Stephen Crowne is Director, Cisco Global Education. The Global Education team is actively engaged in the work of transforming education systems to meet the needs of 21st century learners, educators, and organizations through an innovative and dynamic approach to thought leadership, country education engagements, and global programs. Stephen is responsible for developing Cisco’s education strategy and plan to help shape next generation teaching and learning and build the capabilities of the Cisco education community.

Stephen joined Cisco in April. Prior to that he was for five years Chief Executive of BECTA, the UK Government Agency charged with promoting technology in learning. He was responsible for advising the government on strategy, driving improvement across the system, establishing value-for-money procurement arrangements and executing innovative programs such as Home Access, which provided computers and connectivity to over 200,000 children in low income families.

Before Becta, Stephen was a senior civil servant on the UK Department for Education, working extensively on strategy and programs to raise school standards, and culminating with a spell as interim Director-General for Schools. In various roles he led on central government intervention in failing local authorities, the development and implementation of the innovative Building Schools for the Future Program, and overall schools funding strategy. He was also the first Chief Executive of FEDA, a body established to provide management development and curriculum support to further education colleges in England.

Stephen has a degree in Modern History from Cambridge University.