Governance

The Developer Academy

Chair of Governors

I was born and grew up in Norfolk. I moved to Sheffield for University and other than a year in London have lived here ever since. I initially trained as a Science Teacher but quickly developed an interest in IT and moved into industry after a year of teaching. I worked mainly with windows infrastructure projects starting with support and development and moved into project, process, and people management. After 10 years I returned to teaching, this time Computer Science specialising in programming and project work. I remained in this role part time alongside work at The Developer Academy until March 2020 when I moved to full time in my role as Director of Education at the Academy. I am now Senior Project Manager at Orchid Orthopedic Solutions.

In time outside of work I maintain my sanity by playing with cars (currently an MGTF) and playing war games / painting miniatures. I enjoy getting into the outdoors either mountaineering / hillwalking or more frequently running around after my children. I volunteer as an Officer with the Army Cadet Force, currently appointed as the County Media Officer. I tinker with electronics, run to keep fit and play golf for fun.

UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park

Principal

University of Sheffield, Professor of Speech and Language Therapy

Vice Chair

I am a Professor of Speech and Language Therapy in the School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sheffield. I am the Professional Lead for Speech and Language Therapy and Director of Innovation. I am a Trustee of the charity Speech and Language UK, co-editor of the journal Child Language Teaching and Therapy and a Fellow of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

I qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist in 1997 and completed a PhD in 2002. Before joining the University of Sheffield, I worked as a clinical Speech and Language Therapist in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire NHS Trust, St Andrews Hospital, Northampton and Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham. I have extensive experience working with children and young people with special educational needs through clinical and research work. I served several terms as Chair of Governors for a non-maintained special school for children with complex communication needs located outside of Sheffield. I continue to chair the School Advisory Board for this school.

My research addresses the needs of children, young people and adults with developmental differences in communication, who grow up in high socio-economic deprivation, are involved in the criminal justice system and experience mental health difficulties from childhood to adult life.

I lead the Small Talk Clinic for pre-school children with developmental differences in their communication. I am also a Registered Intermediary with the Home Office as part of the Vulnerable Witness Scheme. I am a registered member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and the Health and Care Professions Council.

Sheffield City Council, Councillor

Governor

I’m local to Sheffield where I’ve been active in its vibrant skateboarding scene for many years, and in the 1990s I founded The House Skatepark; an indoor skatepark for skateboards, scooters, boots and blades based in Neepsend. We’ve long been at the heart of the skateboarding community, and pride ourselves on being outward looking and providing a place which is nurturing and supportive for children and young people, whatever their background or life experiences.

We continue to work with schools including SEND settings, local authorities, community groups, and youth organisations through our coaching sessions, competitions and outreach, and HAF activities during the holidays for children on free school meals. We’re also proud to have provided a space to learn for young skaters who have made skateboarding their career.

My experiences as owner and manager mean I have developed a broad skill set, from entrepreneurial skills and business management, practical construction skills (I design and build all our ramps and obstacles with my team), to film making and editing, and digital literacies including social media. I sit on the English advisory board of SkateboardGB, providing advice and support to help advance SkateboardGB’s work in boosting grassroots skateboarding around the country and shoring up its professional sporting future.

Since May 2024, I have represented Graves Park ward on Sheffield City Council as the local Labour councillor and appreciate the opportunity to address (and ideally resolve) issues experienced by residents in my ward. I hope that I bring my expertise in working with children and young people in informal education settings, and my own experiences as a parent of children with additional needs, to my position on the Education, Children and Families committee, so was delighted to have the opportunity to take up a role on the UTC’s governing board.

Sheffield Hallam University, Associate Dean, Taught Portfolio and Partnerships, College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences

Governor

I have worked at Sheffield Hallam University since 2003. Over the last 21 years I have held numerous roles including Deputy Head of the School of Sport and Physical Activity, Head of Student Recruitment in the College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences and currently Associate Dean of Taught Portfolio and Partnerships. The Associate Dean role provides strategic leadership of the academic taught portfolio and associated external engagement including developing and sustaining regional, national and international partnerships, to ensure a coherent and integrated approach to maintaining and developing a diverse, efficient and sustainable taught portfolio effectively connecting the University to the needs of business, industry and public organisations at a regional, national and international level.

I hold an MSc in Sport Business Management and an MBA. I have taught across undergraduate and postgraduate courses in both the UK and with partners in Singapore and Hong Kong, specialising in the delivery of sport related marketing, event management, human resource management, leadership, and strategic management modules. During the 18 years I spent within the School of Sport and Physical Activity I held several leadership roles prior to the Deputy Head position including management of international partnerships, UK and global recruitment, marketing, academic and course delivery management. The Deputy Head role required implementation of strategic policy to ensure the highest possible standards of excellence were achieved within the School.

Prior to working at Sheffield Hallam, I gained seven years’ experience in marketing, sponsorship and event management working for a National Governing Body of Sport, professional sport clubs, various event management companies and in a self-employed capacity. Key skills developed through these roles include budget management of national projects, working with a diverse range of clients from local communities through to global brands, management of staff, leadership of projects from creation to completion and management of marketing campaigns.

Bravand, Director / Fresh Meet CIC, Co-Founder

Governor

I was born and raised in Sheffield and went to school, college and university here. Then in 2005 I moved to London and spent 17 (mostly) happy years there before moving back to Sheffield, and bringing the family with me, in 2023.

My background was in Sports Science, and I used to be a Personal Trainer (PT) in health clubs before moving to London. When I relocated, I took a sidestep into Agency Land and have been working in and around the digital / tech sector since then.

In 2012 my wife started a digital agency. I’ve been involved in some way or other since the start, but we’ve been running the business together for about ten years, now. My trade was as a user researcher – listening to people, understanding their needs and pain points. Now I’m more of a salesperson.

It’s fair to say there’s a common, transferrable set of skills that run through being a PT, a user researcher and a salesperson. I’ve always been interested in people, how things work, why things are the way they are, that sort of thing.

As well as our day jobs, we also do a lot of work with young people on careers in our industry. This all comes from a place of wanting to grow and, crucially, diversify our industry’s talent pipeline.

We’re now in the process of starting a Community Interest Company that will house and scale all of our careers education work.

We’ve two young boys and a Labradoodle, so outside of a hectic work schedule, life is full of spending time with the fam.

Milk Education, Senior Onboarding Specialist

Governor

I am a senior compliance professional within the education recruitment industry with strong experience in Learning & Development (L&D), HR and auditing in other sectors such as the Highways Electrical field.

The Sheffield College, Assistant Principal

Governor

NHS, Regional Workforce Lead

Governor

Victoria is a registered general nurse and has held a number of senior roles including Board executive within NHS Trusts. She is currently is the Deputy Director of Nursing for education, workforce and leadership within NHS England’s NEY Regional Team. She has a master’s degree in education and one of her proudest and most humbling professional experience was as a senior nurse involved in the stand up and delivery of the Yorkshire Nightingale Hospital.

Victoria has worked within the regional NHS England team since 2019, with leadership responsibility for setting the regions strategic vision and assurance for workforce, ensuring all NHS providers within North East and Yorkshire region to train, expand, retain and review their clinical staffing. Victoria leads a team which has supported significant expansion and stabilisation of the workforce across Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professional and Support Workers, post covid.

She has overseen a variety of projects which have enabled widening of access to significantly disadvantaged groups within communities who previously struggled to access careers in health and care, and challenged teams to think differently flexibly about education, recruitment and retention of the clinical workforce.

Victoria has led a variety of successful work programmes and is passionate about inclusion, celebrating diversity and challenging inequality. She leads the national #StayAndThrive initiative, aimed at creating the culturally sensitive climates which has won several national awards and international recognition. Leads a supported 12-month work experience placement for young people with LD and Autism. In conjunction with a national charity (Talent Foundry), successfully secured a multimillion pound national grant to set up a nursing internship for young people from areas of low attainment providing support, coaching and mentorship to be able to access University.

The Sheffield College, Assistant Principal: Young People (Curriculum Delivery & Quality)

Governor

Originally from Stafford, I moved to Sheffield in 2008 and have built a career in education spanning 18 years across secondary schools and further education in Leicestershire and Sheffield. After graduating with a BA (Hons) in Sport Studies, I worked in various secondary school roles—including pastoral support, learning support, and cover supervision—focused on improving student behaviour, engagement, and attendance. This foundation led me to complete a PGCE with QTS at Loughborough University, followed by an MSc in Education with a focus on technology.

I subsequently transitioned into Further Education, progressing through teaching, cross-college learning coaching, quality management, and senior leadership. Across these roles, I have specialised in leveraging data analysis, digital transformation, and targeted interventions to drive quality improvement, streamline organisational processes, and enhance student outcomes. Having previously served as Academy Director for Advanced Vehicle, Engineering and Digital Technologies, I have recently stepped into my current role as Assistant Principal for Young People (Quality and Delivery) in June 2026.

Answer Digital, Principal Consultant / Public Health Wales, Technical Architect

Parent Governor

I am a Principal Consultant and Technical Architect with extensive experience designing and delivering modern digital solutions across the public and private sectors. My professional background includes cloud computing, software engineering, data platforms, and digital transformation, with a strong focus on building sustainable, real-world technology solutions.

As a parent governor, I am particularly interested in how education can prepare young people for careers in technology, engineering, and digital industries. I am passionate about ensuring that the curriculum remains relevant to modern workplaces, promotes problem-solving and critical thinking, and supports students from all backgrounds to reach their full potential.

I bring a practical, industry-informed perspective to governance and am committed to supporting the UTC in delivering high-quality technical education, strong employer links, and positive outcomes for students.

Alongside my professional role, I volunteer as a Scout Leader, which provides additional insight into youth development, safeguarding, and supporting young people to build confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills.

UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park

Staff Governor