Matt Tate appointed as the new Chair of the Board for ThinkForward

Matt Tate has been appointed as the new Chair of the Board at ThinkForward.

ThinkForward is a charity that exists to prevent the next generation of youth unemployment. Their three personalised coaching programmes work with young people at a key stage in their lives, enabling them to gain the confidence, independence, and skills they need to make a successful transition from school into employment. The young people they work with face barriers such as lack of opportunities, growing up in poverty, having a learning disability or being at risk of exclusion.

Society was tasked with finding a Chair with a true passion for and affinity with supporting young people who face barriers to getting into employment, education, or training. Given the organisation’s current strategic plan ends Summer 2025, the incoming Chair will be well placed to meaningfully support the CEO and leadership team to develop an impactful new strategy, and so a background in relevant strategy development and implementation was important. After a rigorous recruitment process, ThinkForward decided to progress with one of their existing Board cohort who felt ready to step up to the Chair position.

Matt is currently the Head Teacher at Hartsdown Academy in Margate and brings over thirty years’ experience across education and the civil service. He is also the Chair of the Enterprise Learning Alliance, and chairs the Partnership Advisory Group at Canterbury Christchurch University. Matt has stepped up to the Chair position having previously served on the Board for three years.

When asked for comment, Robert Posner, Deputy CEO shared “the team at Society took our executive team and trustees through the recruitment process with excellent advice and guidance. They marketed and advocated for ThinkForward strongly with a real focus on de-bias and inclusion. It was a pleasure to work with them.”

We wish Matt and ThinkForward all the best as they embark on this exciting new chapter!