Lorna Nunn | Station Environmental Protection Officer | Royal Air Force
I have had a varied career, mainly due to being a Mum and a military wife. I have chosen jobs that fit in with the family and their needs.
Once my children were older, I decided it was time to commit to a job that I enjoy and can learn from.
Having started work on an RAF base within the infrastructure team I gained a vast knowledge of the Station, how the funding works and the impacts of poor infrastructure. I was asked to step up and look after the role of Environmental Protection Officer when the previous job holder left. This was due to my work ethic and my knowledge of Station and its processes. For six month I covered the role while still carrying out my current full-time job. I managed to carry out training and continually increase my knowledge enabling me to deal with issues arising. I applied for the Environmental Protection Officer and, having been successful, officially started in May 2023. It is the most fulfilling, interesting and exciting job I have ever had and I know this is where I want to stay.
Lisa Rawlings | Talent Acquisition | Sierra Nevada Corporation Mission Systems UK
With a passion for serving my country, I embarked on my military career at a young age, driven by a deep-seated desire to contribute to national defence.
I served with the Royal Air Force for 25 years as an Air and Space operation specialist. I completed tours in Afghanistan, Cyprus, Germany, and the Falkland Island.
Whilst serving I was awarded both an individual commendation on the Queens birthday honours list and a team commendation on the New years honours list. Additionally, I was awarded a Good Show award for saving an F3 and crew when noticing a substantial leak before take off. Whilst recruiting for the RAF I was a finalist in the National Recruiter of the year.
Most recently I spent 6 years as the Armed Forces Liaison Officer for Gwent. Championing fair treatment of the Armed Forces Community. Embedding policies that ensure the Armed Forces Covenant is adhered.
Continuing my passion for the Armed Forces I have joined Sierra Nevada Corporation Mission Systems UK as Talent Acquisition. The company has over 55% of staff who are from the Armed Forces community and contribute to the UK defence.
Laura-Jane Piercy | Defence Lead | Defence and Security Accelerator
Laura-Jane Piercy joined the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) in October 2022 as the Defence Lead within the Partnerships and Impact Team.
This role sees her lead a team of seven embedded Defence Partners and three Exploitation Managers, ensuring the organisation has an understanding of defence challenges and the ability to showcase the impact of our work.
Prior to DASA she enjoyed a 20 year career within the Royal Air Force, joining in 2002 from college and into the Personnel Support Trade. A varied career path with 5 years experience in MOD Main Building and tours of Afghanistan and Al Udeid, she then decided to commission into the Personnel Branch. 10 years within the Officer cadre has given her a wealth of experience of employee wellbeing, discipline and staff work. Her final tour within the Royal Air Force saw her heading up the HR function at HQ Air Command – a privilege to command and look after a substantial workforce of over 2,400 employees.
Laura-Jane is married to Tim, a scientist within DSTL and has 2 young children; Isla and Jacob. They live in Winchester, having settled their over 10 years ago. Her family being the main driver for craving stability and leaving the RAF, she is grateful for the flexibility DASA brings to the work/life balancing act!
Caroline Rees Williams | Trustee | The Valesco Foundation
Caroline is Operations Manager and EA to the CEO at The Valesco Group, responsible for operations and infrastructure.
She also sits on the Board of Trustees of The Valesco Foundation, responsible for the day-to-day running of the charity. Prior to joining Valesco, she worked at an award-winning international hospitality company within the Executive Team, where she managed the global headquarters across operations, finance and HR. Prior to this, she worked for a boutique executive search company, where she project-managed senior searches within the private equity and venture capital industries. Caroline holds a BSc. (Hons) Economics from the University of Birmingham.
Georgie Packer | Senior Fundraising and Partnerships Manager | Apps for Good
I currently work for educational technology charity Apps for Good as Senior Fundraising and Partnerships Manager, working with partners to achieve the best outcomes for young people from ALL backgrounds, a mission I am very passionate about.
After leaving school in year 8 due to personal family trauma, I was home-educated studying for the few GCSEs I managed to complete. My education and career journey hasn’t always been straightforward, but it has been amazing and diverse.
From my first job at 14 years old, working in ‘Tasty Baps’ burger wagon. A fast food truck owned by my aunt that was stationed at a local industrial builders yard. Whilst not the most likely of starts, taught me a great deal.
I started working in a primary school 18 years old, working with students who struggled to access education in a mainstream environment. It was an incredible role, and a cathartic one for me. Eventually I was approached to become an adult-trainer for the Thrive Approach teaching senior leaders in school to understand trauma informed approaches.
I transitioned to work in the charity sector in 2019 and spent 3 great years at Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice managing events for over 500 people, and raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for Children and young people with life-limiting conditions .
Working with young people in need has always been the driving force behind what I do and I feel entirely committed to taking this forward in my current role and at all future opportunities.
Hayley Rabbets | Head of The Verve Foundation | The Verve Foundation
I have the classic story of `falling into finance` back in 2007.
I`ve worked in pretty much every role possible within an IFA firm, from Receptionist right through to Senior Management, finally finding my home at The Verve Foundation. Through my experience in these areas, I feel (and hope) that I am able to understand the challenges the industry faces and help in any way I can.
I was lucky enough to work in an industry that supported financial qualifications and I have achieved the Level 6 Advanced Diploma in Financial Advice, becoming a Chartered Associate of the London Institute of Banking & Finance.
I`m passionate about changing the stereotypes within the financial services industry and breaking down barriers to both advice and entry. It is my belief that everyone should have access to a basic level of financial knowledge, we should all talk more freely and openly about money, and we should use our education & knowledge for good whenever we can.
Anna Rawcliffe | Head of Content Marketing and Innovation | National Trust
I am a marketing professional with 12 years’ experience in the charity sector, leading for creativity, innovation, and integrated digital communications.
I started my career as a digital marketing officer for a small charity in Stratford, before joining the National Trust’s Social Media team.
I learnt a huge amount as part of and leading the National Trust’s Social Media team. Together we grew a culture of innovation, bravery, and creativity. I am proud of the resilient and supportive team I built in face of an often-challenging climate on social media.
In recent years I took on a short secondment within the National Trust to lead for organisations’ digital investment plan, shaping future digital focus for enhancements and innovations. During the secondment I also worked with the Trust’s Customer Journeys team to understand and map our members’ year-one experience with the Trust.
In 2022 I took on a new role as Senior Innovation Manager and set up the National Trust’s first Innovation Hub. I lead a team responsible for testing digital technologies new the organisation. Since the hub’s creation, we have delivered over 12 pilots to inform the organisation’s long-term digital investment and approach.
I am excited to have started a new interim role in March 2024 as Head of Content Marketing and Innovation at the National Trust. Alongside leading the Trust’s Innovation Hub, I will be leading the organisations Content Marketing team through a period of growth and change.
Millih-Aurelle Coloma | Business Analyst | BAE Systems Digital Intelligence
I am a dynamic Business Analyst with expertise in IT and technology delivery within Public Sector and Central Government organisations.
I have practical experience in user research, agile delivery and Business Analysis fundamentals. Despite being in the early stages of my career I have been successful in my delivery, earning the recognition from both external clients and internal teams. I am renowned for my work ethic, proactive mindset, and adaptability.
Despite working in the IT industry, I have a non-traditional background having studied Geography with Economics at LSE. This degree sparked my curiosity in research methods and geopolitics, which overall requires a big-picture vision. Consulting within public sector organisations has further fuelled this interest and has allowed me to adopt this holistic thinking approach in the work I have completed. This includes implementing cyber transformation and threat analysis programmes to government organisations. My experience has taught me that the decisions made, and the delivery implemented through the work I do has a wider macro impact.
Ruth Guest | GP | Royal Navy
I joined the Royal Navy in 2010 at the end of my time at UEA medical school which saw me heading down to Plymouth for my initial junior doctor years before attending Britannia Royal Naval College for initial officer training.
As she ships doctor on HMS RICHMOND for 6 months I travelled as far south as South Georgia which was an amazing experience, spending time in the Falkland Islands and central America.
During my GP training I developed an interest - both personal and professional with the birth of my second child - in how the military look after our servicewomen during maternity and the post-natal period. I initiated and led project REBALANCE which contributed to national changes in practice across Defence establishing self referral into mental health services for any women in the Perinatal period along with education and awareness and continue to run sessions with military ante/postnatal groups.
Once qualified as a GP my passion for women`s health continued and have recently taken on the lead role in the Defence GP Special Interest Group for Women`s Health. I`m passionate about education around women`s health for all - running sessions for servicewomen both UK based and in deployable units, for chain of command and for medical professionals of all types.
My current job in Academic General Practice has given me the opportunity to conduct research around women`s health in the UK Armed forces leading to publication and policy change to improve the lived experience of women who serve.
Marzia Bolpagni | Associate Director | Mace
Marzia is Civil Engineer specialised in digital technologies. She is a champion in service excellence and innovation where she supports clients on digital strategy and applications.
She does not just deliver excellence in her company: her work has an impact at international level. Lead author of the EU standard BSEN17412-1:2020 on the use of digital engineering to define digital requirements: the only EU standard in this field lead by a woman. Thanks to the popularity of the work, the standard is now under adoption at international level under her guidance. She is the youngest leader of a 30+experts from 16 countries at CENTC442 and ISO.
She coordinates 150+international volunteers in translating complex STEM concepts. She is the youngest ambassador of Nima, promoting the adoption of technologies in the UK Construction. She is Honorary Associate Professor at UCL, Visiting Professor at Northumbria University. She co-authored a relevant UK BIM Framework national guidance. Marzia is Founder of Italians in Digital Transformations UK, a community of 700+ Italian professionals working in the UK.
She gave lectures to 27 international universities so far, supervises dissertations and she mentors 20+ a year students to inspire the new generation on STEM career. She is keynote speaker in 200+events in 27countries, author of 25+scientific articles, a book, included in magazines/journals, podcasts and videos.