School leaders to be mentored by brokers in new initiative

A new mentorship programme has been launched to bring together senior professionals from the insurance industry and headteachers from disadvantaged areas.

The London and International Insurance Brokers’ Association (LIIBA) has partnered with education charity Inspiration for All to connect school leaders with professionals from LIIBA member firms.

The nine-month initiative is designed to provide strategic insights and professional development for both mentors and mentees.

The first group in the programme consists of six school leaders from London and Essex, with a second cohort set to begin in June 2025.

Jacqueline Girow, executive director at LIIBA and leader of the association’s DEI programme, Belonging@LIIBA, said: “We are proud to collaborate with our members and Inspiration for All on this mentorship programme.

”By leveraging our members’ wealth of experience in leading successful insurance businesses, we aim to equip school leaders with valuable skills and insights that will drive excellence in their schools and empower their pupils to reach their full potential.”

Mentors

Mentors for the first cohort include LIIBA chair Andy Bragoli, LIIBA chief executive Christopher Croft and senior representatives from Lockton and WTW.

These industry leaders will share their expertise to help school leaders navigate challenges and implement effective leadership strategies in their institutions.

Sarah Caton, chief executive at Inspiration for All, said: “The programme matches school leaders and business leaders in unique peer-mentoring partnerships that create fresh perspectives, enhance leadership skills and drive social mobility.

”We are lucky to be starting with six very experienced and capable LIIBA members who bring an exceptional range of skills and a genuine commitment to delivering tangible change in their industry.”