Sir Michael Barber Chief Education Advisor, Pearson International

Michael recently joined Pearson in the newly created position of Chief Education Advisor. Formerly a Partner at McKinsey and Company,  leading its global education practice, he has been working on major challenges of performance, organization and reform in government and the public services, especially education, in the USA, UK and other countries. From 2001-2005 he was the Founder and first Head of the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit where he was responsible for the oversight of implementation of the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair's priority programs including education among others. From 1997-2001, Michael was Chief Adviser to the UK Secretary of State for Education on School Standards, responsible for the implementation of the government's school reform program. Prior to joining government he was a Professor at the Institute of Education, University of London. He is the author of Instruction to Deliver and numerous other books and articles.