There will be two Department for Education regional directors for the south west after a job share arrangement was agreed. Lucy Livings, the current full-time regional director, will job share with Matt Stevenson from October in order to “pursue my other career direction as a psychotherapist”. Stevenson became deputy director for the south west in 2020, and has spent the last few months leading the national team in the regions group. He started his career in policy roles, working with the Treasury and DfE, and later worked in schools, including as an assistant headteacher and vice-principal. He said he was “very excited to be working in the south west again, following a number of months leading a national team”. Livings has been regional director for the region since 2024, and was deputy director for five years before that. Earlier in her career as a civil servant, she worked for the Department of International Development and was seconded to the World Bank. She said she was excited to “be able to both continue to work in the region in a job I love, whilst being able to pursue my other career direction as a psychotherapist”. Director changes This is not the first time the regional director role has been done on a job share basis. Kate Copley and Carol Gray were both regional directors for the East Midlands between 2022 and 2024. Gray continued in the role until 2026, after Copley left in 2024. It comes after a number of changes to the regional director posts. Nigel Minns took over as regional director for the East Midlands in March, after Carol Grey retired. He was previously director of children’s services for Warwickshire Council, and held a national role within the Association of Directors of Children’s Services. Dr Vanessa Ogden, who was previously chief executive of Mulberry Schools Trust, became regional director for London in April. Vicky Beer, the longest serving regional director, retired in April.