Education and EdTech Council

Ajay Chauhan

Sales Engineer & Higher Education - Tech Lead, CrowdStrike

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.

Alastair Williamson-Pound

Chief Technology Officer, Mercator Digital

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.

Ashley Gregory

Account Director, Telent

A ‘C’ level influencer with considerable contact portfolio in the Higher Education & Telco industry, Ashley comes from a highly trained and structured background in business development, account management, training and project management. Ashley is actively engaged with, and has good, longstanding relationships within Russell Group universities, ISP’s & technology vendors at all levels.

In the past, Ashley has had great success at systems integrator, Belgacom ICT, with global support functions, professional services, managed services & sell through solutions for the Service Provider market.

More recently he worked at Alternative Networks, an Enterprise SI. Ashley was the first candidate in the newly formed Service Provider team, driving its start up as a new division within the business. With numerous new logo wins within 3 years, the team expanded and flourished.

Ashley now works at Telent as an Account Director, where for the last six years he headed up the Higher Education vertical sector team.

Dr Christina Yan Zhang

CEO , The Metaverse Institute

Company HQ location: London

Global headcount and turnover: 10 employees, £1 million

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:

1. Customer acquisition and raise your profile: I will work with you to create more support and programme to help you to win business from targeted markets including big corporates, governments at home and overseas, eg. more international trade delegations. I have done that successfully at QS, the leading world university rankings agency and a SME, between 2013 and 2020, as China Director. Starting from scratch, I grew the UK-headquartered firm’s profile and commercial success in China. In 2016, China’s Vice Premier highlighted the use of QS rankings in a speech, with the rankings impacting 5 years of funding allocations to 3005 universities with 48 million students, and a budget of £750bn.
2. Innovation, Sustainability: I am an award-winning business leader with 17 years of experience turning forward-thinking ideas into ultra high growth businesses with global impact. Being a metaverse pioneer since 2006 and completed my PhD in 2012 using digital twins and metaverse for the AEC industry, I have extensive experience working with government ministers, university presidents, and business CEOs on industry, innovation, and skills strategies. I have sit on 20+ advisory committees for UNESCO, the World Bank, the Commonwealth, the EU, and UK Governments, and led successful lobbying efforts with government leaders, including 4 UK Prime Ministers and various heads of state in Africa, Asia, the Commonwealth, and Europe. I am Vice Chair of the UN's ITU Metaverse Working Group on Sustainability, Accessibility and Inclusion to set up international standards for the metaverse. I chaired the opening panel for The UN's World Intellectual Property Organization's high level summit on IP and Metaverse. I want to bring this extensive global network, foresight of innovation policies, and influencing ability to benefit you and TechUK.
3. Digital Skills,Reskills: At QS, one of the leading world university ranking agencies, we evaluate 10,000+ top universities in 100+ countries for 30+ years. I have visited and evaluated hundreds of the world’s top universities, labs, and hospitals, advising presidents of those institutions on future of skills. I will bring this extensive global insight on the future of skills to develop new programme to benefit you.  
4. Membership Development and management: I want to assist the board to attract more SME to join as members and deliver more value for your membership. I have done that before. During my time as the elected International Students Officer for National Union of Students UK between 2008 and 2012, the number of International Students Officers who joined our organisation have increased by 10 times. I have also worked in the UK parliament in the Shadow BIS Secretary’s team developing policies on efficient support to SMEs which was later included in the election manifesto. I have in-depth knowledge of the SME sector in the UK and globally and want to bring this knowledge to benefit new and existing SME members.

Jane Dellar

Account Manager | Social Value Lead, PDMS Ltd

I am the Account Manager at PDMS for UK public sector organisations, focusing on long-term partnerships in the skills and education sector. I am dedicated to ensuring technology delivers the best outcomes for people and businesses.

I have a strategic-level understanding of economic development, having previously been MD of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, Head of Isle of Man Finance at the IoM Government Treasury & Chief Executive at the IoM Chamber of Commerce.

Closest to my heart has always been helping people to be the best they can be. Education along with personal & professional development has been woven into my career for nearly 30 years since being a professional qualification tutor with BPP training.

I am keen to contribute to the efforts of the Council to help ensure that our industry continues to thrive and government & society benefit from the capabilities available in the UK.

Joel Mundy

Business Director, Executive Practice Lead: Digital, Data & Technology, Hays Technology

I’ve worked with organisations in the Education space for over a decade, first joining in Hays in 2013. In my role as Executive Practice Lead for Digital, Data and Technology, I work with organisational leadership attracting diverse and high performing digital, data, technology and change talent with a focus on impacting how education is delivered and consumed. I am passionate about challenging employers on how they look and build diverse skills for the future, ensuring organisations drive inclusive environments to allow everyone to feel empowered and that they have a voice – plus that organisations foster and nurture the development of diverse workforces.

Matt Jordan

Canva for Education - EMEA Lead, Canva

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.

Neil Bailey

Head of Education & Research, CDW

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.

Nilesh Patel

Technology and Solution Head in Education Sector, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd

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

Education Market Development and Partner Strategy Lead for Cisco in the UK and Europe, Cisco Systems

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.

Robin Ghurbhurun

UK Managing Director Further Education and Skills, Jisc

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.

Steve Clarke

Head of NCCE and CPD, STEM Learning

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.

Sian Wilson

Executive Director – Commercial, Day One, and Vice Chair of the Skills & Diversity Council

Sian is the co-founder and director at Day One – an early careers tech company. She has over 24 years experience in growth, strategic development, skills and DEI.

Sian is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts (RSA), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), Fellow of the Institute of Employability Professionals (IEP) and Chartered Member of Personnel Development (CIPD).

Twitter:

@SianWilsonMyers

Website:

https://dayonework.com/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sianwilsonmyers/?originalSubdomain=uk

Tamara Monti

Sales director, Dassault Systèmes

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.

At Dassault Systèmes, Tamara spearheaded initiatives that boosted SaaS adoption by 51% and forged collaborations with top universities. She combines deep technical expertise rooted in a PhD in Electromagnetics—with a passion for education innovation and industry-academic partnerships. Tamara has held roles from Assistant Lecturer to Research Fellow and actively contributes to STEM and EdTech initiatives, including serving as STEM Working Group Coordinator and panelist at leading industry events. Recognized for her leadership and communication skills, she brings a collaborative and insight-driven approach to advancing education technology on a strategic level.

Tim Cockle

Director Consulting Expert, CGI

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.

Vanessa Soames

Social Value Director – Public Sector and Health, Cognizant

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.

Dimple Khagram

Founder and CEO, Purple Beard

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.

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimplekhagram/,https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimplekhagram/

Dr. Yuliana Topazly, MBE

Associate Professor of Enterprise and Innovation, University of East London

Dr. Yuliana Topazly is an Associate Professor of Enterprise and Innovation at the University of East London, a Director of Strategic Planning Team at DOHE and an award-winning social entrepreneur.

Yuliana has been named as one of the ‘Top 100 Most Inspiring Mentors in the UK’ (2016); won the Croydon Business Awards twice (2013 and 2017) for 'Commitment to the Community' and 'Women in Business' respectively. In 2023 Yuliana was awarded an MBE for services to businesses and female entrepreneurship.

Yuliana has a unique blend of experience working in HE Institutions, developing enterprise strategies and entrepreneurship support programmes, engaging with one of the world’s largest EdTech championing groups and working closely with the wide range of a global EdTech startup community as well as running her own successful social enterprise. She has worked with more than 5,000 small businesses and across 15 different HE Institutions around the world.