With a deep passion for and commitment to improving social mobility and reducing barriers for young people to access quality education, Anna has spent many years living and working overseas and in global roles in education and leadership with the British Council before joining Education Development Trust as an executive director. Anna is also a trustee in a global education charity and volunteers with a local community group. Anna earned a degree in Politics and International Relations at University of Southampton, and a master’s degree from Aston University.

Emily is Director of Delivery at The Access Project. Previously she worked on setting up National Citizenship Service programmes for Twin Group and The Challenge. She has a degree in English Literature and Politics from the University of Liverpool.

Tom is Head of Strategy and Insights at The Access Project. Tom has an MA in Educational Leadership from the University of Manchester, and comes to us from IntoUniversity where he led the team at their centre in Bow, East London.

Jennifer is the Policy and Safeguarding Manager and Child Protection Officer. She previously taught English as a foreign language in Vietnam, and was a manager in a centre of a tuition company. She is also a Volunteer Childline Counsellor. Jennifer has a degree in History from the University of Manchester and an MSc in Psychology from the University of Derby.

Natasha is the Head of CRM Systems, responsible for developing and maintaining The Access Project systems. Natasha has previously worked within Sales Operations in the private sector, predominantly developing Salesforce orgs. She holds the Salesforce Administrator certification, alongside a Level 3 CMI approved Leadership and Management apprenticeship. Natasha also holds a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Birmingham.

Tom is the Senior Data and Insight Coordinator at The Access Project. Before joining The Access Project, Tom did a PhD in philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh. During his time as a graduate student he was involved in a number of mentoring programmes, and took part in a campaign with the United Steelworkers to unionise graduate students at the University of Pittsburgh. He also holds an MA in language and cognition from King’s College London, and a BA in philosophy from the University of Warwick.

Rubinder is our Head of Online Tuition at The Access Project. In her previous role, Rubinder acted as a leadership coach and mentor for qualifying and newly qualified teachers. Rubinder holds a PGCE in Mathematics from the University of Nottingham and obtained a degree in Economics and Management from Aston University.

Susanna is our Senior Tuition and Events Officer. Before joining The Access Project, Susanna achieved a BA in British Sign Language and Educational Linguistics at York St. John University. She is currently continuing her studies, undertaking a part-time Masters of Research in Applied Linguistics. Her research interests cover language and policy, specifically within the context of British Sign Language as a linguistic minority. Her previous roles include youth work and acting as a teaching assistant on supply. She also has experience working in the charity sector and volunteers on multiple university committees. In her spare time, Susanna enjoys knitting and collecting vintage novels.

Victoria is Data Coordinator at The Access Project. Before joining The Access Project Victoria worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Germany. She holds a DPhil in Physical and Theoretical Chemistry from the University of Oxford and a MSci in Chemistry with Molecular Physics from Imperial College London.

Lynne is Senior Operations Coordinator, providing finance, HR and office support. She has worked for a variety of organisations in HR & training roles and also spent four years tutoring adult learners in IT and office admin skills.

Sarah is the Head of People at The Access Project and is working with the team to design, develop and implement our people strategy. Sarah originally studied for a BA Honours in Classics at the University of Swansea and moved into HR with a Postgraduate Diploma from the University of the West of England. Sarah’s wide ranging experience has been built up from working in generalist HR Management roles at customer service organisations and professional services. Sarah has a young family and volunteers as a primary school governor, CIPD Steps Ahead mentor and is a Tutor with us.

Emily is the Senior Operations Co-ordinator at The Access Project. She helps keep things running smoothly behind the scenes, helping out with recruitment, staff on-boarding, off-boarding and general operations. She has a Degree in Business Management from the University of Surrey and is currently setting up her own fashion company! Emily was awarded the Overall Contribution to the Business School on Graduation Day, and did the first ever Graduate speech at University of Surrey.

Claire is Senior Salesforce Coordinator at The Access Project. She has previously worked in Administration roles across various sectors, including in the NHS and closely with the MoD, Police, SAR and Fire Services. She is currently pursuing her Salesforce Admin Certification, with hopes to earn the Advanced Admin and Developer Certifications in the future.

Therri is Head of Corporate Partnerships at The Access Project. She is passionate about creating mutually beneficial partnerships between charities and businesses. Prior to joining the fundraising team, Therri worked at the education charity, Young Citizens, for seven years. Here she was responsible for developing and delivering their corporate partnerships strategy. Therri has a degree in Mathematics from the University of Bristol.

Alison is our Corporate Partnerships Manager. She develops and maintains partnerships with companies to secure income for the organisation, and engages corporate staff to support young people through volunteering. Prior to joining the Partnerships team, Alison has had a variety of experience in frontline retail sales roles and most recently was a key member of the buying team for the charity PDSA, during which she gained experience of building effective internal and external relationships in order to drive the income of the bought-in new goods range. Alison has a BA in History with History of Art & Design from the University of Wolverhampton.

Melanie is our Communications Manager. Melanie has worked in the voluntary sector for over 20 years, spending most of this time working for charities supporting children and young people, including Girlguiding and Coram Voice. Melanie’s background is in communications and marketing, and she’s never happier than when writing copy and telling stories. Melanie has a BA in English from Southampton University and enjoys creative writing, performing and singing in her spare time.

Claire is Senior University Partnerships Manager at The Access Project. She was previously a teacher and Head of Languages at schools in London and Manchester. Prior to this she worked as an International Officer at various universities, including SOAS and University College London. Claire has a degree in Modern Languages (Chinese and French) from Newcastle University.

Abi is the Sales and Partnerships Senior Coordinator at The Access Project. They work across our fundraising streams and are responsible for the organisation’s individual giving programme. Abi has a MSc in Gender and Sexuality Studies from LSE, and a BA in History from the University of Cambridge. At university, Abi developed a strong passion for social justice and took part in a mentoring programme for offer-holding students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Oliver is our Digital Communications Officer, responsible for content creation, copywriting, and operating digital channels. Oliver is enthusiastic about liberation and advocacy campaigning, previously working in communications at a students’ union and as LGBT+ reporter at his local newspaper.

Joe is our Senior Trusts and Major Donors Manager. His background is in international development in which he worked on access to education and health programmes, leveraging investment from The World Bank, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, USAID and European Union across South Sudan, Sudan, Lesotho and the Horn of Africa. Joe has been associated with The Access Project since October 2022, originally as a consultant supporting research for our corporate income stream, and interim cover for university partnerships before being appointed to his current role. Joe holds an MA (Hons) in Modern History from The University of St Andrews and a Post Graduate Diploma in Vocal Studies from the Royal College of Music.

Previously Dan worked as Education Operations Manager for Business in the Community before working as a History and Government and Politics teacher. He taught for 7 years at Drapers’ Academy in Havering before spending 4 years as a Houseparent in a state boarding school in Surrey. Dan has an Undergraduate degree in Archaeology and a Postgraduate degree in Heritage Education and Interpretation from the University of Newcastle.

Liz is our Head of Corporate Partnerships (maternity cover) at the Access Project. She has many years of experience building mutually beneficial partnerships between the corporate and charity sectors. Prior to joining The Access Project, Liz worked for English Heritage and War Child UK developing award winning partnerships. Liz has also put her entrepreneur skills to the test building her own business whilst raising her young daughters. 

Rachel is the Deputy Programme Director at The Access Project.​ Prior to this, Rachel was Senior Programme Manager (non-London).​ Rachel’s former career was as an English teacher for 13 years. During that time she was Achievement Leader for Year 11 and completed the NCSL Leadership Pathways qualification. Rachel holds a PGCE in English from the University of Nottingham and obtained a degree in Literature, Life and Thought from Liverpool John Moores University.

Amy is a Senior University Access Officer at The Access Project. Amy has a BA in Politics with International Relations from the University of York, and recently completed an MA in Applied Human Rights. She previously volunteered as a Mentor at Refugee Action York, supporting her mentee through the University application process. In past jobs, she has led volunteers to deliver human rights workshops in schools and has worked on a project at the University of York on access to university and scholarships for people seeking asylum. Amy has also worked with organisations such as the York Human Rights City Network and the York Poverty Truth Commission as a researcher.

Will is a North Programme Manager at The Access Project. His previous roles include time spent as a part time volunteer tutor for a refugee charity, as well as a placement in Kenya where he delivered a series of social mobility programmes. Most recently he worked for international young person’s education charity Never Such Innocence, managing the organisation’s international education programme and creative arts competition that invited young people to reflect on conflict. Will holds a degree in Human Geography from Manchester Metropolitan University.

Ellie is the University Events and Student Enrichment Manager at the Access Project. Previously, she worked in an Addiction Charity, working with young people suffering from parental substance misue. Ellie studied International Relations and Politics at the University of Sheffield, and has a Masters Degree in Middle East Politics from SOAS.

Farena is a Senior University Access Officer based in West Yorkshire. Farena completed her Combined Honours degree in Archaeology and Sociology from the University of Liverpool. After that she was awarded a museum traineeship at Bradford Museums and Galleries. As part of her traineeship, Farena completed her Masters in Art Gallery and Museum Studies at the University of Manchester. She continued her career in museums as an Education Assistant at Harrogate Museums and Arts. After a career break, Farena retrained as a primary school teacher and has worked in various Bradford schools. In her spare time Farena enjoys writing and illustrating children’s books.

Parvathi Sajiv is a University Access Officer in the East Midlands. Parvathi has a BA in Mass Communication with a specialisation in Journalism, from Symbiosis International University, India, and recently completed an MSc in Psychology from the University of Nottingham. She previously worked in an early-stage ed-tech startup focused on making business education more accessible to individuals. In the past year, she worked as a Listening Volunteer with a focus on academic stress, and relationships. Additionally, she also worked as a research assistant at the University of Nottingham on online dating and relationships.

Susanna is our Senior Tuition and Events Officer. Before joining The Access Project, Susanna achieved a BA in British Sign Language and Educational Linguistics at York St. John University. She is currently continuing her studies, undertaking a part-time Masters of Research in Applied Linguistics. Her research interests cover language and policy, specifically within the context of British Sign Language as a linguistic minority. Her previous roles include youth work and acting as a teaching assistant on supply. She also has experience working in the charity sector and volunteers on multiple university committees. In her spare time, Susanna enjoys knitting and collecting vintage novels.

Penelope is Senior Programme Manager and Strategic Projects at The Access Project. Before joining TAP she was a teacher working in a variety of schools across Birmingham, many in challenging circumstances acting as a strong advocate for the students and their families. She has an undergraduate degree in music from the University of York and a postgraduate qualification from University of Reading.

Sophie is a University Access Officer based in London. Before joining The Access Project, Sophie worked as a tutor in both English and Maths. At University, Sophie was heavily involved with access and outreach work. She worked closely with prospective students in school visits and interview workshops, and helped to develop key resources such as an Alternative Prospectus. She has a degree in Theology and Religion from the University of Oxford.

Safia is a Senior University Access Officer based in the West Midlands. Before joining The Access Project, Safia worked in the pastoral department of a Sixth Form College, supporting a caseload of 150 students to achieve their goals by holding meetings, assisting with UCAS applications, and delivering tutorials centered around personal development. Prior to this, Safia’s previous roles include volunteering as a sex education workshop facilitator for Sexpression and as a mental health worker in India. Safia holds a BSc in Psychology in Education from the University of York.

Siobhan is a Senior University Access Officer. Prior to joining The Access Project, Siobhan worked in various roles in the Charity and Higher Education sectors including for the British Heart Foundation and the University of Warwick. She is committed to supporting widening participation and reducing social inequality and has volunteered for a Youth Charity that provides holistic support to disadvantaged teenagers. She holds a First-Class degree in English Literature.

Gracie is a University Access Officer in two schools in London. She has a BA in History and Politics from Durham University and an MA in Iranian Studies from SOAS, University of London. She has previously worked in Diversity and Inclusion and in tutoring.

Chloe is the Senior Programme Officer for University Events and Online Tuition. Before joining The Access Project, Chloe went to Cardiff University to study Sociology at Undergraduate degree for 3 years, then moved to London to study Social Research at Masters level where she wrote her research dissertation on the changing educational landscape during the COVID-19 pandemic and how this impacted young people from different socio-economic backgrounds. She used to be an assistant manager of a tuition centre in East London, and before this was an English and Maths tutor.

Claire is a University Access Officer at The Access Project. Previously Claire has worked as an English Teacher in Thailand and on climate change policy and pre-employment programmes in Local Government. Claire has a degree in Geography from the University of Manchester.

Darrielle is a University Access Officer based in the West Midlands. They have an undergraduate degree in Classical Studies and Theology from Exeter University, and a masters degree in Creative Writing from Warwick University. Previously, Darrielle has worked as an Academic Mentor in Schools and Colleges across Birmingham supporting students in the Humanities and English.

Ellie is a University Access Officer for Workington and Whitehaven and Programme Team Diversity & Inclusion Lead. Before joining the Access Project, Ellie has recently completed a Master’s in Sustainability Studies from the University of York and a degree in Politics from Newcastle University. After graduating from Newcastle University, Ellie was selected for the Teach First Programme in the North East. Elsewhere, Ellie has taken part in volunteering with local Environmental charities in Middlesbrough that aimed to connect young people between 11-24 in the local environment.

James is a University Access Officer based in the West Midlands. Before joining The Access Project, James worked as an academic assistant in schools. He directly aided students applying to study History at top UK universities as well as providing additional academic support in for sixth form students. James has also volunteered extensively with youth organisations across his local community. James holds both a Master’s and a Bachelors degree in History from the University of Oxford. 

Clare is a University Access Officer in the East Midlands. She has worked as a teacher and translator in France, Ecuador, Spain, Indonesia, Finland and the UK. She is also a trained Mindfulness Instructor. Recently she has volunteered at Nottingham Refugee Forum. Clare holds a degree in French and International Relations from the University of Reading.

Eshika is a University Access Officer based in the West Midlands. Before joining The Access Project, she worked in the Careers & Placements department at Aston University, where she supported and guided undergraduate students with career development. She is committed to ensuring young people are inspired and equipped with the necessary skills and competencies to fulfill their career aspirations. Eshika also obtained her 2:1 honours degree in BSc Neuroscience from Aston University.

Georgie is a Senior University Access Officer for The Access Project. Her previous roles include teaching English as a second language in Hong Kong and working for an awarding organisation dedicated to creating Access to HE courses in North West England. Georgie holds a degree in Art History & Visual Culture and Drama from the University of Exeter.

Ruby is a London Programme Manager at The Access Project. She has previously held delivery and project management roles in education charities. She has a degree in English and French from the University of Leeds, and in her spare time likes to read menus of restaurants she may or may not go to.

Sophia is Head of Programme Development and Quality at The Access Project. Her previous roles have included developing Peer Assisted Learning and academic writing programmes for undergraduate students. She has a degree in English Language and Communication from Kingston University.

Before joining The Access Project, Freya worked as a Strategic Insight Officer at the British Red Cross, researching across a range of issues including health inequalities and refugee rights. She has experience working with young people in a variety of contexts, from providing volunteer casework to unaccompanied refugees at Young Roots, to offering creative writing mentoring for children through the Ministry of Stories. Freya now works as Senior Programme Officer at The Access Project. Freya holds a BA in History from Durham University and is currently studying for an MA in Education, Policy and Society at King’s College London.

Chloe is the Programme Development Manager at The Access Project. Chloe read English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford, where she was involved with various university outreach initiatives. She then taught English as a foreign language in Madrid, Spain, while working on the StudyStream platform at Knowledge Collective. Chloe went on to study for a Master’s in Education Policy and Analysis at Harvard University as a Frank Knox Memorial Fellow.

Michaela is the Volunteering Experience Manager at The Access Project. She has previously worked in a similar role for a charity helping young offenders to resettle in the community upon release from prison and ultimately reduce re-offending. Michaela has a BSc in Criminology and Sociology from Royal Holloway University of London.

Harry is the Head of Volunteer Recruitment at The Access Project. He leads on recruiting volunteers, so we can continue to provide young people with our highly impactful tutoring. Prior to joining The Access Project, Harry spent a number of years working within the charity sector in roles focused on volunteer management, international volunteering and community development. He has joined us from Student Hubs, where he developed an approach to embedding volunteering within different academic courses at Kingston University. He has specialised in widening participation and reducing barriers to engagement for volunteers from disadvantaged backgrounds. Harry has a BSc in Psychology from the University of Greenwich, and started his career as an elected officer with Greenwich Union of Students.

Pip is a Volunteer Coordinator at The Access Project. Her experience includes working as an NCS facilitator and as a social media coordinator. She has held multiple volunteer roles, including work as a Greenpeace speaker to provide solution-based action on the climate crisis to young people across the UK. Pip holds a degree in English from the University of Exeter.

Sarah is our Volunteering Experience Coordinator at The Access Project. She previously worked as an employment screening coordinator and is excited to bring her skills into the charity sector. Sarah holds a BA in The History of Art from the University of Sussex.

Sophia is one of the Volunteer Experience Coordinators. Her previous experience has included working in an educational and capacity-building charity in Cusco in Peru and volunteering in a refugee camp in the island of Lesbos in Greece. She studied her undergraduate in Spanish and German at Durham University.

Nick is the Volunteer and Tutor Recruitment Coordinator at The Access Project. His previous experience includes delivering tuition programmes for under-resourced students in FE, and teaching English as a second language in Vietnam. He has a degree in English Language and Literature from St. Anne’s College, University of Oxford.

Beth is Group Tuition Manager at The Access Project. She is a CharityWorks fellow, having completed a placement at an education and training charity in London. Beth has a BA in Politics and International Relations and a master’s degree in Politics and Contemporary History, both from the University of Nottingham.

Najibah is Group Tuition Coordinator at The Access Project. She has a background in multidisciplinary tuition (KS1 – undergraduate). Her previous roles include Management & Community Intern at British Land and MFL Teaching Intern at United Teaching. As a former student on The Access Project programme and a tutor herself, Najibah is inspired to champion and support The Access Project’s group tuition pilot.

John is the Chair of the Board of Trustees. John is a retired partner and COO of Independent Franchise Partners, LLP, and a non-executive director of a number of companies. With a background in asset management and banking in Europe, South East Asia, Australia, and the USA, John has seen the difference that access to quality education makes to everyone. He is passionate about improving the quality of education generally and ensuring that all students have access to the best possible resources and curriculum. He holds a BSc in Finance and a BA in German, both from the University of Illinois.

Subash is the Deputy Chair of the Board of Trustees. Subash Viroomal is a Partner at Bain & Company, a global Strategy Consultancy. He is a leader in the firm’s UK Public Sector & Government and Advanced Manufacturing & Services practices with 10+ years of consulting experience. He focuses on major programme delivery, strategy and performance improvement, helping public and private sector organisations across EMEA achieve their economic and social goals.
Subash is part of Bain’s social impact team focusing on sustainability & education, where he supports corporates, non-governmental organisations and start-ups seeking to improve futures for underserved populations.
Before joining Bain, Subash worked at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Social Market Foundation think tank in Westminster. He holds a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics.

Mike is a Director at Public First, a consultancy specialising in public policy, where he carries out research for a range of educational organisations. He has worked on education policy for over a decade, including 2 years as Head of Education in the 10 Downing Street Policy Unit and as Director of Education at New Schools Network, overseeing support for free school founders across the country. Mike started his career as a history teacher in inner city Birmingham, where he trained via the Teach First programme. Having volunteered as a tutor with the Access Project in the past, he is now excited to contribute to the charity’s mission and make a difference for the young people it supports. Mike holds Masters degrees from the University of Oxford and the University of Warwick.

After graduating from the University of Warwick in 1994, with a Mathematics degree, Andrew became a Mathematics teacher in inner city Birmingham. He worked in a number of different schools, all in challenging circumstances, as his passion is making a difference for the children who need good teachers. Andrew became Principal of Ormiston Forge Academy in 2012. He then went on to lead a number of academies as an Executive Principal and then worked regionally for Ormiston Academies Trust, leading and supporting Principals. Andrew now works for Brooke Weston Trust as Education Director and works with a number of schools facing challenging circumstances. Andrew was the first in his family to go to university and signed up to The Access Project to give the children at his academy the same opportunities he was afforded.

Devyani Gupta is a AVP of Change Management at North Highland. She is a Transformation and Change leader in the firm’s UK Enterprise Transformation Government & Health Industries team with 17+ years of consulting experience. She specialises in strategy, operating model change and performance improvement for the Transport sector. Prior to Highland North, Devyani has worked at PWC, EY and at the Department of Health. Devyani has an MA in International Relations from the University of Chicago.

Fatos works as an M&A Technology Consultant within KPMG’s Integration & Separation team. She studied Spanish at the University of Bristol and spent a year teaching English in Spain. Having been one of the first students The Access Project worked with when the charity was first founded in 2008, Fatos has continued to work closely with us over the past 10 years. She started volunteering as a tutor in 2017 and applied to join the board in 2018. Fatos is keen to support The Access Project in achieving their goal within the social mobility/university access sphere due to how much she benefited from the charity, and highlights that she is living proof that The Access Project’s programme works!

Tahmid Chowdhury is an Account Director at M&C Saatchi World Services, a specialist communications agency working to tackle some of society’s most complex issues around the world. His responsibilities include finance, client relations, and project management. He is also the Co-Founder of Here for Good; a charity providing free immigration services to European citizens and their families living in the UK caught up in the aftermath of Brexit. The charity has supported tens of thousands of individuals and developed partnerships with the EU Delegation, UN Migration Agency, and Mayor of London; with Tahmid’s leadership recognised through his inclusion on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2020. Tahmid read Law with English on a full scholarship at New College of the Humanities in London, where he was valedictorian in 2016. As an alum of The Access Project, he knows firsthand the impact the charity can have on young people’s lives. Tahmid is also a Trustee of TASO and a Judge at the Charity Times Awards, which he balances with his one true love Arsenal FC.

Ashwin spent his early career as a quantitative strategist at Goldman Sachs in New York followed by a decade as a commodity derivatives trader at UniCredit Bank in London. He is now COO of a fund distribution company. In his work with company boards his focus is governance, finance, risk management and growth strategy. Ashwin is passionate about addressing sources of inequality in society. He mentors social impact entrepreneurs through his associations with the LSE and Geovation impact accelerators. He is also a trustee of The Economist Educational Foundation. He holds a BSc in Maths from The University of Chicago and MScs in Maths and Financial Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Peter Denison-Pender is a specialist small business and technology tax consultant, working with small business clients on operating and tax issues. He has more than 20 years of operating and investing experience in early stage technology companies. Peter is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Fellow of the Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and read Economics and Economic History at the University of Exeter. He puts these financial skills to work as Treasurer for the Access Project. He was a trustee of the Royal Albert Hall from 2004-2015, where he chaired the commercial trading operations, and was a secondary school governor in Brent from 2000-2007.

Patrick has over 30 years experience in Financial Services and Consulting gained from a number of organisations. Areas of subject matter expertise include risk management, operations leadership and business transformation. Patrick has tutored Maths and Science subjects with The Access Project for many years. He was in the first generation of his family to go to university and so has first-hand experience of how education can create lifelong opportunities. He holds an MEng in Chemical Engineering from the University of Nottingham and an MBA from Bayes Business School.

After completing a degree in maths and artificial intelligence at Leeds, Neil started his career in education as a maths teacher in the centre of Leeds. In 2010, Neil joined the Future Leaders Programme and joined Dixons Academies Trust. His first role was as an assistant principal at Dixons Allerton Academy, an academy serving over 1900 students in Bradford. Whilst at Dixons Allerton, Neil transformed the KS5 provision and the outcomes for students placed them in the top five in Bradford. Neil was then promoted to deputy principal with a responsibility for curriculum and teaching. In 2015, Neil was appointed as principal of Dixons Kings Academy. Within two years, the school moved from an Ofsted rating of Requires Improvement to Outstanding and the progress measure placed the school in the top 50 nationally. Neil’s final role in Dixons was as deputy chief executive, working across all 17 academies and leading the executive directors for education across all of our regions. In September 2024 Neil will join Mercia Learning Trust as CEO, a 7 school trust in Sheffield.