Sam Henson, Deputy Chief Executive | National Governance Association

Sam has been NGA's Deputy Chief Executive since January 2024 and previously worked as NGA's Director of Policy and Communications. Sam oversees NGA's policy, research, advocacy, external affairs and advice and guidance work. Sam works closely with and deputises for NGA's Chief Executive, leading the organisation to achieve positive change and drive influence at a national level through our policy and influencing work.

Sam specialises in several areas, including Ofsted, school accountability and workforce. He is the lead author of NGA's guide, Governing a Multi Academy Trust and authored and co-authored NGA's policy and research reports Moving MATs Forward, the Mature MAT system, Ofsted and governance and NGA's annual governance survey reports.

Sam has is frequently featured in education media and has also driven NGA's governance focus into national policy conversation, featuring in the Independent, the Times, the Guardian and BBC Breakfast. Sam has given evidence to several government inquiries and review bodies, including to the Education Select Committee and STRB, and has been a member of multiple government task forces and stakeholder groups for the Department for Education, Ofsted and others.

Sam has over 15 years of experience working directly in the education sector. Before joining NGA, Sam worked for a large multi-academy trust with more than 30 schools. Sam also worked for a local authority and in the financial services sector.