My background in education

Free and open access to high quality education for everyone drives my engagement with the education system, both across my career and in the voluntary sector.

Higher education

I have a long-standing history of over two decades’ contact with the Open University, and have studied with them at undergraduate, Masters and doctoral level, worked as a biological and environmental researcher and currently hold the position of Lecturer in Biology and Media Fellow for the STEM faculty.

I teach across all levels of the curriculum on STEM modules that support the Natural Sciences and Health Sciences pathway. My particular areas of interest are accessibility of science education, equity in educational opportunity and the use of a diverse range of novel digital approaches to achieve these aims.

voluntary sector

I have served as a trustee and governor for Eversholt Lower School Academy Trust for 9 years, and during that time I have specialised in long-term strategic planning, Education, Learning and Standards, Safeguarding and Health and Safety. I have a broad knowledge of governance and the Primary and Secondary education sector in the UK, and specialist knowledge of this issues relating to education in small rural schools, and in single and multi-academy trusts.

I have a long history of outreach work, bringing research science and mentoring into the school sector. Over my time at Eversholt, I have helped the school to achieve the Silver Primary Science quality mark by complementing their high quality science teaching with additional outreach activities and clubs.

I am currently a mentor on the 2019-2020 Mentoring Program at Bedford Girls’ School, and have previously taken part in their Lunchtime Lectures series. This supports my interest in encouraging young people to consider the breadth of careers open to them, regardless of gender.

I am a member of The Harpur Trust grants committee.