IACCA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Executive Head Chef, Food Prep and Cookery Trainer
Dave began working in a kitchen at age 15 at The Halfway House in 1998 while still studying at high school. He continued working at the Halfway House until he had completed his studies at college and University. At the age of 23 Dave took his first head chef job at 52 Lark Lane bistro. A year later, he became a Junior sous chef at the then prestigious Alma de Cuba. In the next 7 year with the company, he worked his way up to Head Chef level and eventually Operations Chef to oversee 5 sites. It was here Dave met Marry Karen.
Dave's next move was to the London Carriage Works at Hope Street hotel, he took over the reigns from Paul Askew maintaining 2 AA rosettes for 4 years amongst various other accolades. On 2017 Dave moved to Manchester and took over Artisan and Australasia as Operations Chef for the Living ventures group. Eventually being fully focused on the flagship restaurant Australasia a multimillion-pound Asian themed award-winning restaurant and bar. In 2019, Dave was approached by the team behind Lu Ban and became the Executive Head Chef of Lu Ban Restaurant.
Leading the IACCA management team, Xiaoli is responsible for ensuring that the design and delivery of the curriculum, the physical site and online learning platform and all the support services provide are to a high-quality and enable excellent learner experience. Her main responsibilities also include international business development.
Originally from Beijing China, Xiaoli started her career in Hospitality industry after graduated from university. She then joined one of the world's leading human resource management solutions provider where she managed many high-profile executive level recruitment projects for Fortune 500 multinational companies, private companies, and State-owned enterprises in the Greater China region.
Xiaoli came to the UK in 2003 to study at the University of Manchester and has subsequently worked in the UK's education sector since 2009. She took up International Department Management posts at two further education colleges before starting PAM Education Consultancy Service Ltd with her business partners to concentrate on the design and development of Chinese Culinary Arts Project in the UK.
Xiaoli is an Associate Member of CIPD
She studied English Language for Education Purpose at Beijing Capital Normal University. She competed her MSc in Human Resources Development with distinction in 2004 and achieved her PhD in Development Policy and Management in 2008 both from the University of Manchester. She was a Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Awards (DHPA) holder.
James gained his first senior Head Chef role in 1986 and has been recognised as one of the notable chefs in North West England since then. James has the experience of working in Michelin starred restaurants both at home and abroad. He is also a dedicated chef lecturer who taught at several colleges across the North West England. He is proud of the number of past students who continue to establish successful career within prestigious restaurants and hotels around the UK.
Since 2007, James has been an active Chef in the North West delivering the "Chefs Adopt a School" food education programme to over 10000`s children in over 800 different schools. This initiative introduced children across all ages to recognise healthier choices in food, as well as considering the wonderful hospitality industry as a career choice.
James graduated from the Southport College in Merseyside. He has been a member of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts since 2009.
Job Titles:
- Restaurant Manager, Food and Beverage Service Trainer
Lee is the Head of Curriculum with a responsibility for co-ordination of all learning programmes and a curriculum lead responsibility for identified provision
Lee has a 35-year track record of success in the catering industry. Before a career in teaching Lee was Executive Head Chef for Granada TV, part owned and ran a Michelin rated restaurants in Cheshire and spent almost eight years working in some of London's leading hotels including Claridges, The Ritz and Hilton, Park Lane. After moved to the Culinary Education sector, he has successfully fulfilled his roles as the Nation Chef advisor for the Children's Food Trust and Head of the Hospitality and Culinary Arts at Salford City College and the Executive Head Chef at Huddersfield University.
Lee has helped to write many qualifications within hospitality and Catering for both Pearson and City and Guilds and lead on the level 2 Chefs Diploma for over seven years.
Lee was one of the founder members of the Hospitality and Catering Apprentice route panel members of the Institute for Apprentices advising the UK Department of Education on the development of the new apprentice standards and T level qualifications within Hospitality across the UK.
Lee has completed the master chefs programme in both Pastry and Kitchen at Westminster College London, gained a BSc degree in Food Science and applied Nutrition as well has recently completing a Master's programme at the University of Durham on quality and reliability of assessment.
Lee is a fellow member of the Chef Guild of Britain
Mike works alongside the senior team supporting the academic development. He also serves as the Operations Director of Lu Ban Restaurant Co. Ltd., the training venue of IACCA.
Mike is a professional chef and chef lecturer with over 30 years of work experience. He started him career at 5 Star Hotel Chester Grosvenor, owned by the Duke of Westminster. After quickly achieving his goal to become a Head Chef, he broadened his career vision and moved into Culinary and Further Education where he worked from an innovative forward-thinking lecturer all the way up to the Assistant Principal before he moved back to food industry.
Mike holds multiple accolades for his contribution to tourism and training by trade associations. He was nominated for the prestigious hospitality award of Cateys.
He has created two nationally recognised Hotel Schools for Further Education colleges.
Graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University, The University of Central Lancashire and Lancaster University respectively, Mike is a Director and trustee of hotel school projects and is an Executive Director of the Professional Association of Catering Education.
Robert is an Award-winning chef and chef lecturer. Over the past 20 some years, he has built a successful career both in the catering industry and Culinary Education sector. He was a member of the Senior Management Team at Kendal College overseeing not only the Hospitality Department but Business, Hair, Beauty and Construction departments. During this time the College achieved the highest Ofsted rating of Outstanding placing it in the top 5% of all UK Colleges.
He has just completed a role with the Department of Education working with them developing the new T level standards and now works for an Ofqual accredited Awarding Organisation with qualification awarding powers.
Russ is the Chairman of IACCA Board
Professionally, Russell has been driven to work at the highest levels of sport. He is passionate about supporting students of all ages inside and outside the sports industry to achieve the high performance by providing PAM mentoring programme. He is an advocate of integrating technology into learning and training programmes to make progression effective and efficient. His passion and dedication have witnessed his success in his role at 2016 Premier League Champions Leicester City and as head of the remarkably successful REFA Academy project in Valencia.
In 2012, he co-authored an award-winning learning programme associated with the London Olympic Games.
He is a Founding Partner and the Chairman of PAM Education Consultancy Services Ltd. He also chairs the Board of the Lu Ban Restaurant Company Limited which wholly owns the Lu Ban Restaurant in Liverpool.
Job Titles:
- ESOL Programme Leader
- Master Coach for Personal Development
Sandra has over 20 years of experience in Language training. Over the years, she worked as an Interpreter in English, French, Spanish and Italian whilst teaching young people and adults at two Colleges of Further Education.
After completing a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (Secondary) she taught in a grammar school, a comprehensive school and completed her teaching career as Assistant Headteacher, Head of English, Modern Languages and Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCO).
Sandra believes "Anyone can learn to speak another language we just have to teach them the right way"
Over the years, she has achieved the following qualifications
Sandra is also a qualified Master Coach for Personal Development, Executive Leadership, Teaching and Learning with Accelerated Learning.
Job Titles:
- Head Chef, Food Prep and Cookery Trainer