Rooted in the UK and supported by the wider AKG Group, the team works in close partnership with commissioners, employers, partners and local delivery teams to ensure we meet the needs of jobseekers, learners and communities across the country.
Meet the team
With experience spanning employment, education, health, justice, and community development, our leaders bring both strategic insight and practical understanding to the work we do.
Driving purpose, delivering impact.
They guide the organisation with a focus on quality, collaboration, and measurable outcomes, ensuring that our services are responsive, inclusive, and built around the people who use them.
Leadership team
Ayden Sims is CEO and Country Leader of AKG UK, overseeing the organisation’s development, strategy, and impact. With over a decade of experience in the employability and welfare-to-work sector, Ayden began in frontline roles supporting unemployed disabled people and veterans before moving into strategic leadership. He joined AKG from Maximus UK, as Contract Director he played a key role in securing and delivering the Restart Scheme across South and East London, and South and West Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. A former RAF pilot, medically discharged in 2007, Ayden draws on personal experience to champion inclusive employment. He is a Fellow and Board Member of the Institute of Employability Professionals, committed to shaping the sector’s future and promoting diverse career pathways. Outside of work, Ayden is a family man and outdoors enthusiast who enjoys running, kayaking, and climbing.
Drew Smith is a confident and accomplished Senior Director with over a decade of operational leadership in employability and skills. As Director of Operations at AKG UK, Drew brings a proven track record from senior roles at Jobs 22, Seetec Pluss, Maximus UK, and Remploy. He has led large-scale contracts including Restart and Work & Health, across regions from South-West England to East Central UK. Known for building high-performing teams with a winning mindset, Drew leads with professionalism, agility, and trust. His people-first approach inspires accountability and delivers tangible results for individuals, employers, and communities across the UK.
Heidi Fish is a strategic, values-driven leader with a strong track record in operational delivery, service transformation, and cross-sector partnership working. With deep experience across the employability and health sectors, she specialises in supporting individuals with complex needs. At AKG Health, Heidi leads with purpose and clarity, ensuring that services deliver real, measurable impact for the people we help. Passionate about creating lasting change, she empowers individuals and teams to grow and thrive. Heidi believes that, with the right support, everyone can unlock their potential. She excels in mission-led environments where people and outcomes are equally valued.
Debbie is incredibly proud and humbled to have been included on Her Majesty the Queen’s 2018 New Year Honours list; recognised with an MBE for Services to Apprenticeships and Charity. In the same year she won the East of England IoD Non-Executive Director (NED) of the Year Award for her work on the AELP Board.
Debbie started her career in training and development at Sainsbury’s in 1990, before moving to Qube Learning in 2000 where she held several operational/quality management roles. Debbie was appointed Managing Director in 2006, promoted to CEO in 2010 where she led the company through significant growth and change, retaining an Ofsted GOOD grade 2 and Matrix, whilst achieving consistently high employer and learner satisfaction levels.
Debbie started her career in training and development at Sainsbury’s in 1990, before moving to Qube Learning in 2000 where she held several operational/quality management roles. Debbie was appointed Managing Director in 2006, promoted to CEO in 2010 where she led the company through significant growth and change, retaining an Ofsted GOOD grade 2 and Matrix, whilst achieving consistently high employer and learner satisfaction levels.
Debbie went on to spend five years working with a range of training providers and end point assessment organisations, mainly in NED / governance roles, which included the start of her journey with AKG Learning.
Peter Bentley is the Managing Director of Intuitive Thinking Skills and oversees and champions their vision of empowering individuals through effective, peer-led training and support. Peter believes that independence from lifelong support is a fundamental human goal and leads a team committed to delivering high-quality programmes that foster confidence, inclusion, and resilience. With a deep focus on innovation and impact, he champions collaborative partnerships and person-centred approaches to support vulnerable people across the UK. Under Peter’s leadership, Intuitive Thinking Skills continues to make a lasting difference in the lives of those facing challenges related to health, justice, and social exclusion.
As Director of IT, Ian owns and delivers AKG UK’s IT strategy, ensuring our technology supports a connected experience for employees and helps us deliver the best possible service for our audiences.
Ian is a specialist in information security, cloud first strategy, IT outsourcing and supply chain management. With more than 20 years IT leadership experience in the third sector working for leading training companies, charities and employability businesses, Ian is an effective communicator skilled in translating boardroom strategies into deliverables that benefit the entire business.
Laura Gibbon joined AKG UK in 2024 as HR Director and plays a key role on the Business Leadership Team. She leads the organisation’s People Strategy, overseeing Human Resources, Learning and Development, Employee Wellbeing, and Compensation and Reward. With over 20 years of experience and a CIPD Level 7 qualification, Laura brings deep expertise in organisational development, change management, employee relations, and TUPE. She is a trusted advisor to senior leaders and a driving force behind strategic HR initiatives. Laura is passionate about supporting individuals and ensuring AKG fosters a positive, inclusive, and growth-focused working environment.
Devin Ward leads the financial strategy, governance, and risk management for AKG UK, ensuring the organisation’s long-term sustainability in a dynamic, multi-stakeholder environment. With extensive experience in financial leadership, Devin brings a sharp focus on delivering value and driving meaningful change for both partners and communities. A strong advocate for mentorship, Devin creates an environment where individuals are supported, challenged, and empowered to thrive, ensuring that finance planning plays a proactive role in achieving AKG’s mission.
Lisa Nixon is a senior leader specialising in employer engagement and workforce strategy. At AKG UK, she leads the Employer Services function, developing partnerships that connect employers with practical solutions around recruitment, retention, upskilling, and wellbeing.
Lisa brings broad experience across education, employability, and community programmes, having worked with a range of funding streams including Study Programmes and Adult Skills. Before joining AKG, she held senior roles focused on skills development; collaborating with employers to design pathways to employment and deliver initiatives with measurable impact.
Her background spans employer engagement, skills, and collaborative project delivery. Passionate about creating lasting change, Lisa builds strong relationships that help people move into meaningful work and support businesses to grow inclusive, future-ready teams.
As AKG’s Business Improvement Director Ben sets the direction for a high performing and collaborative team instrumental to shaping our participants’ experience and delivering maximum impact for both our commissioners and communities.
Ben is a talented strategic operations lead with varied experience in both private and not-for-profit organisations. Throughout his career, Ben has championed supporting people to find their purpose through employment, helping them to access new skills and achieve happier lives. Whether that’s through his work delivering strategy for the Prince’s Trust strengthening the provision and support available to disadvantaged young people or helping school leavers discover their future through developing Catch22’s National College.
Zack Haider joined Intuitive Thinking Skills in 2007, and in his remit as Community Development Director, he plays a key role in shaping programmes that empower individuals to lead independent, fulfilling lives. With a deep belief in each person’s potential for change, Zack works closely with clients and communities to design responsive, relationship-driven support. His work spans areas including addiction recovery, employment readiness, and life skills development. Passionate about community engagement, Zack ensures that every programme reflects the real needs of those it serves. His leadership continues to drive meaningful, person-centred outcomes in vulnerable communities.
Victor Stephenson-Henshaw is the Continuous Improvement Director at AKG Learning, bringing more than a decade of leadership in education, training, and operational strategy to the role. His expertise spans MIS, compliance, IT, contracts, and corporate services. Since joining the business in 2018, Victor has held senior roles including MI & Contracts Director, leading digital transformation, data systems, and funding compliance. He previously held key roles at Urban Futures London and Haringey Education Business Partnership. Known for his hands-on, people-focused approach, Victor is dedicated to driving quality, innovation, and measurable outcomes. His work supports AKG’s mission to deliver inclusive, high-impact learning that empowers individuals and strengthens communities.
AKG Board of Directors
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Joseph Carrozzi, AM
Chair of the Board
Joseph Carrozzi, AM, BComm/LLB Barrister, MAICD is an experienced board chair and business leader. He was the Managing Partner for the Sydney Practice of PwC until March 2021, an office with over 3,500 professionals. He has practised in the areas of taxation, infrastructure/precincts and public policy.
Joseph has a long-standing commitment to serving not-for-profit boards for organisations which are focused on making an impact in the community. Mr Carrozzi was awarded an Order of Australia for his ‘significant service to business, and to the community through multicultural and not-for-profit organisations.’ His current boards include:
- Chair of the Centenary Institute for Medical Research
- Chair of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
- Deputy Chair of the NSW Institute of Sport
- Board member of Western Sydney University
- Board member of Football Australia
Joseph is also the Chair of HealthCo (ASX:HCW), a listed healthcare and wellness Real Estate Investment Trust as well as an advisor to a number of businesses and entrepreneurs in the infrastructure and services sectors.
Peter Shergold, AC
Independent Director
Prof. Peter Shergold, AC was an academic historian at UNSW for 16 years. He then became a senior executive in the Australian Public Service for 20 years, including stints as Secretary of the Employment and Education Departments. For five years he was Australia’s most senior public servant as Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
After 12 years as Chancellor of Western Sydney University, he now serves as Chair of a number of private, public and not-for-profit organisations.
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Rachel Grimes, AM
Independent Director
Rachel has more than 30 years’ experience in the financial services sector holding senior executive roles at Westpac and Challenger.
Rachel’s non-executive Director roles include HUB24, Australian Payments Plus, Digital Finance CRC, Loreto Ministries Limited and she is a Member of the Financial Reporting Council.
Rachel is passionate about the Accounting profession and was a former President of Chartered Accountants (2011) and the International Federation of Accountants (2016-2018). Rachel is also a Director on the Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board.
Rachel was made a Member in the Order of Australia for her services to business in the accountancy profession, and to professional associations.
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Duncan Angus
Executive Director and Founder
Duncan entered the hospitality industry in 1985, serving in a number of managerial capacities and later focusing on recruitment services to the industry.
In 1991, Peter Knight and Duncan founded Angus Knight as a training services company that successfully expanded operations throughout Australia, delivering training programs in every State.
As Executive Director, Duncan focuses his efforts on the AKG’s broader growth agenda. Duncan’s vision has always been to assist people and organisations in developing their full potential through ‘lifelong learning’.
Help us build solutions that work
Our team is always exploring new ideas and opportunities to build meaningful solutions with real impact. We work best co-designing with employers, local stakeholders and people with lived experience. Connect with us to explore how we can work together for change.
