# Thrive™ Guest Speakers
**Source**: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/skills/personaldevelopment/thrive_guest_speakers/
**Parent**: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/skills/
Find out more about some of the Thrive programme guest speakers.
## Marcelle Batson-Warner
### Executive Business Advisor
**Supported Thrive in 2025-26**
More about Marcelle
More about Marcelle
Marcelle Batson-Warner is an all rounder, with many interests.
She is a Chartered Engineer with over 20 years’ experience in the automotive industry across the UK, Europe, and Australia. She is also a DBA doctoral student at Warwick Business School researching university–industry interactions, with a focus on knowledge transfer, knowledge exchange, and knowledge co-creation.
Alongside her doctoral work, Marcelle is an entrepreneur and wellbeing advocate, using her Ecolux natural skincare business to design and deliver self-care skincare workshops that translate evidence-informed wellbeing principles into practical routines.
Her work sits at the intersection of research, practice, and impact—connecting how organisations collaborate and innovate with how people thrive at work.
## Daniel Richmond
### Post Doctoral Research Fellow, School of Life Sciences
**Supported Thrive in 2025-26**
More about Daniel
More about Daniel
Dan is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow based at the School of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick in the Corre group. He is using bacteria to produce natural UV filters for sustainable sunscreens and cosmetics, and is looking to create a spinout company from this research and explore commercial opportunities from it.
A veteran of Warwick, he started his undergraduate in Chemistry in 2015 and completed his PhD in Chemical Biology in 2024 after which he started working in his current role.
Outside of the lab, he is a member of the LGBTQIA+ network and enjoys playing tennis and board games.
## **Dr Gabriela Barzyk-Sheriff**
### GP Trainee and Co-Founder, In2MedSchool
**Supported Thrive in 2025-26**
More about Gabriela
More about Gabriela
Dr Gabriela is an incoming GP Trainee in the West Midlands, having completed her foundation training in London and having gained further experience as a resident doctor in the Emergency department. She holds a BSc in Biomedical Science from St George’s, University of London, and a medical degree from the University of Warwick.
She is the Co-Founder and a Trustee of In2MedSchool, a national widening participation charity supporting students from under-represented backgrounds to access medicine and higher education. To date, the charity has supported over 4,000 mentees through a network of more than 5,000 volunteers and has been recognised with multiple awards. Gabriela is also a Trustee and Director at the Widening Participation Medics Network (WPMN) charity, which supports medical students and doctors throughout their medical careers.
Having moved to the UK at the age of 13 with no English and being from a widening participation background herself, Gabriela has lived experience of the barriers faced by disadvantaged students. This has strongly shaped her commitment to improving access, equity and representation within medicine.
Alongside her clinical career, Gabriela works extensively in widening participation at both local and national levels. Her leadership and impact have been recognised through several awards, including the Emerging Young Leader Award from the Institute of Leadership, being named a Women of the Future: 50 Rising Stars in ESG as a 2023 listee, and recognition as a Champion of Social Mobility by the Student Social Mobility Awards, among others.
## **Emily Death**
### CEO, Sophie Hayes Foundation
**Supported Thrive in 2025-26**
More about Emily
More about Emily
Emily Death has been the CEO of Sophie Hayes Foundation since January 2024. Sophie Hayes Foundation is a UK charity supporting women survivors of modern slavery break cycles of exploitation.
Prior to this, Emily worked as Director of the international political development Consultancy Global Partners Governance, delivering international development programmes in complex political contexts.
Emily previously worked as Head of Unit at the Alliance of Liberals & Democrats for Europe, a European political party based in Brussels and representing all liberal and democratic parties across the European continent.
Emily is a passionate believer in equity, freedom, and human rights. She graduated from the University of Warwick in 2010 with a First Class degree in French & Italian studies.
## Debbie Stocker
### Co-Director, Stocker Partnership
**Supported Thrive in 2025-26**
More about Debbie
More about Debbie
Debbie is co-director of Stocker Partnership, a boutique consultancy that supports game-changing tech for good to succeed. Alongside her business partner and husband, Matt Stocker, Debbie has co-led the business for almost 15 years, after Matt founded it solo in 2009.
Entrepreneurship itself demands resilience, confidence, clear boundaries, and self-awareness. Shaped by this journey, Debbie believes in supporting not only organisations but the people who lead them. Also specialising in innovation and strategy, Debbie and Matt help teams to embrace complexity, navigate uncertainty, and make a lasting impact.
Debbie studied Psychology, graduating in 2004, and maintains a long-standing relationship with the University of Warwick. She has taught on Masters programmes at both WMG and WBS, while Stocker Partnership has acted as a delivery partner for the WBS Healthcare Case Competition and an industrial partner for the Marie Curie Centre for Analytical Science Innovative Doctoral Programme.
Passionate about empowering others, Debbie champions business as a force for good, and believes in creating a better future for people and planet.
## **Dr Roopak K Khara**
### Clinical Lead & Consultant, Acute Mental Health Services
**Supported Thrive in 2025-26**
More about Roopak
More about Roopak
Dr Roopak K Khara is a General Adult Consultant Psychiatrist for an acute male admissions ward and a clinical lead for Acute Mental Health Services at West London NHS Trust, who was chosen as one of the faces of the NHS in 2020 following her leadership for the country’s first psychiatric COVID-19 ward.
Roopak is a pharmacist, actor, playwright and make up artist and she enjoys navigating a new path for professional women who balance medicine with the arts. She recently studied Method Acting in the USA and her fourth play is in production for the Camden and Edinburgh Fringe festivals.
## **Dr Natalie Wride**
### Registered Ground Engineering Professional, Mott MacDonald
**Supported Thrive in 2025-26**
More about Natalie
More about Natalie
Dr. Natalie Wride is a Chartered Principal Geotechnical Engineer and Registered Ground Engineering Professional at Mott MacDonald with over 10 years’ experience working on infrastructure projects such as Doha Metro, Suburban Rail Loop Melbourne and High Speed Two.
She has pursued a career with a focus in advanced numerical modelling solving complex ground-structure interaction problems and is passionate about delivering added value to projects to achieve improved societal outcomes.
During her time at Warwick University, she undertook higher education teaching, with a focus on inclusion and widening participation of learning within the engineering curriculum. She has continued this involvement as a mentor for the Social Mobility Foundation and as a volunteer delegate for the UN Conference on the Status of Women.
In past years, she has featured in the Ground Engineering Magazine and on the ‘Breaking Ground’ and Social Mobility Foundation podcasts discussing the importance of social mobility and the need for an inclusive workforce. At the 2021 Ground Engineering Awards, Natalie was ‘Highly Commended’ for the Rising Star Award.
## Azzurra Moores
### Associate Director (Information Ecosystems), Demos
**Supported Thrive in 2025-26**
More about Azzurra
More about Azzurra
Azzurra is the Associate Director (Information Ecosystems) at Demos. She joined Demos in January 2026.
Prior to joining Demos, Azzurra led policy at Full Fact, the UK’s independent fact-checking organisation, and developed expertise in combating misinformation and regulation of digital platforms.
She is an international campaigner and regular commentator on media freedom and freedom of expression, and before joining Full Fact she led UK advocacy at Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the non-profit organisation that promotes press freedom worldwide.
## **Marina** Antoniou
### Global Markets Head of Market Abuse Risk Assessment
**Supported Thrive in 2025-26**
More about Marina
More about Marina
Marina specializes in risk management and innovation, focusing on Market Abuse, Artificial Intelligence, and digital transformation. With extensive experience in global capital markets, she addresses non-financial risks such as conduct risk, fraud, and financial crime.
Marina has held various executive roles, co-founded forums for global capital market innovation and tech networks to increase collaboration between academics, founders and investors. She is part of the ICAEW Financial Services Faculty Board and Digital Assets Steering Group.
In the past, she worked in Quantitative research and M&A transactions. She received academic and professional awards and is a Warwick Business Ambassador.
Marina acts as speaker in roundtables & conferences globally and a guest contributor to industry publications. She is also a trustee and committee member of charities focusing on poverty alleviation and providing financial support for medical care and academic studies
## **Professor Adam Boddison, OBE**
### CEO, Association for Project Management
**Supported Thrive in 2025-26**
More about Adam
More about Adam
Adam is CEO of the APM (Association for Project Management) having previously held leadership roles in other educational organisations, including six years as CEO of the National Association for Special Educational Needs and more than a decade in multiple roles at the University of Warwick.
In addition to his role at APM, Adam has a diverse non-executive director portfolio supporting organisations and projects that benefit society. Adam is a Visiting Professor at Stranmillis University College and an Honorary Professor at the University of Leicester School of Business. As well as being a qualified clinical hypnotherapist, he has published a range of books and academic research papers. In 2022, Adam was awarded the OBE for services to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
## **Treasure Oyelade**
### Director & Head of Operations, Motivez
**Supported Thrive in 2025-26**
More about Treasure
More about Treasure
Treasure is a Director and the Head of Operations at Motivez, a non-profit working with disadvantaged young people across the UK to support them into opportunities in STEM. Treasure was also an integral part of the 10,000 Interns Foundation, serving as the Systems Operations Manager during which time he helped 5,000 students and graduates to secure internship opportunities across the UK. Treasure also has experience in engineering and finance, with time spent at Balfour Beatty, Heathrow and Investec.
Treasure is a YTILI (Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative) fellow, where he was selected to represent the UK on a six-week exchange programme to the United States to build business relationships between the UK and the US, as well as between the UK and other European countries. Treasure also serves as a trustee at the Hebe Foundation, a London-based charity helping young people to discover and use their natural talents.
Treasure graduated from the University of Warwick in 2020 with an Integrated Masters Degree in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering.
## **Vivi Koroma Kala**
### Head of Content, Squiggly Careers & Real Estate Consultant
**Supported Thrive in 2025-26**
More about Vivi
More about Vivi
Vivi Koroma Kala is Head of Content at Squiggly Careers and a consultant in the real-estate sector, working at the intersection of creativity, connection, and possibility. A bibliophile and lifelong learner, she helps people and ideas find each other through career-development content, brand storytelling, and community-led campaigns.
As a working mum of 3, Vivi brings a grounded, human approach to learning and leadership. Often described as a collector and connector of dots, she makes spaces lighter and ideas stronger. Books fuel her thinking, stories shape her strategy, and people sit at the centre of her work. Online, she shares weekly reflections on career growth and the power of curiosity to help others create opportunities rather than wait for them.
## **Aisha Nevers**
### Director, Barclays
**Supported Thrive in 2025-26**
More about Aisha
More about Aisha
Aisha is a director at Barclays, heading Network Products and Service Design.
Her expertise lies in defining technology strategic direction, designing scalable technology product portfolios, and implementing governance frameworks that drive business value and operational excellence.
Throughout her career, Aisha has held senior leadership roles at various organisations including Maersk, Haleon, Vodafone Group, and Ernst & Young, where she drove large-scale technology transformations, embedded product-centric delivery models, and enhanced portfolio transparency through robust governance and performance frameworks.
Aisha is a proud WMG Warwick University alumna. She completed her MSc in Engineering Business Management at the university.
## **Elham Fardad**
### Founder & CEO, Migrant Leaders
**Supported Thrive in 2025-26**
More about Elham
More about Elham
Elham Fardad’s professional career spans 25 years in senior leadership roles in blue chip multinationals including GE, News Corp and EY, where she has advised clients on their most challenging operational problems.
Elham advises leadership teams on strategy, operations and talent.
She is the Founder and CEO of the charity Migrant Leaders, is a Fellow member of the ACCA and a member of multiple Advisory Boards. Migrant Leaders was the winner of the Social Mobility Award 2023 at the prestigious Inclusive Awards.
Elham is the author of the book Migrant Magic and had the honour of being selected as a Coronation Champion in 2023. In 2024, Elham was awarded the Freedom of the City of London by the Lord Mayor of London, followed by being selected in 2025 as the Empower 2025 Top 100 Executives.
## **Wunmi Ogunde**
### COO, PAKAM Technology
**Supported Thrive in 2025-26**
More about Wunmi
More about Wunmi
As the COO of PAKAM Technology, Wunmi leads a smart, clean-tech waste management software company that connects waste generators to waste collectors in real time. With over 12 years of experience in environment and sustainability consulting, she has a strong passion for creating eco-friendly and sustainable solutions for individuals and businesses.
Wunmi is also a PhD candidate in circular economy and sustainability at the University of Warwick, where she is researching the circular plastic economy industry. She has a MSc in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from the same university and a BEng in Automatic Control and Systems Engineering from the University of Sheffield. Wunmi has completed executive education courses in entrepreneurship and business leadership from Harvard Business School and Drake University and has multiple certifications, publications, and awards in the fields of circular economy, recycling, sustainability, and clean technology.
## **Becky Patel**
### Head of Education and Learning, Teach She Can
**Supported Thrive in 2025-26**
More about Becky
More about Becky
Becky is part of the team at Tech She Can, a charity that inspires and educates children and young people about the opportunities a career in technology can offer. Passionate about building a more diverse and inclusive tech industry, Becky works to ensure everyone, regardless of background, has the confidence and awareness to understand and pursue the varied opportunities available to them.
Becky is a proud Warwick University alumna. She completed her Post Graduate Certificate in Education at the university and went on to teach across primary and secondary schools in Coventry for over a decade. For the last 8 years, Becky has worked in her role as Head of Education for Tech She Can, bridging the gap between industry and education.
When she's not working with young people or industry partners, Becky enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, especially travelling and discovering new cultures and places.
## **Deeksha Sampath**
### Sustainable Materials & Manufacturing, LSS Certified Practitioner
**Supported Thrive in 2023-24 & 2025-26**
More about Deeksha
More about Deeksha
Deeksha is a Technology Transfer Engineer as part of the SME Group, WMG, University of Warwick. With a background in mechanical engineering and sustainable manufacturing she applies her technical skillset to engage with stakeholders from a wide range of manufacturing businesses.
She has worked on multiple projects relating to implementation of Net Zero strategies within businesses, improve energy usage as well as material characterization methods within SMEs. As a member of the Institute of Engineering Technology (IET), she has a keen interest in supporting under-represented groups pursue STEM careers and is an active member of the University’s EDI Committee.
## **Rebecca Mander**
### Personal Coach, GuruYou
**Supported Thrive in 2025-26**
More about Rebecca
More about Rebecca
Up until a few years ago, founder of GuruYou Coaching- Rebecca Mander, was Managing Director of a large organisation, when she sadly lost one of her children, Charlie. Rebecca understands first-hand what it is to need to look and act the part, when internally you are falling apart.
Motivated by her experiences, she trained as an Executive Coach with the Centre for Life Long Learning at Warwick University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management, specialising in helping senior leaders through setback.
Rebecca’s clients include some of the Top 50 Law firms in the UK and she is highly valued for her straightforward and honest approach with compassion and understanding in a sector that brings great stress and challenge to it’s employees. Her award winning programme The Bounce Mindset® leads 1 in 3 participants to get out of their own way and get the promotion they deserve.
## **Lindsay Beardsell**
### Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Tate & Lyle plc & Non-Executive Director, 4imprint plc
**Supported Thrive in 2024-25**
More about Lindsay
More about Lindsay
Lindsay studied European law at Warwick from 1995-1999. She is currently Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Tate & Lyle plc, and a Non-Executive Director of 4imprint plc.
Her career over the last few decades has been varied, starting at Freshfields and then working in house for businesses across a variety of sectors and global markets, a lot of which have been going through a period of transformation.
When not working, Lindsay loves to spend time with her family, friends (and dogs!) in The Cotswolds, where she lives.
## **Modupe Jimoh**
### Associate Professor (Teaching Focussed), School of Engineering
**Supported Thrive in 2024-25**
More about Modupe
More about Modupe
I am dedicated to advancing sustainable solutions in water and environmental management. With a Ph.d. from the University of Warwick, obtained as a Commonwealth Scholar in 2015, my academic journey has been enriched by approximately two decades of experience spanning teaching, research, administration, and policy formulation in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Passionate about integrating sustainability into teaching and research, I strive to inspire the next generation of engineers to create solutions that tackle global challenges and foster equitable development. My research interests include water and wastewater management, sanitation, energy and climate resilience, gender inclusivity, and humanitarian contexts, with a recent emphasis on the Water-Food-Energy Nexus. I have led and participated in numerous projects to enhance environmental sustainability and public health. My publications demonstrate a commitment to interdisciplinary approaches in water education and emphasise the sustainable management of water resources.
In addition to my academic and professional endeavours, I have actively engaged with various media outlets to disseminate knowledge and foster public understanding of critical issues. This includes interviews and features with prominent organisations such as the BBC, Reuters, DW News, Kristeligt Dagblad and TV Foundation.
My commitment to promoting diversity in engineering is evident through my roles with the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria, where I served as Publicity Secretary and Vice-Chairperson. At Warwick, I champion equality and diversity initiatives, serving as the Athena Swan champion for the School of Engineering and Deputy Chair of the School's Equality and Diversity Committee. I strive to create inclusive environments that foster innovation and collaboration.
## **Katy Wilson**
### Project Manager for Interns and KTPs, WMG
**Supported Thrive in 2024-25**
More about Katy
More about Katy
I am a passionate advocate for women in STEM and currently working in innovation and knowledge exchange at WMG, University of Warwick. With a dynamic background operations, project management, and business transformation, I bring real-world insight into the power of embracing non-linear—or "squiggly"—career journeys. I have worked on over 50 projects across the UK in the last two years, helping graduates and SMEs alike to innovate and grow.
I am particularly driven by the themes of visibility, confidence, and creating space for others to thrive. As someone who has navigated imposter syndrome, career pivots, and leadership development, I am excited to share lessons learned, personal stories, and practical strategies to help women in engineering forge fulfilling and fearless paths forward.
## **Dr Abimbola Ayorinde**
### Associate Professor, Warwick Medical School
**Supported Thrive in 2024-25**
More about Abimbola
More about Abimbola
Dr Abimbola Ayorinde is an Associate Professor in Health Services and Public Health Research at Warwick Medical School, where she also serves as Deputy Director of Warwick Applied Health (People).
Abi holds an undergraduate degree in Applied Physiology and Pharmacology, a Master’s in Health Services and Public Health Research, and a PhD in Epidemiology.
Her research focuses on mitigating health inequalities, with particular interest in women’s, maternal, and child health. She co-leads the Inequalities theme, the Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement theme, and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at the National Institute for Health and Social Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Reproductive Health.
Additionally, she is the academic lead for the evidence synthesis team at NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC), Coventry, and an active member of NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West Midlands and the NIHR School for Public Health Research.
Abi leads a Student-Selected Component Block in the MBChB program, which focuses on scientific inquiry, and co-leads the Understanding Research and Critical Appraisal in Healthcare (Distance Learning) module.
Beyond research and teaching, Abi is passionate about community engagement and empowerment. In 2023, she founded the West Midlands Knowledge and Action Partnership for Race Equity, a community-driven initiative dedicated to mutual learning, research, and empowering ethnic minority groups.
## **Tier Blundell**
### Chief Executive & Founder, Excluded from School
**Supported** **Thrive in 2024-25**
More about Tier
More about Tier
Tier is the founder of Excluded from School, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to reduce exclusions and improve outcomes for those excluded from school. Tier himself was permanently excluded from school at the age of eleven and left a pupil referral unit at the age of sixteen with no qualifications.
Mixed-race and born on a council estate, he suffered a difficult childhood and racism leading to his exclusion. Later in life, he became a professional mixed martial arts champion before returning to college to study an access course. This lead him into the University of Warwick, to study History and Politics, before being transferred into the Centre for Lifelong Learning, where he gained a first-class degree. After this, he attended the University of St Andrews for a Masters Degree and the the University of Oxford for a PhD, the first known pupil from a pupil referral unit to do so.
It is now his mission to encourage education reform which ends exclusion as we know it and creates a more inclusive educative environment for children from disadvantaged backgrounds or with special educational needs and neurodiversity, factors that should not determine whether or not a child reaches higher education, as he has proven. Tier is also a trustee at Abandofbrothers, a national charity which helps young men in and at risk of being in the criminal justice system. The charity provides targeted mental health support and mentoring as well as operating as a regular community of positive male role models.
## **Professor Mairi Macintyre**
### Professor, WMG
**Supported Thrive in 2024-25**
More about Mairi
More about Mairi
To develop curriculum I work closely with industry and the research community to develop programmes that serve the needs of the industry that will become the future.
I intentionally design and facilitate learning experiences that foster curiosity, inquiry, and exploration. I encourage students to ask questions, seek out answers, and engage with the world around them in a meaningful way.
I can create an environment that is conducive to learning and experimentation, where students are encouraged to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from their experiences. I leverage my own curiosity and love of learning to inspire and motivate my students, helping them develop a passion for lifelong learning.\
In addition to traditional subject matter, I expose my students to a wide range of interdisciplinary topics and experiences, encouraging them to make connections and think critically about the world.
I use a variety of teaching methods, including play, hands-on activities, group discussions, and real-world applications of concepts to make learning engaging and relevant.
Ultimately, I seek to empower my students to become independent thinkers and lifelong learners who are curious about the world and driven to make a positive impact.
## **Natalie Miller-Snell**
### Founder, NMS Coaching
**Supported Thrive in 2024-25**
More about Natalie
More about Natalie
Natalie is the founder of NMS Coaching, supporting individuals and teams to develop confidence, authentic leadership and look after their well-being. Natalie founded NMS Coaching in 2020 following her lifelong passion to help individuals and businesses realise their potential and that anything is possible. Natalie recognises that a key component to coaching is to provide a judgement free and confidential space, where people can be themselves.
Prior to her coaching career, Natalie spent 20+ years in the building and construction industry as Director of Development, having read Civil Engineering at the University of Warwick (1994-1997). In this role, Natalie lead and enabled teams successfully deliver retail projects across the globe, including clients such as Burberry and Calvin Klein.
When she’s not coaching, Natalie hosts a podcast called Seize the Day - offering tips and tools to help folk “Seize the Day”. Her other loves include standing on the rugby pitch sideline cheering on her eldest son playing rugby or watching marvel films with her youngest son as they discuss existential questions.
## **Laura Mathias**
### Internal Communications & Engagement Manager, Save the Children UK
**Supported Thrive in 2024-25**
More about Laura
More about Laura
Laura Mathias is a communications expert, visible difference campaigner, and unapologetic advocate for inclusion.
As Internal Communications and Engagement Manager at Save the Children UK, she crafts stories that amplify diverse voices, foster belonging, and celebrate impact across the organisation.
A proud ambassador for Changing Faces UK, Laura shares her journey with alopecia to challenge societal beauty standards and fight for the rights of those with a mark, scar, or condition that makes them look 'different'.
Named one of The Female Lead’s 'Role Models to Follow', Laura combines her lived experience with professional communications expertise to confront appearance bias and champion self-acceptance.
Whether sitting on DEI panels for ITV Anglia and the British Beauty Council or speaking on stages across the UK, Laura is a passionate voice driving greater representation of visible difference across mainstream media – and showing what’s possible when we embrace our difference rather than disguise it.
## **Yewande Akinola**
### Technical Director CBRE Global Workplace Solutions (GWS)
**Supported Thrive in 2024-25**
More about Yewande
More about Yewande
Her engineering experience includes the design and construction, innovation and manufacture of buildings and systems in the built environment. She has worked on projects in the UK, Africa, the Middle East and East Asia and has been named one of the 100 Most influential Engineers in Europe by the Financial Times and Inclusive Boards. the UK Young Woman Engineer of the Year by the Institution of Engineering & Technology. She has also been awarded the Exceptional Achiever Award from the Association for BAME Engineers and the Association of Consultancy and Engineering, U.K. (ACE).
She sits on the governing body at the University of Warwick and is a Visiting Professor at the University of Westminster. She is passionate about STEM Education and communication and has presented Engineering programmes for Television. In the 2020 New Year Honours list, Yewande was awarded an MBE for services to engineering innovation and diversity in STEM.
She has served as the UK's Innovation Agency (Innovate UK) Ambassador for Clean Growth and Infrastructure and was recently awarded Top 50 Workplace leaders in the UK. Yewande has been appointed as Vice President of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and serves as Chair of the Institution's Knowledge Services & Solutions board. She sits on the Global Advisory Board of Warwick Business School.
She has recently been appointed non-executive director of Midlands Mindforge , a patient capital investment company for university spinouts and early stage IP rich businesses in the Midlands United Kingdom. She has recently been appointed as Technical Director of CBRE.
## **Dr Kate Marks**
### Director of Service Transformation, Environment Agency
**Supported Thrive in 2024-25**
More about Kate
More about Kate
Kate is currently the Director of Service Transformation at the Environment Agency, working collaboratively across the organisation to design and deliver user centred services and products for flood and environmental activities. She has previously held policy and operational roles at all levels of the organisation and has a strong background in flood crisis management.
She graduated from Warwick Business School's Executive Diploma in Digital Leadership in 2023, and also holds a PhD from the University of Bristol and a BSc (Hons) from the University of Southampton. In 2024 she received an OBE for services to flood risk management and equality, diversity and inclusion.
Outside of work, she serves as a Trustee on the Board of The Scout Association, also helping with her village group.
## **Anuradha Roy**
### Instructional Designer-LMS Specialist, ICAS
**Supported Thrive in 2024-25**
More about Anuradha
More about Anuradha
Anuradha is a digital learning specialist and currently working as the lead instructional designer in financial services. She completed her undergraduate degree in PAIS from Warwick before beginning the Teach First training programme which led her to completing a PGDE in secondary english education and teaching english in secondary schools in the Midlands before fully transitioning into e-learning, curriculum design and digital learning strategy.
She's an ex leader of the BAME network for trainee teachers in England and serves on the board for educational charities both in the UK and India. In 2024 she was named as one of the top 30 under 30 in ed tech in the UK. She is most passionate about widening access for people of colour in education leadership.
## **Tara Sakhuja**
### Founder & CEO, Data Dumpling
**Supported Thrive in 2024-25**
More about Tara
More about Tara
Tara is the founder and CEO of Data Dumpling.
She studied Ancient History and Classical Archaeology at the University of Warwick (2014). She has spent most of her career working as a product manager in Big Tech across Silicon Valley, India, Singapore, and London.
Before starting Data Dumpling she was leading the Safety and Visual Machine Learning team at Bumble. She spent the majority of her career at Meta, where she built and led teams across the entire family of apps - Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp - along the domains of Ads, Business Messaging, Commerce and Machine Learning. Some of her noteworthy launches include Instagram Ads, Ads for China, Account Quality, Elections Integrity and Transparency, as well as Click to Message Ads.
## **Vivien Waterfield**
### Deputy Chief Executive, Home-Start UK
**Supported Thrive in 2024-25**
More about Vivien
More about Vivien
Vivien Waterfield is the Deputy Chief Executive at the family support charity Home-Start UK - a national volunteer network supporting over 78,000 children and their families in communities across the UK. Vivien leads on the external affairs activity at the charity including fundraising, communications, policy and influencing work and on the development of a number of the charity's strategic partnerships.
Vivien sits on the Advisory Board of the John Lewis Partnership Building Happier Futures programme. She is a Advisor to the Royal College of Nursing Investment and Income Generation Committee. In 2022-23 Vivien completed an Executive Diploma in Organisational Change at the University of Warwick Business School.
In 2024 Vivien was awarded a CBE for her services to early years education.
## **Dr Penny Kechagioglou**
### Consultant Clinical Oncologist Chief Clinical Information Officer & Deputy Chief Medical Officer
**Supported Thrive in 2023-24**
More about Penny
More about Penny
Dr Kechagioglou is the Chief Clinical Information Officer, deputy Chief Medical Officer and Consultant Clinical Oncologist at the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire. She is Vice-Chair of the Digital Health Networks CCIO Advisory Panel and Executive Committee member of the UK Digital Health and Care network, with research and professional interest in healthcare innovation, digital health and leadership.
She has completed a Doctorate degree in Business Administration at Warwick Business School with a focus on Innovation and Leadership in Healthcare and is the author of the book 'Healthcare Innovation Success: learning from organisational experience'. She has also competed Masters in Public Health and Health Management at the University of London, an MBA from Bradford University and a PGDip in Digital Health Leadership from Imperial College. Penny has recently been appointed at the WHO Academy Advisory Group on Lifelong Learning in Health.
Penny is also an undergraduate and postgraduate tutor, lecturer, mentor and professional coach and co-chairs the British Society for Integrative Oncology Education Committee with a view to expand UK healthcare professional education on preventive, lifestyle and personalised cancer patient care. She is the co-author of the book 'Integrative Oncology in Breast Cancer Care' published in March 2024 and co-founder on the ONCIO CIC, the first ever Integrative Oncology app to support patients throughout their cancer journey.
## **Greta Delfino**
### Advisory Manager at Business in the Community & 30 Under 30 Climate Change Maker Northern Ireland 2024
**Supported Thrive in 2023-24**
More about Greta
More about Greta
Greta Delfino is an impact-led sustainability advisor. She is currently the Advisory Manager at Business in the Community NI and works with companies to help them reach their environmental and social ambitions. She graduated from Warwick University in 2020 with a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Previously she worked as the Sustainability Manager at a large food manufacturer and as a Sustainability Analyst for an agri-food start-up. She is part of the Warwick University Sustainability Professional Network committee and in 2024, she was chosen as a 30 under 30 Climate Change-Maker in Northern Ireland. She is passionate about nature and the environment and people’s responsibility towards the planet.
## **Dr Kristina Curtis**
### Behaviour Change Expert
**Supported Thrive in 2023-24**
More about Kristina
More about Kristina
Kristina is a pioneering behavioural scientist with over a decade of experience working in the intersection between academia and industry. A trailblazer in integrating scientific evidence and creative methods into innovative digital health solutions. Expert in driving adoption and engagement with digital health interventions to improve health outcomes. Extensive experience developing digital health interventions and communications in the areas of: public health service uptake; weight management; medication adherence; physical activity; chronic disease self-management; and employee well-being. Honorary Lecturer & Associate at UCL's Centre of Behaviour Change.
## **Celia Warrender**
### Head of Digital at whg
**Supported Thrive in 2023-24**
More about Celia
More about Celia
With a background in Project Management, Celia achieved her Executive Diploma in Digital Leadership at Warwick Business School in 2022.Celia is now Head of Digital at whg, a housing provider in the Midlands.
## **Callie Wang**
### Regulatory Sandbox & Innovation Pathways at FCA
[Callie Wang LinkedIn ProfileLink opens in a new window](https://www.linkedin.com/in/yanqing-callie-w/)
**Supported Thrive in 2023-24**
More about Callie
More about Callie
Callie started her career in banking and finance with Barclays in September 2012. She gained a deep understanding of the financial services industry through several rotations in product, sales, risk, and finance, quickly progressing to the vice president role in the summer of 2017. In 2019, she joined Close Brothers, an FTSE250 UK merchant banking group, as Risk Manager for the Premium Finance business. She led the embedding and facilitation of processes to enable the appropriate identification, reporting, management, and escalation of non-financial risks. She transitioned to the financial regulatory side in 2022, leveraging her comprehensive banking experience in wholesale bank firm supervision. Her subsequent move to the innovation department, where she is now part of the regulatory sandbox and innovation pathways service, aligns with her keen interest in financial technology.
Callie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law and Business Studies (2011) and a Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance (2012) from the University of Warwick, as well as an MBA (2019) from Imperial College Business School. She also achieved chartered status with ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and FRM (Financial Risk Manager designation issued by the Global Association of Risk Professionals) in 2015, and then ACMA and CGMA (Chartered Global Management Accountant designations issued by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) in 2019.
## **Margaret Iyasi Lesuuda**
### Deputy Director of Education (Nairobi Region) & Former Education Attaché, UK
**Supported the Pilot programme students in summer 2023**
More about Margaret
More about Margaret
As an education specialist, Margaret has 37 years’ experience from a classroom teacher, head teacher, quality assurance officer, District Education Officer to Education Attaché to Director of Education at the Kenyan High Commission in London.
Through professional training and work experience, Margaret has accomplished a career in education, with an expertise in diplomacy and peace and conflict studies at both local and international levels.
She has a passion for mentorship, and drawing on her Maasai background and her strong leadership qualities, she is a mentor and role model for many young girls across sub-Saharan Africa. She is currently pursuing a PhD at University of Bath and plans to leverage her extensive experience to contribute to the overall improved lifelong learning and enhance diplomacy and peace, in Africa and beyond.