I’ve always been naturally curious about how people learn best, what their motivations are and what they want to achieve. Learning happens every day, so development isn’t just about the qualifications alone, but can also be in building confidence, broadening perspectives and creating opportunities.

My career began in sales before moving into performance management and professional development, where I discovered a passion for helping people to develop. Becoming an accredited performance coach in 2008 gave me a different perspective on learning. It taught me how to listen, ask better questions and help people unpick what they really wanted from their careers. I found that coaching wasn’t about having the answers; it was about helping people find their own.

That passion for people development led me to complete my Level 5 CIPD in Learning & Development and, over the years, I’ve been fortunate to work across a broad range of projects that support colleagues throughout their careers. At Pioneer, my role spans learning and development, communications and engagement, career pathways, apprenticeships, Communities of Practice, induction, flexible working and marketing. I enjoy the variety that comes with working across our schools and central teams, bringing people together, sharing ideas and turning concepts into practical solutions that make a difference.

What I’ve come to realise is that no two people learn in quite the same way. I enjoy understanding what motivates people, what they’re trying to achieve and how I can help create opportunities that support them along the way. Whether I’m supporting inductions, developing learning opportunities, writing communications or helping to shape a new initiative, I want people to feel informed, included and encouraged to keep developing. I believe learning is something we should continue to enjoy throughout our working lives, not simply something we complete at the beginning of our careers.

As a mum of two, I was looking for a role that challenged me professionally while allowing me to have the balance that was important to my family. Education offered that opportunity, but joining Pioneer gave me something more. I found an organisation whose values genuinely aligned with my own.

What I enjoy most about working at Pioneer is the people. There is a shared ambition to keep improving, a willingness to explore new ideas and a real commitment to providing the very best opportunities for both colleagues and pupils. It’s an environment where collaboration is valued, learning is encouraged and everyone is working towards the same goal.

I feel incredibly fortunate to work across our Trust and to contribute to projects that support colleagues at every stage of their careers. I particularly enjoy solving complex problems, bringing together different perspectives and helping turn ideas into something meaningful that has a positive impact for our schools and the people who work within them.