

Abbey Cameron
Abbey is our Volunteer Experience Coordinator at The Access Project. Her career focus has been education, moving into the charities sector after teaching English as a foreign language and supporting educational programmes in Japan and Italy.
Abbey first studied English and Italian at the University of St Andrews. More recently, she completed an MA in Comparative Education from UCL Institute of Education.

Alafia Chung
Alafia is a Volunteer Experience Coordinator.
She previously worked in the education sector, focussing on inclusion and pastoral care, before joining The Access Project. Alafia holds a BA Hons in History and Politics and an MSc in Development Management.

Amy Pearson
Amy works as the Senior Communications Officer managing our social media, online platforms and marketing content.
She has previously worked for a children’s charity in volunteer management and communications. Amy is also involved with Girlguiding UK as a volunteer leader working with Brownies (ages 7-10) as well as the lead volunteer for Girlguiding members aged 18-30 in North East London. She previously worked for the National Citizen Service working directly with a variety of young people.
She has a degree in International relations and Politics from The University of Sheffield.

Beth Pennyfather
Beth is a University Access Officer in London.

Charlotte Osborne
Charlotte is a University Access Officer in London.
Before joining The Access Project, she was elected as the President of the Students’ Union at The Courtauld Institute of Art, where she secured policy change in relation to Widening Participation, Diversity and Inclusion.
Charlotte has a BA in History of Art from The Courtauld Institute of Art.

Digby Mason
Digby is the University Access Officer at Dixon’s Academy Cottingley in Bradford.

Fatima Farooq
Fatima is a University Access Officer at The Urswick School and City of London Academy Highbury Grove.
Prior to this Fatima completed the Teach First Leadership Development programme and has worked as a Secondary Science Teacher alongside having experience as a Deputy Pastoral Leader. She holds a First honours degree in Biomedical Science from King’s College London and completed her PGDE (Science) at UCL Institute of Education whilst on the Teach First programme.

Holly Brown
Holly is our Impact Manager, University Readiness.
Prior to this she completed a PhD looking at health, gender and the body in contemporary American fiction at Ghent University, Belgium. In 2017, she was a Visiting Scholar with the School of Critical Studies at the California Institute for the Arts, Los Angeles. She developed an interest in improving access to higher education in her previous role working as a Learning Support Assistant at a large London secondary school.
She also holds an MA in Comparative Literary Studies from Goldsmiths University, and a BA in American Studies from the University of Nottingham.

Jennifer Guerin
Jennifer is the Designated Child Protection Officer and the Data Protection contact.
She previously taught English as a foreign language in Vietnam, and was a manager in a centre of a tuition company. Jennifer has a degree in History from the University of Manchester.

Mairead Nolan
Mairead is a Senior University Access Officer & Quality Assurance Champion (Tuition).
Prior to this, she has worked for children’s charities including Give Something Back to Berlin and The Tutor Trust. She has also worked at Randstad as a university support worker and has experience in content writing for student related websites.
Mairead studied English Literature at the University of Leeds.

Michaela Wood
Michaela is our Volunteering Experience Manager.
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.

Olivia Bailey
Olivia is a Senior University Access Officer.
She has a Sociology degree from the University of Essex, where she worked as an editor for the Department of Sociology’s academic journal, where her work had previously been published. Her degree included 1 year of study at Masaryk University in the Czech Republic. She has also volunteered as a TA in primary schools, working one to one with students on topics they struggled with.

Rachel Sturgis
Rachel is the Data & Insight Manager.
She has previously worked as a programme coordinator for another educational charity and worked as a supply teacher in various primary schools throughout Luxembourg.
She holds a degree in English and American Studies from the University of Nottingham and a Masters degree in Transnational Studies from University College London.

Ruth Joyce

Sarah Hayter

Stuart Sheldon
Stuart is the Operations Director and is responsible for high quality delivery across all operational areas.
Stuart’s most recent roles have been senior positions within the higher education sector, including serving as Operations Director at Kaplan and National Head of Assessments at The University of Law.
Stuart holds a BA in Leadership & Management from the Open University and was the Open University Business School Leadership & Management Student of the Year in 2018.

Tiffany Woods-Shepherd
Tiffany is a Programme Manager helping manage the delivery of the Programme across our London schools. Prior to this she worked as a University Access Officer for two years, delivering the programme in school.
She has background in access initiatives, having applied to university through one herself, and also having spent a year as the undergraduate student admissions officer. After university Tiffany completed the TeachFirst scheme and spent three years as a secondary school maths teacher.
She has a degree in Philosophy, Psychology & Physiology from Oxford University

Adam Joseph-Kerr
Adam is a Senior University Access Officer and UAO Lead Diversity & Inclusion.
Adam holds a Law degree and an MA in International Law, Ethics and Politics from the University of Birmingham. Before joining The Access Project Adam supported several research projects in Birmingham Law School. He has experience in the higher education and the third sector.

Alice Dee

Andy Hollings

Callum Ryan

Cheryl Lee
Cheryl is our Operations Manager & Deputy Designated Child Safeguarding Officer as part of Operations Team, providing recruitment, HR and office support.
Cheryl studied English Literature at Roehampton University and has gone on to work in various professional services roles including Business Development and Project Management for both private and public sectors. She is currently training towards a Psychotherapy M.A and is passionate about helping people to reach their full potential.

Ellie Baird
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.

Fay Mahdi
Fay is the Impact and Strategy Director for The Access Project.
She is responsible for maintaining and improving our impact with our young people as we grow, and for supporting our strategy development.In previous roles with UK charities she has led the design, quality assurance and evaluation of humanitarian and development programmes in a number of countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Fay studied Arabic and French at the University of Edinburgh and has an MA in Anthropology of Development from SOAS.

Holly Rowe
Holly is our Senior Programme Officer.
Prior to joining our team, Holly has worked in diverse roles including as a foreign language assistant for the British Council and as an Event Coordinator.
Holly holds a degree in Politics and French from the University of Bristol and a Master of Public Policy from King’s College London. She specialised in European integration and has a keen interest in education policy.

Katie Hilder
Katie is our Head of Volunteer Recruitment.
Katie’s previous role was Regional Manager (West Midlands) for One Million Mentors, a community-based mentoring programme to support young people to fulfil their potential. Prior to that she worked for the regional STEM Ambassador Hub and managed summer camp programme delivery at The ATE Trust.
Katie has a degree in Italian and Spanish and worked professionally as a translator before joining the charity sector.

Matthew Abley
Matthew is a Senior Attainment Coordinator.
He previously taught secondary English after completing the Teach First Leadership Development programme, during which time led on a variety of school access, inclusion and enrichment projects for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Matthew holds a BA in English and Creative Writing from Royal Holloway, and a masters in educational leadership (Teach First) from Warwick University.

Muhsina Jameelah
Muhsina is Senior University Access Officer and UAO Lead Student Participation. She has previously delivered the programme at two other London schools.
Before Joining TAP, Muhsina worked as a tutor and has volunteered for various charities working with young people. Muhsina studied Human Genetics at UCL.

Paddie Marlow-Barnes
Paddie is the Project Coordinator at the Access Project.
Paddie’s experience is founded in managing campaign projects across the charity sector and managing international events. Paddie spent over two years in full-time voluntary work managing a range of international development and humanitarian projects.

Reanne Sutton
Reanne is a Senior University Access Officer.
In her previous role Reanne worked as a Project Assistant at the adult education charity Workers Educational Association. She also has experience in leading workshops for undergraduate students on project design and delivery as well as teaching students with social, emotional and mental health difficulties.
Reanne received a first in Philosophy from UCL with a final year Political Science focus on educational inequalities.

Sadhika Yasmin
Sadhika is a University Access Officer in the Midlands. She applied to university through an access scheme graduating with First Class (Hons) in biomedical science at the University of Birmingham.

Sarah Stephenson
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.

Suzanne Janes
Suzanne is Deputy Volunteering Director.

Tim Archer
Tim Archer is Head of University Partnerships at The Access Project and leads on maintaining and expanding our relationships in higher education.
Tim was previously a Director of Public Policy Events at a political communications company, overseeing a programme of engagement with those working in the wider public sector and beyond. Before that he worked in ‘Welfare to Work’, building delivery networks of back-to-work services.
Tim studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the University of Oxford (having been given a helping hand by an access scheme) and went on to do an MSc in Government and Politics of the Middle East at SOAS.

Adam Runacres
Adam is a University Access Officer in London at Bishop Douglass School and Hornsey School for Girls. He previously worked as a PhD Tutor at The Brilliant Club and Programme Officer at UCL AnthroSchools.
Adam completed his undergraduate degree in Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Cambridge before doing his Master’s and PhD in Anthropology at UCL, examining the local social impacts of tiger conservation in central India.

Alisa Zhiteneva
Alisa is our Data & Insights Coordinator (0.6) and a Volunteer Experience Coordinator (0.4).
She previously worked for a charity in Glasgow supporting disadvantaged children engage with education. Alisa studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge University after which she worked in cell biology research at the University of Edinburgh.

Aparna Anil
Aparna is the System Coordinator at The Access project
Aparna started her career as a teaching assistant. She became passionate about technology and spent her time as a Salesforce Consultant for various charity organisations.
Aparna holds different certifications in Salesforce and she is a Postgraduate in Computer Science

Catherine Angus
Catherine is our Business Partnerships Coordinator.
Prior to joining our team, she worked in the Scottish Tourism industry, and volunteered with various social care, outdoors, and Modern Slavery charities in Chile and the UK. Catherine studied Economic and Social History with Spanish at the University of Glasgow where she also spent six months teaching English with British Council.

Christian Moulding
Christian is a Senior University Access Officer and Quality Assurance Champion (Tuition).
Prior to joining TAP, he has worked as an SEND Teaching Assistant where he developed an interest in the education sector before he went on to study Ancient History at Durham University.

Eleanor Myers

Gareth Smith
Gareth is the Programme Manager for the West Midlands, managing delivery of the programme in schools across the Birmingham and the Black Country.
Gareth’s previous role was Head of Programmes, Central Region for The Prince’s Trust, helping young people transform their lives through training, education and employment. Before that Gareth had an 18 year career at NatWest Bank.

Iwan Phillips
Iwan is a University Access Officer at Dixons Allerton Academy in Bradford. He attended University of Sheffield where he completed a BA in History & Politics and an MA in Politics, Governance & Public Policy. As well as this he worked as a Widening Participation Mentor delivering Outreach sessions to students from underrepresented backgrounds in local schools.

Lucy Ball
Lucy is the Programme and Volunteering Director and is responsible for school relationships and high quality programme delivery across all of our schools in all regions.
She previously worked at a business pyschology consultancy, leading a team of PAs and Project Managers, before joining The Access Project.
Lucy holds a BA in English Literature, an MA in Colonial and Postcolonial Literature, and a PhD in the memorialisation of the British slave trade.

Mary Skelton
Mary is our Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator. She has worked and volunteered with numerous charities.
Since returning to the UK from New Zealand, she was working with the Alzheimer’s Society as Side by Side Coordinator where she managed and coordinated the volunteers. Prior to this she also worked in education supporting students with their Career & Progression options.

Naomi Burley-Baker
Naomi is Deputy Programme Director. She is responsible for school relationships and high quality programme delivery across all our London Schools. She is also responsible for all the Centrally Delivered Provision across all regions, including our Societies Programme and University trips.
She has previously worked on the Mayor of London’s School Programme as well as in Social Housing.
Naomi has a degree in Geography from University of Liverpool.

Polly Evans

Riaz Hathiari
Riaz is our Systems Manager.
He has previously worked as a Salesforce Administrator in the charity industry.

Sam Johnson

Sophia Sterling
Sophia is our Student Engagement and Transition Manager.
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.

Taija Clarke
Taija is Senior University Access Officer & Quality Assurance Champion (University Readiness).
She previously taught English as a foreign language and ran career guidance workshops whilst volunteering in Tanzania. Taija has also volunteered with various UK based charities, working closely with vulnerable groups; including a role as a mentor at a social mobility charity. Taija graduated in Sociology from Brunel University London.

Will Ainsworth
Will is a University Access Officer and UAO Lead – Events Volunteer Coordinator
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.

Aidan Young

Amelia Schofield
Amelia is a University Access Officer at Kensington Aldridge Academy and University Academy of Engineering Southbank.
Prior to joining our team, Amelia worked for a public services campaign group, and as an English language assistant at two French secondary schools. Amelia holds a degree in History from the University of Cambridge and has an MA in Global History from Freie Universität Berlin.

Arif Zaman
Arif is our Operations Administrator.
Previously, Arif has worked at a Background Screening Firm as a Researcher and Analyst. Arif is also a volunteer at the Wapping Community Centre, working on various projects, predominantly with children from an age range of 5-16. Arif has a BA in Islamic Theology and Arabic Literature from the Institute of Islamic Education.

Chanelle Shea-Calvin
Chanelle is a Senior University Access Officer in the Midlands.
Within her previous role Chanelle managed the schools outreach programme and worked in numerous primary and secondary schools within Wolverhampton; delivering workshops and events that supported young people into positive outcomes.Chanelle also worked at her local TV station; presenting and creating content for broadcast.
Chanelle holds a degree in Acting for stage and Screen from Edinburgh Napier and Queen Margaret University and is also a qualified youth worker.

Daniel Woodward
Daniel is a University Access Officer and UAO Lead University Events. Prior to joining TAP, Daniel worked in the environmental education sector in Honduras and Malta. He has also worked as an Academic Coach at colleges in the West Midlands, providing tuition and
pastoral support.
He holds a MSci in Biological Sciences from the University of Birmingham.

Erica Johnston
Erica is a University Access Officer in London.
She is an alumnus of The Access Project. Before joining the Access Project she worked in a variety of roles, including delivering and facilitating the University of Bristol’s access schemes, helping pre-undergraduates decide which university to attend, and working as a summer camp counsellor.

Georgina Pope
Georgina is the Partnerships Director at The Access Project.
She leads on partnerships and fundraising and is tasked with growing our income so we can reach more young people, improve our impact and develop new strategic projects.
Georgina previously spent several years as Development Director at campaigning organisation Liberty and has worked for several charities helping young people overcome barriers, including I CAN and Children in Crisis.
Georgina studied Anthropology at UCL before gaining an MSc from SOAS in Violence, Conflict and Development. She is a certified member of the Institute of Fundraising.

Jake Farrell
Jake is our Head of Programme Quality.
Jake previously worked for another leading University access charity and taught English in China for a year. He has a degree in English and Related Literature from the University of York.

Lynne Brown
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.

Megan Scanlon

Nathan Sansom
Nathan is our CEO. He works with Trustees and the Executive team supporting The Access Project to set and fulfil its strategic goals.
Nathan’s most recent roles have been within charities focussed on improving life chances for young people. He has been responsible for programme design and scale-up in senior roles at The Challenge Network, Starfish and Frontline. He moved to the third sector from a successful career in the civil service, including serving as the Programme Director responsible for National Citizen Service (NCS) — the coalition Government’s flagship youth programme.

Rachel Holmes
Rachel is the Programme Manager for the East Midlands and Quality Assurance Champion (University Readiness). Prior to this, Rachel was a Senior University Access Officer for Holte School in the West Midlands.
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.

Rubinder Sanga
Rubinder is our Online Tuition Manager and Tuition Quality Assurance Champion.
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.

Sara Papamichael
Sara is our Senior Programme Manager (London). Prior to becoming a Programme Manager, she worked as a University Access Officer for two years, delivering the programme in two of our schools.
Her previous roles have included teaching English as a second language, along with mentoring for youth charities.
She has a degree in English Literature and Cultural Studies from the University of Sussex.

Stephen Hudd

Tom Welch
Tom is a University Access Officer in the East Midlands.
Before joining The Access Project, he worked as an Associate Lecturer at the University of Lincoln Law School. He is currently working toward the completion of a PhD that examines the relationship between statelessness, refugeehood, and international law. Tom studied Law and Criminology at the University of Lincoln and has an MA in Applied Human Rights from the University of York.
Our Team
We are always on the lookout for passionate people to join our team. If you’re looking to work at a charity that combats educational inequality and improves social mobility, you are welcome to join us. Contact us now to find out about our current job openings