Ann Mroz, OBE, is a highly experienced professional with strong connections in government and politics, higher education and schools. She was responsible for re-engineering the Times Higher Education World University Rankings as an academic tool and has a vast amount of knowledge of and connections to the UKs education system from early years to university.
Ann’s experience includes working as Editor and Digital Publishing Director for Tes (formerly the Times Education Supplement) between 2013 and 2021; Editor and Digital Publishing Director at Tes between 2012 and 20-13; and Editor at Times Higher Education between 2008 and 2012.
At Tes, her role saw her managing, overseeing and hosting three large annual events of up to 1,200 people at the Grosvenor House Hotel: Tes Schools Awards, Tes FE Awards and Tes Independent School Awards. These are regularly attended by the great and good of the education sector, including the Secretary of State for Education, other politicians, and Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools.
On starting work at Tes, it was a purely print publication. Part of Ann’s role was to establish and maintain a digital presence, first with an app and a blogging platform, then launch the news website in 2016. It is now the biggest education news site in the UK, with more than 100,000 views a day. This has increased its reach massively and is now the first port of call for anyone, especially politicians, wanting to speak directly to teachers.
Ann is also an experienced and highly regarded Trustee, holding positions with Shine, an education charity serving underprivileged children in the North of England; the Institute for Research in Schools (IRIS), a charity developing opportunities for secondary students and post-16 students from all backgrounds; the Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), a group of 57 schools, many of which serve very disadvantaged communities; and the Reach Foundation, which focuses on cradle-to-career free schooling and achieves excellent results in very deprived communities. She also sits on the Advisory Boards of Princeton University Press (Europe); the Sutton Trust; the Education Endowment Foundation; the Education Policy Institute; and on the Advisory Board of the Children’s Commissioner.
Ann was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year Honours List 2021 for services to education.