Education and EdTech Council

I have dedicated my career to the EdTech sector, supporting educational institutions in leveraging technology to enhance student outcomes, empower teachers, and assist leaders in making informed decisions about classroom technologies. Currently, I lead CDW’s global education business, providing solutions across five continents and over forty countries, positively impacting millions of students. Backed by a team of education strategists and technologists, and partnering with the world’s largest technology providers—often as their top partner—I offer a comprehensive perspective on Education Technology across Higher Education and Schools, ensuring tangible results for our customers and partners.

Ajay Chauhan is an accomplished cybersecurity professional with a diverse background spanning customer engagement, technical solutions, and strategic leadership. He currently serves at CrowdStrike, a leading cybersecurity firm, where he leverages his extensive expertise to protect organisations from cyber threats. Based in Reading, UK, Ajay has cultivated a robust network of over 500 professional connections. His career reflects a commitment to advancing cybersecurity practices and delivering innovative solutions to complex challenges.

Steve works for STEM Learning where he leads the DfE funded National Centre for Computing Education and shapes the organisation's strategy for teacher professional development. He was a computing teacher and leader for more than a decade and spent several years as a computing curriculum consultant and online safety advisor for Babcock Education in Surrey and Devon. In this role, Steve supported many schools through the transition from ICT to computing, advising leaders on whole-school IT strategy, and helping them to adopt transformative technology.

As a Digital Transformation Consultant at CGI, Dr. Tim Cockle helps organisations use technology to achieve their goals, combining experience in digital transformation, education, and strategic consulting across public and private sectors. Tim has worked with various higher education institutions and has a background in higher education as a researcher and part-time lecturer as part of his Ph.D. Working in the commercial sector Tim has experience with Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), bridging academia and industry to drive innovation. Passionate about technology’s role in shaping the future of learning and teaching, he actively contributes to discussions on AI, student experience, and cost optimisation in education. His cross-sector experience positions him to drive impactful collaboration between policymakers, education providers, and technology companies. Committed to making a difference, Tim is also a Governor at his local high school focusing on curriculum and assessment, across 6th Form as well as in specific subjects.

I'm a marketing and communications expert with over a decade of experience developing and executing strategies that drive business growth and enable organisations to amplify their impact and services. As Head of Marketing, Communications, and Proposals at Me Learning – a leading learning provider in the UK, I lead our growth strategies into new sectors and position the company as a credible force in both our existing and new markets. My role blends strategy and creative execution to support our ambitious commercial goals. I’m deeply committed to helping organisations clearly communicate who they are and what they offer, so they reach the right people and achieve sustainable growth. I’m also a passionate education advocate, working to influence the investments, innovations, and policies needed to transform education systems. I believe that preparing individuals of all ages for the evolving global landscape is one of the most urgent challenges of our time.

An experienced C-Suite executive serving the Further Education and Skills sector over four decades. The UK Executive lead for Jisc’s Further Education and skills policy, member engagement, artificial intelligence and advice & training services for both further and higher education. Leads on Jisc’s strategy for building the digital leadership capacity within FE, HE and Skills institutions whilst also leading on the strategic engagement for FE and Skills with UK Government funders. Robin also leads on collaboration with other relevant agencies and digital suppliers. Robin is an experienced and former College CEO, trustee and non-executive director while also having held positions as Chair of educational establishments and technology associations. Currently a Board member and Chair of the Curriculum and Standards Committee at West London College; a Director and Trustee of the awarding organisation NCFE, a Board member of the National Association of Licensed Paralegals and a Governor of Suffolk New College.

Ken leads the UK Education business for Amazon Web Services (AWS). He and his team support a wide range of educational institutions, from schools and colleges to universities, research institutes, central bodies, and educational technology (EdTech) companies. They work tirelessly to enable customers to harness the transformative power of cloud technology to enhance learning, drive innovation, and expand access to knowledge and resources. Ken is committed to helping the education and research communities transform lives by unlocking innovation and accelerating transformation.

I am a technology entrepreneur with a deep commitment to data, AI, and education. I founded Nettitude in 2003, scaling it into a global cybersecurity business before its acquisition in 2018. Since then, I’ve focused on the ethical application of AI, founding Sendient in 2023 to support schools with innovative, AI-powered assessment and marking tools. I actively promote responsible AI use through my role on the advisory board for AI in Education, championing standards across the EdTech sector. I also serve as President of CREST, the international non-profit for cybersecurity assurance, where I engage regularly with government stakeholders including the NCSC, DSIT, and FCDO. Closer to home, I am a Trustee of the Princethorpe Foundation, a group of schools in Warwickshire. My work reflects a belief in technology as a force for good, reducing administrative burdens on teachers and improving learning outcomes for all students.

As Head of K12 Education for Canva in EMEA, I work with governments across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to support digital learning transformation and the development of innovative education programs. My collaborations span diverse regions, including Slovenia, Poland, Oman, Kazakhstan, France, Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey, ensuring technology enhances learning outcomes at scale. With over a decade in EdTech leadership, business development, and policy engagement, I have successfully driven education technology adoption in schools and government institutions. My experience includes senior roles at Zzish, itslearning, and Smoothwall, where I spearheaded strategic initiatives to improve accessibility, online safety, student engagement, and digital assessment tools. I am passionate about bridging the gap between policy and implementation, ensuring technology drives meaningful change in education. As a Council Member, I would bring a strategic, policy-driven perspective to support techUK’s Education & EdTech Programme.

Dimple is an experienced education practitioner and entrepreneur. She has worked in the vocational education sector for more than 15 years in various roles, She has led teams of delivery, business development and setting up & running two successful training companies in the U.K. Her specialisms include AI, digital technology, curriculum design to support the delivery of technology standards, preparation for quality assurance, employer engagement, team management, partnership working, designing e-learning, project management and supporting delivery teams.

Tamara Monti is a dynamic Sales Director with a strong track record in driving SaaS adoption and forging strategic partnerships across the Education and Enterprise sectors. With over a decade of experience spanning technical consulting, sales leadership, and academia, she has led high-performing teams to exceed growth targets and deliver impactful solutions in Northern Europe.

As Technology and Solution Head for Education Sector TCS UK&I, I believe that the future of Digital will be all about “trust-based experience, both internally and externally”. My experience in EdTech has focused on the opportunities created by the convergence of data, behavioural science, creativity and technology implementation, while ensuring inclusive and responsible outcomes. As an ex-CIO and Accountant Lead at a big 4 firm, I led large & complex IT project implementations for Fortune 500 clients in the UK, USA, Singapore, the Philippines, and India. This included advising clients on understanding the implications of game changing technologies such as AI on people, design, and user experiences.

Ricardo Santos is the Education Market Development and Partner Strategy Lead for Cisco in the UK and Europe. In this role, he supports customers and partners in advancing digital transformation initiatives that address real-world challenges across the Higher Education, Research, and Schools sectors. With over 20 years at Cisco and more than 34 years of experience in the IT and Telecom industries across the US, Latin America, and Europe, Ricardo brings a deep, multicultural perspective and a strong understanding of the evolving demands of digital transformation. His work focuses on leveraging technology to support teaching, learning, and research, while also enabling secure, smart, and sustainable campus environments that improve operational efficiency and enhance the student experience. Ricardo holds an MBA from Duke University (USA) and a postgraduate degree in Advanced Management from INSEAD (France). He is also actively engaged in international communities focused on educational technology adoption. In addition to his corporate career, Ricardo has over 25 years of experience as a Higher Education teacher and mentor in Business Schools, specializing in Marketing and Strategic Planning.

Vanessa Soames is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the digital skills landscape. She has held key roles at KPMG Barclays and Cognizant, where she has been responsible for the recruitment and development of graduates, interns, and apprentices in digital skills. As Social Value Director at Cognizant, Vanessa supports public sector clients in skilling underrepresented groups and designing initiatives to match their priorities. She has championed regional skills initiatives, including the Cognizant Women’s in Technology Leadership masters programme and localised technology training bootcamps. Vanessa has driven tangible outcomes through award-winning programmes for early talent and apprenticeships. Her work with stakeholders and industry-led projects has been recognized, and she has been shortlisted for Creating Capability in Digital Skills at the Social Value awards 2024. Vanessa's commitment to promoting accessible training and guiding the development of emerging technologies is evident in her work.

Yuliana is an Associate Professor, Business Mentor, and Award-Winning Social Entrepreneur. She has been widely celebrated for her leadership, being named one of the Top 100 Most Inspiring Mentors in the UK (2016), winning the Croydon Business Awards twice (2013, 2017) for Commitment to the Community and Women in Business, and featuring in the WISE 2020 List: 100 Social Enterprise Leaders Showing COVID Who is the Boss!. Most recently, Yuliana was awarded an MBE for Services to Business and Female Entrepreneurship. Currently, she serves as Associate Professor of Enterprise and Innovation at the University of East London and Director of the Strategic Planning Team at DOHE Europe. She also contributes to the sector through her role on the techUK EdTech Council, GETN and EUropean EdTech Alliance as an advisory board member. Passionate about education, female and social entrepreneurship, she now leads on developing Global EdTech ecosystems, working to minimise barriers and maximise opportunities for EdTech entrepreneurs around the world.

Alastair Williamson-Pound is Chief Technology Officer at Mercator Digital, a UK-based consultancy specialising in digital transformation, AI, and public sector innovation. With over 20 years’ experience spanning government, education, and commercial sectors, Alastair has delivered high-impact programmes for HMRC, the Government Digital Service, and six UK universities. He has secured over £200M in digital delivery contracts and scaled consultancy operations by over 150%, spearheading the expansion into cloud, cyber, and AI services. Alastair is passionate about using technology to improve lives, break down barriers to access, and drive sustainable public service outcomes. A Digital MBA graduate, he combines strategic leadership with hands-on product delivery expertise. He is eager to contribute to TechUK’s mission and support innovation that enhances the quality, inclusivity, and effectiveness of UK education.

About the company : The Metaverse Institute (MI) is made up of a group of leading pioneers and thought leaders in the Metaverse, artificial intelligence, smart cities, and related technologies. We work closely with intergovernmental organisations, governments, big corporates and institutional investors to assist them to use latest technologies to improve real world.. Current responsibilities: As CEO I oversee all aspects of the company and I am responsible for developing the company strategy and its execution.. Current involvement with techUK: I sit on the Digital Twins Steering Board. I have a long history working with TechUK since 2010. Then I was elected as the first Chinese elected to National Union of Students(NUS) UK since 1922. I was representing 1 million international and EU students study at 600 higher education and further education institutions in Britain. Work with CBI, TechUK, Universities UK, MPs & Lords (especially BIS Secretary Vince Cable, University Minister David Willetts), 10+ Ambassadors to the UK, media, trade unions, think tanks on a successful campaign between 2010-2012. We produced a toolkit for 600 Students Unions to work with University/college presidents to lobby their local MPs/Lords, achieved a record-breaking 31,000 responses to a UK government public consultation in two months, had questions being asked at key parliamentary committees, the Prime Minister’s Question Time, relevant All Party Parliamentary Groups, and generated much media coverage in the UK and globally. We successfully lobbied Theresa May to cancel 10 policies, postponed the Post Study Work Visa cancelation by 1 year, created Graduate Entrepreneur Visa. I was also interviewed for a Director of Policy job by TechUK in 2017. What are your reasons for wanting to be a techUK Director and what could you bring to the techUK Main Board? I have a wealth of expertise to deliver the top priorities in areas highlighted by the latest TechUK membership survey by SME: