Reza Schwitzer is Head of External Affairs at AQA, which sets and marks over half of all GCSEs and A-levels taken in the UK every year. His role covers AQA's policy, public affairs and media teams. In his previous job Reza was Associate Director in the Education Practice at Public First, a policy consultancy and public affairs agency. Here he supported clients in navigating public policy, including running polling and focus groups. He has written extensively on education policy and government affairs, for The Times, The i, FE Week, Schools Week, Wonkhe and others. Before that, Reza spent eight years as a civil servant, the majority in the DfE. As well as working on Children's Social Care and school funding, he also spent time in the department's Delivery Unit, where he reported to the Secretary of State directly on the progress of his top priorities.