Cambridge University Press & Assessment names Jane Mann as first Chief Education Officer

The new Executive Board role will focus on education innovation, AI in learning, assessment and research across Cambridge University Press & Assessment.

Cambridge University Press & Assessment has appointed Jane Mann as its first Chief Education Officer, creating a new senior role focused on education innovation, research, impact, AI in education and the future of assessment.

Mann will take up the role on August 1, 2026, and will join the Executive Board at Cambridge University Press & Assessment. The global education and assessment organization said she will lead its insights and engagement across areas including AI in learning and evaluation, the future of assessment and the effectiveness of different education system approaches.

The appointment builds on Mann’s current work as Managing Director of Partnership for Education and Education Director of Cambridge’s International Education Group. Cambridge said she has led strategic partnerships and products over the past ten years, including the HP Cambridge Partnership for Education EdTech Fellowship and the UNICEF Learning Passport.

Mann said in a LinkedIn post that moving into the new role means handing over leadership of Cambridge Partnership for Education, which she helped found and has led as its only Managing Director. She said the Partnership “now needs its second ever Managing Director,” with an application link shared in the post.

Role covers AI, assessment and education systems

Cambridge said Mann will lead work in areas including AI in learning and evaluation, the future of assessment and evidence on the effectiveness and impact of different approaches to education systems.

In her LinkedIn post, Mann wrote that Cambridge sits “at the rare intersection of curriculum, assessment, professional development, research, publishing and technology.”

She added: “This new role will draw on all of that, leading our work in education innovation and research at a time when evidence and understanding of what works matter more than ever. I'll be focusing on areas like AI in learning and evaluation, the future of assessment, and the effectiveness and impact of different approaches to education systems. I couldn't be more excited.”

Mann has worked in education for nearly three decades, including system-level change and improvement programs across different contexts. She has worked with ministries of education, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, donor agencies and education organizations.

Her current work includes responsibility for the Education Futures directorate, the Cambridge Research Division and Cambridge Mathematics, with a remit covering research, data science, AI, impact and strategic partnerships.

Peter Phillips, Chief Executive, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, said: “Jane will lead Cambridge’s voice in the global education debate at a time of change. Just as education and the way it is delivered is evolving, what learners and teachers need is evolving rapidly too. That makes it more vital than ever for Cambridge to engage right across global education, drawing on our deep research and implementation expertise and advocating ways to achieve better outcomes for everyone we exist to serve.”