Sean Johnson

Executive Director, LLB, MBA, GCertEd

Sean Johnson is a founding partner of Applied Inspiration. He has portfolio responsibility for the Advisory Services. He has led the review and transformation projects with a number of universities based on a unique methodology drawing on his expertise in complex problem solving. Sean is an experienced professional with an extensive career in the higher education sector having held both academic and professional leadership positions. Sean is a very dynamic leader and strategist.

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Emma Thomas

Executive Director, LLB, M.Ed (Hons)

Emma Thomas is a founding partner of Applied Inspiration and has leadership responsibility for the Learner Journey portfolio. Emma is an internationally recognised expert in student services program development and delivery focusing on education and community engagement. Emma has worked in the higher education sector in both the United Kingdom and Australia. Emma has significant expertise and a proven track record in the field of program strategy, development and execution. She has a significant record of advocacy for improved practice in the field of widening participation, and is experienced in leading and managing careers and employability portfolios, and developing student experience and success agendas across the student journey (recruitment, success and progression).

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Prof. Chris Gaskell CBE

Advisor, BVSc, PhD

Emeritus Professor Gaskell was formerly the Vice Chancellor of the Royal Agricultural University where he led the transformation of the institution from a College to University status. He has overseen the repositioning of the University into a leading innovative institution for agricultural education, including a bold strategy to develop a number of campus based innovation facilities focusing on agritech.

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Prof. Sir Leslie Ebdon CBE DL

Advisor, BSc, PdhD

Professor Ebdon has been the Director of Fair Access to Higher Education since 1 September 2012 until April 2018. He was previously Vice Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire. That followed an illustrious career in analytical chemistry, including more than 250 publications and several awards. Professor Ebdon obtained his PhD at Imperial College, London, then lectured at Makerere University in Uganda and Sheffield Hallam University, before becoming Reader in Analytical Chemistry at what is now the University of Plymouth. He was promoted to a personal chair in 1986, became Head of Environmental Sciences in 1989 and then, in the same year, Deputy Director. He was promoted to Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) in 1992. He remained in that position until 2003, when he was appointed Vice Chancellor at the University of Luton and became Vice Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire on its creation in 2006. Professor Ebdon was awarded a CBE in 2009 for services to local and national higher education and was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Bedfordshire in 2011. Since 2013 he has been listed as one of Britain’s 500 Most Influential People by Debrett’s and in 2018 recieved a knighthood for his services to higher education.

Dr Nadine Zacharias

Advisor, BBA, GCHE, MBA, PhD

Dr Nadine Zacharias is Senior Research Fellow at the NCSEHE and was an inaugural Equity Fellow in 2016. Nadine’s research interests and expertise are at the intersection of equity research, practice and policy at institutional and national levels. She has led applied research projects in the fields of equity policy and program management, inclusive teaching and learning and gender equity in employment. Nadine was Director, Equity and Diversity at Deakin University from 2011 to 2016 where she led one of the most integrated and effective Equity teams in Australian higher education.

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Prof. Sally Kift

Advisor, PFHEA

Sally Kift is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA), a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law (FAAL) and elected President of the Australian Learning and Teaching Fellows (ALTF). From 2012-2017, she was Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at James Cook University. Prior to commencing at JCU in 2012, Sally was a Professor of Law at Queensland University of Technology, where she also served as Law Faculty Assistant Dean, Teaching & Learning (2001-2006) and QUT’s foundational Director, First Year Experience (2006-2007). Sally is a national Teaching Award winner (2003) and national Program Award winner (2007). She was awarded a Senior Fellowship by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) in 2006 to investigate the first year experience and is currently a Discipline Scholar in Law. In 2017, Sally was awarded an Australian Award for University Teaching Career Achievement Award for her contribution to Australian higher education. Sally is a VC’s Fellow at Victoria University and an Adjunct Professor at JCU, La Trobe University and QUT.

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Jackie Powell

Advisor, Pg.Dip.CG, B.Ed

Jackie has extensive experience in management and leadership across educational sectors, with a focus on developing strategy to support progression to higher education and higher level skills. Particular expertise in the management and implementation of Information, Advice and Guidance to support progression. Qualified teacher, lecturer and careers adviser. Specialties: Educational programme and project planning, management and implementation; staff development and training; partnership and liaison; further and higher education; information, advice and guidance services.

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Zachary Fook

Innovation Manager, BBusMan

Zac provides project management and outcome-centric delivery across advisory and learner journey services, in particular projects relating to innovation and change. Drawing from his experiences in social innovation, entrepreneurship, marketing and NGO development, Zac leverages his technical and people skills to ensure Applied Inspiration over delivers for clients every time.

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Sally Greenwood

Engagement Manager, BAGeo (First)

Sally has six years’ experience managing projects from within the higher education and voluntary sectors. Sally has championed and led educational programs to inspire young people with the employee-volunteering charity York Cares, the University of York and UWE Bristol. These have included student-led initiatives, on-campus and residential activities and mentoring projects. Sally has excellent experience working with university widening participation departments to deliver activities for disadvantaged communities, applying a deep understanding of policy and good practice.

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Eleanor Gordon-Martin

Engagement Co-ordinator, BSc

Ellie has experience working in education, sales and promotion, creating programmes for local schools and educational community initiatives. She has managed a tuition centre where she employed and directed tutors to raise the attainment of students’ Maths and English skills. In the tuition industry, Ellie interacted with parents and community providers to deliver educational presentations and sessions to young people from diverse backgrounds. Ellie engages with our partner institutions to inspire students to progress through and thrive in their educational pathway.

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Kara Minto-Simpson

Engagement Officer, BSc, MSc

Kara proactively engages in the formation and maintenance of partnerships between local and national schools and HE providers with a particular interest and focus on career pathways within the agricultural sector. Kara develops and delivers workshops and educational sessions that inspire future generation to pursue life long learner journeys.

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Dan Blyth

Analyst, BA

Dan brings an extensive background in the analytics and reporting field and possesses a wealth of technical knowledge across a variety of BI platforms. Dan has applied his analytics and reporting skills across a range of businesses – and this wide ranging exposure, across retail, operations, supply chain and others has given Dan all the tools to transform data into rich, actionable insight.

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Lucy Roberts

Admin Assistant and Education Ambassador, BSc

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Nancy Johnson

Administration Manager, BEd (Hons), BEcon, MGT

Nancy Johnson is a former teacher, education researcher, business manager and award-winning food entrepreneur.

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Mikaela Dockrill

Outreach Advisor, BCA, MSW

Over the past 10 years, Mikaela has worked with schools, colleges and the community in Australia to support the education and aspirations of young people from diverse backgrounds. Mikaela finds it an extremely rewarding experience to work with young people and adults from all backgrounds, supporting them to realise their capacity to achieve, grow and keep learning!

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Kate Penney

Academic Developer, BA, MA

Kate is an experienced project manager and educator. She has extensive experience and interest in the relationship between education, training, and career progression and its direct link to the economy and society (and vice versa). She has experience as a Widening Participation Projects Manager, Senior Lecturer and Project Coordinator in the education sector, with a focus on aspiration, enterprise and entrepreneurship, employability and accessing of opportunity. Kate is a strong and passionate advocate for fair access and success in education, flowing through to positive career outcomes.

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