Since Alan joined VTCT in 2016, the organisation has acquired iTEC, Skillsfirst and Skills for Logistics, providing learners with end-to end industry recognised qualifications, assessments and apprenticeships suitable for the world stage.

Prior to this, Alan worked as a Director for the University of Law (ULaw) in developing the University’s response to the implementation of solicitor and paralegal apprenticeships. This apprenticeship development work was undertaken initially as a consultant through his own company and then as a senior employee of the University. Before his work with ULaw, Alan was the CEO of Skills for Justice, the UK Sector Skills Council for the Justice sector.

In his spare time, he can be seen running around a rugby pitch every Saturday with a whistle in his mouth, which is not for the feint-hearted. He was appointed OBE in 2004 for Services to Sustainable Development and holds a first class degree from the Open University and an MBA from Henley Management College.

Ruth McGrath has been an iTEC international examiner for almost 20 years. In her current role with VTCT, as Head of International and Global Chief Examiner for iTEC centres, Ruth is responsible for assessing and maintaining standards of practice in the beauty industry in more than 50 countries around the world, including frequent visits to South Africa and the wider African continent.

For more than 30 years, Ruth has had a successful career as a beauty and spa business leader, including running and owning hotel spas, and several beauty salon businesses in Ireland and the UK. Ruth holds numerous industry qualifications and is passionate about high standards, client care and keeping abreast of the latest technology and innovations in beauty and aesthetic treatments.

Ruth is a well-known expert authority in the beauty industry and has represented the global industry through professional bodies and awarding organisations for many years. Ruth has always maintained a rigorous approach to quality assurance, and at all times strives to promote public and employer confidence in ITEC qualifications, which is recognised as the most valued and sought after beauty industry credential in the world.

With her degree in nursing, Karen worked in trauma, neurosurgery, and psychiatry. Her first move out of the hospital environment was with medical aids in the then, very new, field of case management. Combining her experience in hospital and case management she then moved into a more sales focussed position, as the national burns specialist for a large multinational company. Her next and not at all obvious career step was to move to the other end of the skin spectrum, as a sales representative, in the medical aesthetic skincare environment with Lamelle Research Laboratories. “From burns to beauty!”

As the Medical Trainer and now Training Manager at Lamelle, Karen’s focus and passion are to provide relevant and current information to professionals on consumers alike in an understandable way that make sense. In this way, Karen leads individuals, healthcare providers and skincare professionals to make sense of the quagmire of information out there and make it their own. She hopes that the stories and pictures that she shares will, in turn, make it information understandable and motivate decisions on lifestyle changes and choosing products and treatments to manage health and skincare challenges. Especially when these challenges have long-term quality-of-life effects when not managed. Karen loves sharing her knowledge on various platforms and in person.

Nadine's career in the Health and Beauty industry has stretched over the good part of 20 years. After qualifying as a Somatologist in 2001, Nadine ventured into the world by joining a six-star spa, onboard a cruise ship. After 3 years, she then found herself in the UK, where she worked in various high-end spas over the course of 2 years. 

Upon her return to South Africa, Nadine delved into the educational realm of the Wellness industry. She took on the role of lecturer and tutor at Isa Carstens Health and Skin Care Academy, shaping and motivating aspiring individuals for the wellness sector for a remarkable 4 years.

Her passion for travel and the Wellness industry grew and she took on a role with London Wellness Academy by setting up their SA campus in 2010. Nadine was their head trainer, assisting new recruits for cruise ships with their pre-ship training. She traveled between SA, UK and the Philippines regularly between 2010 and 2013 and won their Trainer of the year in 2012.

From 2013 Nadine was promoted to the SA International Recruitment manager for London Wellness Academy. Her role requires traveling South Africa, Africa, Mauritius, Madagascar, and recently Asia, to visit wellness colleges to promote the job opportunities with LWA and OneSpaWorld, as well as recruiting qualified staff for our six-star cruise ship spas. 

Unine van Rooyen, the Head of Education for Dermalogica South Africa, has been dedicated to supporting industry professionals in mastering their craft for almost 23 years. Her journey began with a National Baccalaureus Technologiae in Somatology at the Technikon Pretoria, followed by a move to the UK to work as a Skin Therapist for Dermalogica. It was here that she discovered her passion for education, eventually becoming an International Training Specialist.

Returning to South Africa after 11 years with Dermalogica UK, Unine continued to enhance her skills and those of others. She served as a Senior Training Specialist and later as a Corporate Trainer, where she was instrumental in upskilling the education team, refining the curriculum, and introducing online learning. Her dedication to learning and growth led her to obtain certificates from WITS University in teaching with technology, delivering learning, and instructional design, solidifying her expertise in education and training. In 2022, Unine achieved her Advanced Diploma in Dermal Aesthetics, further showcasing her commitment to professional development.