Jeff Banks

CEO

Jeff has worked for over thirty years, leading voluntary and community sector organisations and multi-agency partnerships, working across health, education and social care. Jeff opened a ground breaking fully-accessible residential arts education centre in 2011 and was founder of a STEM free school which opened in 2015. Jeff was one of the five directors of the National Lottery Community Fund's £215m 'A Better Start’ programme, an action research initiative working to co-design and test innovative new services for pregnant women, families and early years children. Most recently, Jeff served as Director of Strategic Partnerships at a NHS Integrated Care System, where he led the establishment of a large and complex Integrated Care Partnership and the system-wide Integrated Care Strategy.

Jeff's work has always focused on equality and human rights, and he has led a number of disabled-led organisations. Jeff has lived with a disability since 2002 and is a fluent British Sign Language user.

Em Diserens

STEM Partnership Programme Manager

Em is a former primary school teacher turned EDI specialist. Since leaving teaching she has worked in STEM engagement with a focus on accessibility, including at a science centre and charity. She is passionate about showing young people that STEM is accessible and inclusive to all, and supporting the sector to ensure that's true.

Em's role as STEM Partnership Programme Manager is broad and includes managing the STEM in SEN network, promoting and delivering training, consulting, and managing Lightyear Foundation consultants and trainers.

Emma Zeale

STEM Outreach Programme Manager

Emma has a background in conservation biology, ecology and research. She has worked within the charity sector as an editor and project manager for the past eight years, including managing the SEN in STEM Network and providing HR support for Lightyear. Emma has developed a passion for inclusive practices and inspiring children in STEM.

As part of her new role as STEM Outreach Programme Manager, Emma will be managing and developing our in-school outreach programmes and working alongside our Lab Leads, Work Trip Inspiration Hosts and delivery partners to support accessible and inclusive STEM learning and inspire young people to think about STEM for future study and careers.

Rosie Mellors

Community Manager

For almost a decade, Rosie has been designing and project managing interventions designed to increase belonging amongst groups historically excluded from participation in STEM and beyond. Through this work, she has developed a passion for people, and believes building community and supportive culture is the key to making positive change.

As Community Manager, Rosie has a varied role supporting and engaging with staff and volunteers, including administration, communications, and fundraising.

Beth Whittal-Williams

Social Media Manager

Beth has a background in Children's Television having worked as a Presenter and Producer for over 15 years, working with Channel 5's Milkshake! and working on programmes for CITV, CBBC and CBeebies. In 2018 she upskilled in Social Media strategy and management and provides freelance social media support for children's parenting and family brands. 

Beth is proud to support Lightyear Foundation with their social media and is passionate about providing inclusive and valuable content for their audience.

Dr Claire Malone

STEM Lead

Claire is a contributing columnist for Physics World and Symmetry magazine. She holds a PhD in Particle Physics from the University of Cambridge, in which she analysed data from CERN. Throughout her career, she has had to devise techniques of studying to negotiate the fact that she cannot use a pen/keyboard directly due to her physical disability. She is passionate about making science accessible to as wide an audience as possible and frequently contributes to public discussions about the best strategies to communicate science to diverse audiences. This has led her to recently deliver the keynote address at the Public Awareness of Research Infrastructures conference, in addition to her popular TEDTalk which has now received almost 2 million views.

Rupa Ahluwalia

Lightyear Lab Lead  

Rupa has been working as a science educator and communicator for over 10 years in schools and informal outreach settings. In 2019 she set up her science education business, RSA Discovery, as she strongly believes students should feel confident and less anxious. She currently provides science tutoring for all three sciences from ages 6 to 16 and biology to A-level as well as primary science workshops and consultancy. She completed her main degree at Royal Holloway University in Biology with Science Communication and PGCE at Oxford University. She regularly writes about education in her blog.

Recently, she came as a finalist in the UK Ed Business Awards for ‘Inspiring STEM Educator of the Year 2021’ and in her spare time uses her STEM Ambassador skills to test experiments with her little one.

www.rsadiscovery.co.uk

Hannah-Rose Ford Tomlinson

Lightyear Lab Lead

Hannah-Rose is an Audience Researcher at the Science Museum Group specialising in engaging neurodivergent audiences. She carries out targeted research to understand and advocate for audiences, supporting the development and delivery of galleries, exhibitions, learning resources, programmes, events and activities. Hannah is also a freelance science communicator, presenter, and content developer, and has worked with BBC Bitesize and Blue Peter. As an autistic science communicator, they are deeply passionate about STEM engagement that is accessible and genuinely inclusive.

Beejal Parekh

Lightyear Lab Lead

Beejal has a background in environmental science, and has spent the past 15 years immersed in the world of STEM and environmental education. She is a freelance science communicator, project manager and content developer.

Her career portfolio includes delivering Education for Sustainable Development programmes with EcoACTIVE Education, leading work focused on increasing engagement with groups typically underrepresented in STEM at the British Science Association, driving education policy and research around teacher recruitment and retention at the Greater London Authority, and most recently developing and delivering a suite of unique beyond-the-classroom learning opportunities designed to cultivate intercultural connections and develop life competencies at the International Schools Partnership.

Beejal is passionate about the power of outdoor education. She is a trained Forest School practitioner and was a volunteer leader for Woodcraft Folk for several years.

https://beejalparekh.com/

Sammy Mason

Lightyear Lab Lead and Lightyear Course Trainer

Sammy is a science communicator at the University of Edinburgh working within the GroundsWell consortium who are investigating the health and wellbeing benefits of green spaces. Her work involves engaging with community groups and schools to co-produce research outputs through citizen science and other participatory research methods.

Sammy has over 10 years of experience working in schools and is passionate about breaking down barriers for all children to take part in STEM. Her PhD research focussed on increasing nature connection through outdoor STEM activities at over 50 mainstream schools and SEND settings across North-East England.

Nat Hawley

Lightyear Course Trainer

Nathaniel (Nat) is a neurodiversity champion and advocate for individuals with learning differences, such as autism, with a deep passion for understanding the neurological underpinnings of these conditions. His efforts have earned him numerous accolades, including a nomination for the Pride of Britain award and inclusion in The National Autistic Society's Autism Professionals Award for Outstanding Achievements. He has been recognised by HRH King Charles III for his heroism, international fundraising efforts, and public speaking on behalf of people with disabilities. Currently, Nat is pursuing a Masters in Applied Neuroscience at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London, where he focuses on advanced training in the fields of psychiatry, psychology, and both basic and applied neuroscience. As a founder of the youth-focused organisation, Divergent Thinking UK, he is passionate about disseminating scientific knowledge to the broader public and bridging the gap between academia, industry, and education. Through his work, Nat aims to promote evidence-based practices that enhance the lives of individuals with neurological conditions and their families.

Rachel Howle

Lightyear Course Trainer

Currently working in University Outreach, Rachel has a range of public engagement experience, from organising Pint of Science York to running Chester SciBar and Founding both Chester and York SciComm networks. She has undertaken placements at SS Great Britain, working on their Future Brunel's programme, and at the National Museum Cardiff, developing visitor engagement literature. She has worked with schools on projects such as STEM Sisters, celebrating the work of historical women in STEM, and has supported them in establishing, developing and gaining recognition for their STEM subject extra curricular clubs. She has been a Science Communicator and Presenter at Xplore! Science and Discovery Centre and is currently working with the University of Chester on the Chester Festival of Ideas. She helped to organise the UK's first Local Conference of Youth on Climate Change and was the secretary of the North West Science Alliance. Rachel is a member of the Network for the Public Communication of Science and the BIG STEM Communicator's Network. She has attended various conferences including chairing the 'Perceptions on Participation ' session at the NCCPE's 'Science in Public' conference.

Michael Schubert

Lightyear Course Trainer

Michael is a former molecular biologist turned science communicator and consultant. He works across all areas of life sciences and medicine and has a particular enthusiasm for combining learning and communication with diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Currently, he co-directs the Digital Communications Fellowship in Pathology, works in freelance science and medical writing for all audiences, and uses his lived experience in disability, neurodiversity, and LGBTQ+ issues to consult on diversity, inclusion, and accessibility strategy across a range of industries from education to entertainment.

Rebecca Garthwaite

Work Inspiration Trip Co-ordinator

Rebecca is a passionate advocate for inclusivity and equal opportunity. She completed the Charityworks leadership development programme in 2018, a scheme which has given her the tools to be effective in the non-profit sector. Since then she has been working in the NHS as an Executive Assistant, helping with the running of a busy GP practice in central Bristol and ensuring the accessible and caring provision of health services. She is currently training to become a Music Therapist, and is an active musician in the Bristol folk scene as well as one of the founders of Bristol-based community record label Cuculi Records.

Peter Roberts

Chair of Trustees

Happily residing on the beautiful Jurassic Coast near Bournemouth, Peter is an Honorary Visiting Professor at AECC University College in Dorset, a college specialising in healthcare sciences. He is a former University COO and is a Visiting Academic in London and Cambridge. He acts as a VIP Judge of "F1 in Schools", an international STEM competition for school children currently operational in over 40 countries. He is a Member of the Worshipful Company of Educators and a Freeman of the City of London. Peter is a member of the Cambridge University Society of Dorset; an MBA alumnus of Bayes Business School, City, University of London; a qualified ECB cricket coach mentoring girls' and boys' county teams and a Vice President of Brentham Cricket Club in Middlesex

Kirshen Govender

Treasurer

Kirshen qualified as a chartered accountant in South Africa with the audit firm EY, before moving to London with BDO and is now an assistant audit manager. He is passionate about the STEM sector and how to make it as inclusive as possible. In his spare time he enjoys reading and the occasional hike.

Dr Camila Devis-Rozental

Camila is an educator with over 20 years’ experience. Currently, she is a principal academic at Bournemouth University, where she works with the Head of Service Excellence embedding a positive organisational culture, alongside supervising PhD students and delivering bespoke lectures. Camila’s research centres around socio-emotional intelligence, student engagement and success, and positive education, and she is on a quest to humanise education by applying findings from her social sciences research to real situations, and make a positive impact in the world.

Camila has won various grants and awards: most recently she was included in the 2022 Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list for her contribution to education.

As a disabled academic, Camila has lived experience of the barriers facing disabled people in education and is a passionate advocate for equity, diversity, inclusion and justice.

Clive Gilbert

Clive is a public policy professional and disability rights advocate. He is part of the Assistive and Accessible Technology Policy Lab at the cross party think tank Policy Connect, where he works with policy makers, disabled people and other experts to make society inclusive for everyone. He is a member of the government's Digital Social Care Advisory Group, which helps shape how technology is used in care. Clive is also a member of the governing council of the British Assistive Technology Association (BATA), where he set up and chairs the Augmentative and Alternative Communication Special Interest Group. In 2022 Clive was listed on The Shaw Trust's Disability Power 100 – a list of the most influential disabled people in the UK.

Dr. Camilla Pang

Having obtaining a PhD Biochemistry at UCL, Camilla is currently a postdoctoral scientist specialising in translational bioinformatics at a pharmaceutical company developing treatments for immunological and neurological based diseases.

She is also the author of the book 'Explaining Humans' (Penguin Viking, March 2020), which is a memoir that uses scientific principles to understand human behaviour from the lens of someone who has Autism and ADHD. The book is at present shortlisted for the Royal Society Insight Investment science book prize 2020 and the British psychological society book prize 2020.

As well as a professional scientist and writer, Camilla is a passionate volunteer in equalising opportunities for those within marginalised demographics in STEM, and has worked with charities including STEM Ambassadors and In2Science. Alongside this, Camilla contributes voluntary research for structural biology labs at UCL/Francis Crick institute, which are involved in studying SARS-CoV-2 and cancer evolution. With a strong voice that advocates for the enablement of neurodiversity (and for the female experience of autism), she has appeared in media outlets such as The Times, BBC Woman's hour, BBC radio 4 science channels, along with live interviews at the Cheltenham literature festival 2020. Current media focuses are on developing TV projects with BBC/Channel 4 – she consistently highlights that neurodiversity forms the hidden treasures of society that naturally challenges social norms and thereby forms the basis of human evolution.

Dr. Josie Rawes

Josie is a Lecturer in Physics at the University of York. She previously worked as a Teaching Associate at the University of Bristol, where she completed her PhD in Astrophysics. There, she taught undergraduate level physics and organised all the outreach and public engagement activities for the physics department. Before this, Josie worked for the Institute of Physics, touring Wales on their ‘Lab in a Lorry’ science outreach project.

In her spare time she races long distance triathlons and will mostly likely be found outdoors.

Lucy Williams

Lucy has a Masters in Physics and Astronomy from Durham University, and now works with local sight loss charities after some time in publishing astronomy research. Having grown up with a Visual Impairment, Lucy is aware of the challenges being disabled can bring in a world not built with everyone in mind, but she's a strong advocate for showing all the amazing skills people have because of their disabilities, and how STEMM is for everybody. She also sits on the London Sight Loss Council, working with other blind and partially sighted people in the city to advocate for improved accessibility and awareness. In her spare time she enjoys reading, going to gigs and attempting to play the guitar.