work (or have worked) in schools across the UK and beyond, whether in a voluntary capacity or as an employee. They are made up of chaplains, governors, teachers and church workers and represent a range of church backgrounds, as well as having experience in both the state and independent education sector. What unites them all though, is their desire to support Christians in our nation’s schools.
David Bedford, Chair
David is currently the pastoral Deputy Headteacher at a large secondary school in Coventry. Previously he has led a Christian international school in China and served as an academic Vice Principal in Doncaster. He took over as ACT chairman in November, 2023.
Sandra Sutherland
Sandra lives in the Aberdeen in the north-east of Scotland. Sandra has worked in education in a number of different roles mainly as a teacher of children and young people with additional support needs (special educational needs). She has worked in special schools as well as mainstream schools,as a classroom teacher and in promoted posts which brings a wealth of different experience.
Apart from work, Sandra enjoys walking in the Scottish hills and is learning Scots Gaelic.
Sam Brown
Sam Brown is deputy headteacher at The Fulham Boys School. Sam has a MSt in Theology from Oxford University and before becoming a teacher, spent over four years in full-time ministry and leadership roles in a church, where he was involved with preaching, music and working with students, teenagers and younger children.
Elizabeth Scott, Vice Chair
After starting her working life as a secondary teacher in Northern Ireland, Dr Elizabeth Scott went on to spend the main part of her career working in both teaching and management roles in Further and Higher Education in Colleges in Hampshire, Essex and London. She is currently a Governor in a Sixth Form College in London and is an active member of the evangelical church where her husband is the Minister.
Cristo Rodriguez
Cristo has been involved in education since 2004 having worked in Alternative Provision, French and German and Religious Education secondary teaching as well as chaplaincy. He is also Managing Director of a Christian Education Charity working in primary and secondary schools.
Matt Coe
Matt has worked within the education field for the last 28 years. He has experience in working in the UK and also overseas, teaching and leading in Christian schools in Thailand and Germany, and now lives in the north west of England where he currently serves as the National Director for TeachBeyond UK.
Jeff Fair, Treasurer
Having worked as a Maths teacher and then Bursar at a large secondary school in Essex for over 30 years, is now an Assessment Specialist and Trainer for Cambridge Assessment. Involved with setting up a Schools Christian Workers Trust 30 years ago and currently supporting as a trustee. Having moved to Norfolk some years ago, is a member of the village Baptist church. Also supports a church plant in the Isle of Wight and volunteers with Scripture Union holidays each summer.
Jeremiah Emuchay
My name is Jeremiah Emuchay. I am a Pastor by Calling. I am also a Maths teacher. This is my 26th year in teaching (started 1999). My current school is Gravesend Grammar School. I plan to serve God through ACT by participating in events and activities where I can share my experience with younger teachers in the profession, promote the vision of standing for Christ in a challenging environment, showing how to respond to hostility towards our Faith.
I am pioneering a work (Heart Of God Ministry) in the South East of London with my wife. Before this time, I worked as a civil engineer in Ajaokuta Steel Company, Nigeria. I pastored Christian Pentecostal Mission in London from 1993 to 2009. I was a Minister with the Underground Church (The Persecuted Church) in the then Soviet Union-Russia from 1983 to 1989. I am married to Elizabeth Emuchay and we have 3 children: Deborah 34, Blessing 28 and Joshua 23.
Titilayo Oluwatudimu
As previous vice chair of the children and youth commission of ACEA (African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance), Mrs Oluwatudimu first found her passion for children and young people through that work and at an Alliance Faith in the Future conference in 2000. An experienced educator and currently the CEO/Director of Education of The Emmanuel School Trust. Titilayo is a motivational speaker and an advocate for Parental Involvement in education.