About Us

Professor Sa'ad Medhat PhD MPhil CEng FIET FCIM FCMI FRSA

Chief Executive

Professor Medhat is the Founder of NEF with an established reputation for driving forward initiatives from policy through to implementation in partnership with Government departments and agencies. Professor Medhat sits on the Boards of a number of technology and venture capital companies and is a Visiting Professor to Bournemouth University and a member of the Parliamentary and Science Committee. He also sits on the Business and Community Advisory Board of the Joint Academic Information Systems Committee (JISC) and on the board of the Foundation Degree Forward (fdf). He is a Governor at Oxford and Cherwell College, a Trustee of Reading College and a Patron of Walsall College. Professor Medhat is a member of SEPnet (the South East of England Physics Network of universities). Professor Medhat served as a member of the HEFCE’s Quality Assessment in Learning and Teaching (QALT) Committee and the Advisory and Assessment Panels of the Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs). He was also a member of the University of Bristol’s Court. Professor Medhat held a number of senior industrial and academic positions nationally and internationally including Vice President of Futuremedia PLC, Director of the Engineering and Technology Board, Polytechnic Director, IBM Professor of Concurrent Engineering, Intergraph Professor of Electronic Design Automation (World Wide), Head of University Research and Head of School of Electronics at Bournemouth University. He has published widely with over 60 publications and books worldwide and holds a number of invention patents.

Iain Nixon BSc (Hons) MA

Director of Research

Iain is Director of Research at NEF. Iain leads on a number of our Think Tank activities and has a national reputation for supporting the higher and further education sectors to create impact as they respond to contemporary policy agendas. He provides an incisive insight into national issues, making leading contributions to high profile conferences and helping organisations interpret the strategic challenges they face and develop plans to respond effectively. Iain also uses his skills of facilitation, support and challenge in a wide set of circumstances from helping partners to plan strategic futures, providing team building for top teams and leading development programmes and evaluation in the areas of workforce development, innovation and enterprise.

Michelle Medhat BA (Hons) FRSA MCIM MIoD

Operations Director

Michelle is an executive director with the responsibility of managing NEF’s operations including web developments. She is also responsible for managing a number of strategic partnerships with our key stakeholders including the London Development Agency, the Learning and Skills Council, the Made in London Engineering and Manufacturing Consortium as well as the BBC. Michelle led the development of the Enterprise and Knowledge Transfer in London which provided the blueprints for many of the national initiatives in knowledge and technology transfer in further education. She comes with 20 years management and marketing experience gained in the world of education and business nationally and internationally. Michelle held positions such as Managing Director of Productivity4you an e-learning company, a Marketing Director of Dubai Polytechnic and a Marketing Manager at Bournemouth University. Michelle is passionate about the need for a more effective and recognisable vocational education and work based learning in STEM subjects.

Dan Fox BA (Hons)

Director of Public Affairs

Dan has the responsibility for building high level relationships with parliamentarians, goverment departments, Think Tanks and other NGOs. He is responsible for researching, forecasting and evaluating the potential impact of policy on the areas in which NEF operates in. Dan has substantial experience in public affairs at both a national and international level.

Dr Sarah Peers PhD MSc BSc (Hons)

Senior Executive - Programmes

Dr Sarah Peers runs NEF’s Industrial Fellowship Scheme (the largest industrial secondment scheme in the UK) and other professional development programmes nationally and supports colleges with cross curriculum STEM development. She comes with an interesting background that combines the worlds of education, business and social care sector. She is a Mathematics graduate from the University College London, with Masters from Kings College London and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from UCL. Sarah comes with a combined educational HE and FE experience gained at both University College London and Carlisle College. She also worked in Technology Transfer nationally and internationally and led engineering and technology projects in such areas as Intelligent Planning & Scheduling in Manufacturing and Decision Support Systems for Inspection and Rehabilitation of Structures.

Dr Matthew Shelley PhD MMath&Phys

Project Manager

Matthew comes from a science and engineering background having completing his Masters in Mathematics and Physics at the University of Manchester in 2006. He then went on to undertake research on thermoelectric materials at Imperial College which led to his PhD. Since joining the team at the NEF, Matthew has been building relations between FE colleges and industry, and developing training and educational processes and resources, all the while bringing his broad leading-edge technical expertise to each project.

Dr. Fallyn W. Campbell PhD BSc (Hons)

Project Manager

Fallyn comes to the NEF from a chemical sciences background. Having graduated with a BSc(Hons) in Chemistry from the University of Edinburgh in 2007 she then went on to complete a PhD in Nanoelectrochemistry at the University of Oxford. As a member of the NEF team Fallyn has been working on the ground-breaking Industrial Fellowship Scheme, developing relations between FE colleges and industry. Fallyn is applying this strong scientific & technical background in order to develop educational tools and strategies for both FE and industrial sectors.

Wendy Au-Yeung BSc (Hons) MSc MBPsS

Organisational Development and Training Psychologist

Wendy has a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from University College London and a MSc in Occupational Psychology from Nottingham University. Prior to NEF, Wendy has worked as a Psychologist for the Ministry of Defence and also an Organisational Psychology Consultancy. Wendy will be applying her experience in organisational development and training in the delivery of NEF products for both FE and industrial sectors.

Dr Emma Whitelaw MChem

Programmes and Marketing Coordinator

Emma carried out her Masters in Chemistry at the University of St Andrews where she carried out an industrial placement at Ciba Specialty Chemicals. Upon graduation she worked as a research chemist at Ceimig Ltd in Dundee, Scotland synthesising precious metal complexes for a variety of industries. She carried out her PhD in Chemistry at the University of Bath where her research involved the preparation of catalysts for the production of sustainable biopolymers. During her PhD, Emma was involved in the development of STEM in schools through the ‘Meet the Scientist’ programme. Emma brings her technical expertise to a wide range of products within the company.

Daniel Wainwright BSc (Hons)

IT and Web Services Manager

Daniel is NEF’s IT and Web Services Manager with the responsibility for maintaining the online services. Daniel brings a combined experience in business and education and has worked for organisations such as Reuters and The University of Sunderland. He has a First Class Honours degree in Business and Technology from Sheffield Hallam University. Daniel also provides the technical underpinning and support for NEF’s e-learning development programmes.

Sheila Hoile Sheila Hoile MBE MA BSc(Eng)Hons

Advisor

Since 2007 Sheila has worked as a freelance consultant mainly in the construction industry. She is currently director of Hoile Associates and is a visiting professor to the School of the Built Environment at the University of Salford. Sheila specialises in developing and delivering skills strategies at national, regional and sectoral level. Recognised throughout her career for ground-breaking achievements at national level, she is a natural at bringing people together to develop powerful relationships and long-term networks. For 5 years up to December 2006 Sheila was the Director of Skills Strategy at CITB-ConstructionSkills. Before that she was Director of Education and Professional Development at the Construction Industry Council. She successfully led ConstructionSkills into becoming one of four Pathfinder Sector Skills Councils and creating one of the first four sector specific National Skills Academies. Sheila was awarded the MBE in 2001 New Year’s Honours List for her contribution to construction education and training. Sheila graduated as an aeronautical engineer and spent her early career teaching Physics. She has a Masters Degree in Education and Industry from University of Warwick.

Malcolm Carr West MAgrSci BSc CEng

Advisor

Malcolm has the responsibility for the technical aspects of some of NEF's events, and he represents the Foundation interest on 14 - 19 Diploma panels as well as with a number of professional bodies. He manages the New Technology Institute based in Dagenham. As a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers, Malcolm comes with a significant experience in engineering gained nationally and internationally. He was head of Writtle College's agricultural engineering department and currently serves on the Engineering and Technology Board’s Registrant Panel. Malcolm is passionate about recognition for Technicians in STEM.

Andrew Thomson BSc (Hons) MEd

Advisor

Andrew is conducting research on how the English FE system should achieve excellence on behalf of NEF. Andrew held a number of distinguished national positions such as Chief Executive of the Quality Improvement Agency, Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Development Agency, Principal of East Norfolk Sixth Form College and Long Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge. Andrew started his career in social work and teaching. Andrew was a member of the LSC Bureaucracy Task Force, Sixth Form Colleges' representative on the Association of Colleges Board, from 1998 to 2004, and has served on a variety of FEFC, DfES and LSC committees and working groups. Andrew is an Environmental Sciences graduate from the University of East Anglia and read for his Masters in Education at Brunel University.

Mike Söldner

Low Carbon Advisor

Mike brings to the NEF team over 10 years of experience in energy consultancy. Carbon and energy management are specific areas of expertise that Michael has developed through management and delivery of a large variety of projects for a wide range of private and public sector organisations. These include energy efficiency surveys, renewable energy feasibility studies, implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions, carbon footprint assessments, climate change risk and opportunity assessments, carbon and energy management strategy development, and policy reviews. As part of his consultancy work Michael has also developed and delivered a range of training seminars and workshops to a wide range of audiences (including corporate management, industrial process engineers, environmental regulators, school students and the general public) on a variety of environmental topics.

Roger Hollies MSc

Low Carbon Advisor

Roger brings to NEF in depth experience in project management and consultancy work following 7 years in the marine environmental survey & consultancy industry. After completing the acclaimed Sustainable Energy Futures MSc at Imperial College London Roger has spent the past year providing information on sustainable energy systems to businesses and has developed and delivered educational workshops to the business and education sectors across the UK. Roger combines academic engineering understanding of renewable systems with hands on experience having installed solar thermal and wind turbine systems at his home in West Wales as well as through project management of larger scale installations for commercial clients.

Steve Shepherd BSc

Advisor

Steve is a member of the strategic management group and engineering subcommittee of LEAP AHEAD, the lifelong learning network for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Based in Derby, Steve leads the NEF’s knowledge transfer work on Composite Technologies. Steve has well developed industrial links and partnerships with industry, colleges and universities, particularly in the Midlands region, and works closely with the Midlands Aerospace Alliance, SEMTA and COGENT. Steve is an Aeronautical Engineering graduate from the University of Salford and started his career with Rolls-Royce in the Mechanical Research Dept. Steve is also a commercial pilot and worked as an airline captain with British Airways. Steve has amassed significant project management and knowledge transfer experience particularly in advanced manufacturing and low carbon technologies.