Jennifer Coupland named as new CILEX CEO

Jennifer Coupland, former CEO of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), will join CILEX in September as CEO.

Ms Coupland was most recently Pro Vice-Chancellor, Skills, at London South Bank University. Prior to that she was CEO of IfATE for five years. At IfATE she was responsible for setting quality standards in apprenticeships and technical qualifications for careers across the economy. She has worked with employers and professional bodies to create over 700 apprenticeships, launched and grown the T level qualification programme and improved the quality of higher technical qualifications. 

Before joining IfATE, she held roles as director of professional and technical education at the Department for Education, acting chief executive of the Standards and Testing Agency, and deputy director of the joint Department for Education/Department for Business Innovation & Skills Apprenticeships Unit.

Jennifer Coupland said: “CILEX plays a critical role in the legal profession, widening access to justice, and opening careers in law to people from a wide range of backgrounds. Throughout my career in education, I have been committed to championing talent over tradition and carving out alternative routes to skilled jobs and professional careers. I look forward to leading CILEX as we continue to improve diversity in the profession and grow the reach and impact of the organisation and its members. 

“I am also looking forward to working with incoming president Sara Fowler, as we share an ambition to put CILEX at the forefront of the legal profession. The world of law is changing fast and CILEX is committed to training lawyers and paralegals to keep ahead of the pack. As artificial intelligence democratises access to the law and fundamentally alters traditional approaches to legal training, this is an exciting moment for CILEX and as CEO I hope that my experience will help us be at the forefront of this change and the opportunities it brings.” 

CILEX Chair Eileen Milner said: “I am pleased to welcome Jennifer to her new role at an important time for CILEX, as we look to build on our proud history, support our members to thrive in their careers, drive change in the sector and grow our reach and impact.

“Jennifer is an experienced and highly respected CEO, ideally placed to lead CILEX over the coming years. She has a deep knowledge of education, training, assessment, awarding and regulation. She has worked to create high-quality apprenticeships and technical qualifications, opening up opportunities in the professions, increasing social mobility, challenging restrictive practices and helping transform a range of sectors to become more reflective of the public they serve.”

Ms Coupland will take over from current CEO Craig Hamer.