Iris Flaum’s current role is Head of Funding Policy with the Skills Funding Agency, based in Coventry. Her policy responsibilities include offender learning and skills (OLASS) and provision for the unemployed and involve close links with BIS, the National Offender Management Service and Jobcentre Plus. She has always enjoyed the challenge of trying to help increase educational opportunity for adults and young people.

During her career she has worked in several further education colleges in the West Midlands. She was seconded to the Further Education Funding Council in 2000. From 2001 to 2011 she worked for the Birmingham and Solihull Learning and Skills Council, then as a partnership director for the Skills Funding Agency. In these roles she led teams working on funding and planning with colleges and training organisations, and on development projects with local authorities and the voluntary and community sector.