Community

Steering Committee

We – GTA developers from 6 UK universities – are an inaugural Steering Committee of the Belonging, Dignity and Justice Working Group of the GTA Developers network. Through this distributed governance structure, we hope to nurture and expand the impact of this network. We want people to join us and transform this group into a vibrant community.

Olumide Popoola, Queen Mary University of London

Olu is an Education and Recognition Adviser in the Queen Mary Academy at Queen Mary University of London, with specialisms in social justice pedagogies and inclusive assessment. He is the lead coordinator for the Queen Mary Postgraduate Researcher Educator Programme and mentors GTAs and other early career educators to support A/FHEA applications. Olu is also a Flourishing Spaces researcher and advocate for curriculum humanization and positive education approaches across the education sector.

Sarah Plumb, University of Sheffield

Sarah is an Academic Development Adviser at the University of Sheffield, coordinating GTA professional development through workshops, web resources, and guidance for GTAs and their supporters. She founded and chairs the University’s GTA Developers’ Network, facilitating collaboration on raising standards for GTA recruitment, training, and career development. Since 2022, she has co-organised events for the Advance HE Connect GTA Developer’s group, including conferences at Manchester and Sheffield and online best practice-sharing sessions.

Stephen Brough, University of Liverpool

Stephen is a Lecturer in Environmental Sciences at the University of Liverpool. He acts as Line Manager to Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA) in the School of Environmental Sciences and is developing a new GTA Framework within the School. Stephen also provides expertise to a university-wide working group with the aim of improving the GTA experience.

Philomena Free, SOAS University of London

Philomena is an Educational Developer at SOAS, with a focus on decolonisation and inclusion. She has spent 10+ years working to support students to access education in secondary, further and higher education settings, moved by the belief that there is space for everyone in the classroom, and animated by the question of how to make that belief a reality. Her work is process-oriented, rooted in deep care and in honour of creativity. She delivers GTA teacher training and recognises GTAs as vital contributors to, and shapers of, the future of Higher Education.

Jenny Barrett, Edge Hill University

Dr Jenny Barrett (SFHEA) is a Senior Lecturer in Learning & Teaching Development at the Centre for Learning & Teaching, Edge Hill University. She has led initiatives in Personal Tutoring, Cultural Inclusion and Equity in the Curriculum, and effective transitions for BTEC learners, alongside introductions to teaching in HE for GTAs.

Caroline Briggs, Lancaster University

Caroline is a creative professional with over 20 years of experience in Further and Higher Education. She has developed specialist expertise in teacher education, inclusive practice, and technology-enhanced learning. Caroline is currently the Programme Director of the Associate Teacher Programme at Lancaster University, where she leads on curriculum development and supports the professional growth of aspiring educators.

Thomas Rodgers, University of Manchester

Tom is a Reader in Chemical Engineering Education at the University of Manchester. He created and led the Faculty of Science and Engineering GTA training programme from 2016 to 2021 supporting around 1000 GTAs annually. He is the current co-lead of the Mentoring Excellence Programme which supports GTAs from across the university in developing their applications for AFHEA and in the last 5 years has seen over 300 successful awards.