TSOI

David has built and sold two companies to FTSE 100 companies for £140m, both in the pharmaceutical industry. He was one of the youngest ever FTSE 100 executives in the UK. David was the first investor in SuperAwesome, which was sold for £300m to Epic Games in 2020. In 2019, his company, Nerudia, was the country’s second most prolific patent filer in the UK. 

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David serves as the Director and Co-owner at Jack Study Abroad, a leading international student recruitment organisation in South East Asia, with offices in Singapore, Jakarta, Hanoi and Perth. Prior to this, David established a school in Spain and spent almost twenty years as a Director at Study Group UK, an education provider that prepares international students for university degree programmes. 

William is a social entrepreneur with a track record in regulated industries. He is one of the UK’s youngest medical school visiting lecturers and a Trustee of a mental health charity alongside doctors from the University of Oxford and Harvard University. He is also engaged in multiple projects in Uganda, Africa, where his work focuses on supporting social mobility, education, and healthcare.

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Robert is a highly accomplished professional with a first-class degree in Mathematics from the University of St Andrews. While studying, he founded a profitable digital marketing SME and earned recognition as an award-winning mathematician. Rob has been leading The School of Innovation project since inception. 

Marielle has experience establishing and leading new universities. She was the Managing Director (EME) of Minerva University (operates in 7 different countries, raised over £100 million) and a Director at the London Interdisciplinary School (the first new institution since the 1960s to hold UK degree-awarding powers from inception.)

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Joanne has over 30 years of experience in the UK, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Joanne was the founding Director of Education at Tomorrow University (a new university in Germany). Since leaving, Joanne has been the Chief Operating Officer at Skilled Education and concentrated on her doctoral research, which centres around the establishment of novel universities.

Amanda Layne holds a bachelor’s in Education and a Masters in Language from The University of Manchester and has 35 years of professional experience in administrative and registry roles, with 16 of those years spent at The University of Manchester. Amanda has also helped in drafting policy for a Degree Awarding Powers application.

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Matt is the Chairman of UNiDAYS, former Chief Marketing Officer of TESCO, and former Chief Customer Officer of Co-op. Matt has orchestrated substantial transformations within complex and competitive international markets and is widely recognised for his strategic repositioning of the Co-op brand and his pivotal role in supporting Co-op Academies Trust. 

Dan is a former Performance Marketing Manager in BT’s innovation team. He is also the founder of Gradvance, which has facilitated over 300 graduates from underrepresented backgrounds in securing roles at companies such as Google, TikTok, Amazon, EY and L’Oréal. Dan is a LinkedIn Top Voice for Next Gen in 2022  and Job Search & Careers in 2023.

Professor Mabey brings over 30 years of experience to The School of Innovation, having previously served as the former Assistant Director of Higher Education at KPMG. Prior to this, Mark held roles such as Professor of Teaching and Learning, QAA Review Coordinator, and, more recently, Principal at different Higher Education Institutions. 

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Aaliyah, a recent Law graduate from the University of Birmingham, brings a wealth of experience. Notably, she served as Welfare and Community Officer Elect and Director at the University of Birmingham Guild of Students. As a dynamic public speaker, she addresses critical issues like mental health and social mobility, contributing significantly to TSOI's mission.

Nicolas is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from Swansea University. He excelled as a two-time student representative, winning Representative of the Year, and led projects for Swansea University Racing Team. His experience at Dr Reddy's Laboratories showcases his adaptability and strong work ethic, making him a valuable asset to the team.

James, a chartered accountant and financial specialist, has a background overseeing asset monitoring and capital allocation for family offices and venture capital firms. James is adept at direct investing and financial strategy and has specialised in fundraising strategy and financial modelling. With experience at companies including Lloyds Banking Group and Mercia Asset Management PLC he brings a wealth of experience to the team.