Stuart Evans Chair Stuart is Assistant Principal 16-18 at SGS College. He holds responsibility for the provision of Study Programmes from Entry Level through to Level 3 with this encompassing Academic, Technical and Vocational pathways across SGS College’s 5 Campuses.
In addition to his role at SGS, Stuart sits on the Post-16 Skills Group for Bristol City Council and also works with South Gloucestershire Council for their Post-16 provision.
As the School Board member linking SGS College with the UTC, Stuart is focused on ensuring that all learners have the opportunity to achieve their potential and that the UTC provides an educational environment in which learners can thrive
Nick Jones Vice Chair Nick is a retired headteacher having lead schools in Bristol and West London. He was principal of the first state funded school in the UK to be sponsored by an overseas organisation and, more locally, was a founding leader at John Cabot City Technology College. He is now an educational consultant working in the UK and overseas.
Nick is the Senior Education Advisor for the Baker Dearing Educational Trust and is heavily involved in supporting young people on the autistic spectrum, especially in projects that allow autistic young people to live independently in the community. He is a ‘hands-on’ craftsman and engineer who enjoys making ‘one-off’ pieces of furniture. Nick lives in Keynsham with his wife and has three grown-up sons.
Dr Abu Alam Local School Board Member I am passionate about my research in Computer Science and about my teaching and demonstrating work. My previous employment has been as a software engineer, a software architect, a research assistant and currently as a senior lecturer. I am currently working at the University of Gloucestershire as an Academic Course Leader in Degree Apprenticeship Cyber Security. My technical skills include several programming languages, development tools and methods. I have solid experience in maintaining information and software security as well as in implementing and updating effective security systems for organisations. I also earned the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science.
I believe my experience in Computer Science and Cyber Security will add value to the Local School Board of SGS Berkeley Green UTC. I look forward to continuing a productive and pragmatic relationship with the school.
Matthew Calder Local School Board Member Matthew is currently a Systems Design Engineer working within the aerospace industry. After gaining an MEng in Aero-Mechanical Engineering, Matthew has held varied positions across the industry working on projects relating to Maintenance Repair & Overhaul, Virtual Reality and Data Science. Now focusing on future programmes, he aims to increase the efficiency of aircraft power and propulsion, specifically through the electrification of such systems.
As an active STEM Ambassador, Matthew seeks opportunities to inspire the next generation of engineers via various outreach activities. He hopes to tap into his local network of STEM Ambassadors to bring evermore collaboration with Industry to Berkeley Green UTC.
Nigel Vaughan Local School Board Member Nigel Vaughan is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
Engineering has been a passion for Nigel since primary school, where his head teacher discovered he had a talent and fascination for electrical circuits and running the school film projector. Over the years he has worked in electronics design, been a Royal Navy engineering officer, managed a factory, undertaken radar systems research and been Chief Engineer for large complex projects.
Since forming, growing and selling a successful engineering science consultancy, he became involved in training systems engineers for a European aerospace company, and is a Trustee of a body that manages a large part of the upper Severn Estuary, including shipping to the port of Sharpness. He joined the School Board of Berkeley Green UTC out of a strong desire to contribute to encouraging young people to get excited about engineering and technology.
Nigel is married, with two sons, lives in Wotton-under-Edge, and enjoys sailing a small wooden yacht and flying a little aeroplane.
Annys Samuel Local School Board Member Annys has vast experience in cyber security and currently works as a Senior Cyber Security Consultant as part of the Cyber Security Consultancy area within the Space, Defence and Intelligence Sector. As a consultant she works directly with public and private sector clients and projects. Areas of specific delivery expertise include operations management including risk management and treatment, governance and compliance, managed services, business continuity; privacy and data protection.
Annys also works across multiple programmes providing specialist knowledge relating to cyber active operations and digital network analysis as well as scenario development for cyber exercises and conducting research for the programmes.
She also has over 10 years’ previous experience as a RAF Intelligence Analyst working to Ministry of Defence (MoD) and wider Government requirements. With particular experience in operations management, legalities and compliance along with being senior analyst and assessor for the UK’s first full scale cyber exercise. Experienced in training and development along with designing and scripting exercising scenarios to evaluate multiple disciplines and levels of training. As an Operations Manager she has previous experience in writing and developing business documentation, including policies and procedures and the implementation of an Information Security Management System (ISMS). As Security Controller, she has a deep understanding of the physical and technical security controls that are required to be compliant with the HMG Security Management Framework (SMF) and experience of implementing and ensuring facility level clearance.
Annys has a real passion for women in technology and helping younger generations engage in STEM subjects. She and regularly gets involved to assist young women as they start to embark on a career in Cyber Security.
Chris Isaac Parent Local School Board Member Chris has a degree in design and another in advertising. He has over 20 years experience running his own communications agency, working with clients around the world and employing young people with degrees and on apprenticeships.
As a STEM ambassador Chris firmly believes that engineering and science hold the key to the future prosperity of young people, as they’re the ones that will design the future. He has held roles as the chair of the creative industries sector group in Gloucestershire, on the board of Festomane and advised on the Made in Britain campaign. Chris now works as a consultant, helping scientists and engineers communicate with the world and is part of the extended science and engineering team for MiT’s Venus Cloud Life Missions.
In his free time, Chris is an astronomer and inventor and can regularly be found with his head in a 3D printer or sharing his passion for space exploration.
Valentina Harbord Parent Local School Board Member Valentina has a degree in Telecommunications Engineering with over 25 years experience in the networks industry. She is a Principal Solution Architect at BT/EE, delivering end-to-end design of innovative mobile services, translating business requirements into technical designs across all domains within the EE network. Her role has made her a subject-expert, sharing knowledge within the company through master classes and acting as ambassador of the architecture team across the wider business.
She believes young people can achieve if they are well motivated and surrounded by an inspiring environment. She is committed to ensure Berkeley Green UTC keeps high standards while crucially maintaining the student’s motivation at their highest.
In her free time, Valentina supports the elderly by hosting tea parties and loves long walks in the country side. She is married, mother of 3, has a dog and two cats.
Lisa Day Clerk to the Local School Board