As from 1 January 2007, there will be a new Director for Lifelong Learning Policies: David White. He will join DG Education and Culture from DG Enterprise, where he has been Director for Innovation Policy. White comes from Northern Ireland and holds a degree in Economics and Politics. He started his career in the Government Economic Service in London and continued, since 1974, at the European Commission in Brussels in a number of positions. Among them were Head of the Public Procurement Policy Unit in DG Internal Market, Head of the Legislative Policy Unit in DG Industry, Director for Enterprise Policy and Director for Innovation Policy in DG Enterprise. Over recent months, he has also contributed to the development of the EIT proposal, and was thus with one foot in his new area of responsibility.

The outgoing Director for Lifelong Learning Policies, David Coyne, is on to the Directorate General (DG) for Employment, where he will be responsible for the European Social Fund. A much respected colleague and expert in education policy, David Coyne has made an impressive contribution during his term of office. He will be much missed – both in human and professional terms, and well beyond his Directorate.

ACA wishes both David White and David Coyne every success in their new posts.