Professor Clive Grinyer is an experienced design leader who has built and led teams at IDEO, Tangerine (with Jony Ive), Orange, Cisco, Barclays, and the UK Design Council. Former Head of Service Design at the RCA, he now advises Bosch, trains global companies, and runs his own design training business. Author of “Smart Design,” his next book, “Redesigning Thinking,” is due in 2025. He champions design as essential for education and life.
Principal at University Technical College Warrington
Having originally trained as a Teacher of Design & Technology Chris is the Principal at University Technical College Warrington. A specialist science and engineering college for 14–19-year-olds. The UTC is one of the highest performing in the country for students progressing onto higher and degree apprenticeships. He is also a non-executive Director of a Group Training Association which provides technical apprentice training for over 100 businesses across the country.
Director of D&T and Vocational Education at Co-op Academies Trust
Drew Wicken, Director of Design & Technology and Vocational Education at Co-op Academies Trust, supports 30+ academies nationwide. With a BA (Hons) in Design & Technology and an MA in Education, Drew has taught in secondary schools and works with a leading exam board to support and develop level 2 qualifications.
Global Senior Director, Digital Tech, Team Sport at adidas
Felicity is Global Senior Director of Team Sport TECH at adidas, with nearly 20 years' experience in sports tech, 3D creation, start-ups, and custom manufacturing. With a background in mechanical engineering, design and technology and sport have been central to her career and passions. She hopes to inspire children across the UK to discover the same joy D&T has given her.
Tony Ryan has 32 years of experience in education, including 18 in senior leadership and 11 as headteacher, who began his career as a motor vehicle engineer and went on to lead major educational initiatives, including a £18 million free school project, while also serving on boards and promoting innovation in education.
Matt is a teacher educator at Liverpool John Moores University, leading secondary initial teacher education. He taught design and technology in Greater Merseyside for 11 years and has been active with the Design & Technology Association since the 1990s. Matt helped draft GCSE and A Level subject content for the Department for Education and has a strong interest in curriculum and pedagogy research.
Dr. Nurgul Yardim Mericliler is an architectural designer, researcher, and curator, currently a Post-Doctoral Researcher at Oxford Brookes University. Her work explores community co-creation with AR/VR, mobility, and makerspaces. Founder of Anylab, she curates global projects and hosts the Anylabtalks podcast. Nurgul is also an author, speaker, and co-editor of the Architecture Diary, actively contributing to design discourse.
Paul Calver BSc(Hons), MBA, FRAeS, has held senior roles in aerospace, marine and renewable sectors, including MD of UK and US firms. He supports tech start-ups, invests in AI and big data, and advises on export growth and advanced manufacturing. He has worked with UK government, is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and contributes to the EPSRC Centre, IET Manufacturing Policy Committee, and Goldman Sachs SME Growth Programme.
Strategy Director | Business Planning & Operations
Lynn Yap is a strategic leader with 17+ years' experience driving growth in finance, e-commerce, and consumer goods. She is the Managing Director of The Altruistic Capitalist, advising entrepreneurs and startups. Lynn held key roles at Avon and Adidas and holds an MBA from Wharton. She advocates for girls in STEM and champions women entrepreneurs. She is currently a school governor in North London, combining her passion for technology, education, and social impact.
