Meet the team

Laura started at the NCTJ in September 2022. In 2008 she joined Archant as deputy editor of the Ham & High and became editor of the Barking and Dagenham Post in 2010. Since then, she has held editorial director roles before becoming director of content development in 2021.

Laura completed her NCTJ training at Cardiff University and her first journalism job in 2002 was trainee reporter at the Rhondda Leader.

She also held the position of vice chair of the NCTJ between 2014-2022.

E-mail: [email protected]

Before joining the NCTJ, Nikki worked at Reed Learning as a learning and development coordinator for eight years.

She has extensive knowledge of training delivery and adult learning and has worked in the industry for 15 years in various sectors including sales, construction and business skills.

Nikki is responsible for the administration of the Journalism Diversity Fund and supports the NCTJ’s wider work in equality, diversity and inclusion.

Phone: 01799 544942

E-mail: [email protected]

Claudia join the NCTJ in March 2023 as Senior Platform and Product Co-ordinator

After graduating from Anglia Ruskin university in business management, she began her career in the marketing sector and then started gradually moving over into the digital and web development roles

Claudia is responsible for the development of e-learning content on the Journalism Skills Academy, the administration of the NCTJ website and supports internal projects and software.

Phone: 01799 544947

Email: [email protected]

Natalie joined the NCTJ in September 2022 and is responsible for NCTJ accreditation and centre approvals, ensuring our centres and their courses are of a high standard. She manages the day-to-day running of the accreditation and centre approvals process, which includes monitoring the on-going performance of centres against the NCTJ’s accreditation performance standards and centre approval conditions.

Natalie previously worked for an education charity, as quality assurance lead, working with STEM industry partners to inspire and provide opportunities to young people seeking careers in the STEM sector. She managed the quality assurance of their accreditation and awards. She has a wealth of experience in quality assurance, having worked in a variety of roles throughout her career at the Metropolitan Police Service, working on developing and implementing robust processes, and quality benchmarking in-line with corporate policies and procedures.

Phone: 01799 611261

Email: [email protected]

Eloise joined the NCTJ in 2024 and is responsible for supporting the head of marketing and communications.

Before joining as a marketing executive, Eloise studied multimedia journalism at the University of Essex alongside the NCTJ diploma. While completing her studies, she worked as the social media marketing ambassador for the student union.

Phone: 01799 544944

Email: [email protected]

Tom joined the NCTJ in January 2024 as Head of Finance and IT and is responsible for the financial and technology functions of the NCTJ.

He begun his career in social housing and qualified as an ACCA accountant in 2014.

Before joining the NCTJ, Tom worked as Finance Director for a social care provider who provided residential care for adults with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour and completed a MSc in Professional Accountancy.

Phone: 01799 544934
Email: [email protected]

Joanne is our chief executive who has led the charity through radical change, notably to its qualifications, accreditation scheme, training provision, careers service and governance. She has extended and strengthened the organisation’s role and influence across the media and has developed the NCTJ’s charitable activities and impact, notably the Journalism Diversity Fund, the Community News Project and its research programme.

After graduating from the University of Exeter with a degree in history, Joanne began her career in marketing and moved into her first training role at the Newspaper Society. She then worked at the Professional Publishers Association as director of the Periodicals Training Council. Before joining the NCTJ, Joanne was chief executive of the Publishing National Training Organisation.

Email: [email protected]

Having worked in the media sector for nearly two decades, Will joined the NCTJ in June 2019, with particular responsibility for the oversight of partnerships and projects. He worked for ESI Media between 2011 and 2019, first as deputy managing editor across the group’s Independent and Evening Standard titles, then as executive editor for The Independent. He began his career in 2000 as a complaints officer at the Press Complaints Commission, subsequently becoming assistant director, then director of external & public affairs. Before that he studied modern history at the University of Oxford.

Phone: 01799 544930

E-mail: [email protected]

Lyn joined the NCTJ in November 2004 and is responsible for implementing our qualifications strategy, standards, and developing new qualifications to reflect the evolving skills required of journalists.

Lyn is also responsible for regulation and compliance with Ofqual, Qualifications Wales and CCEA general conditions. She manages the Journalism Qualifications Board, co-ordinates the work of our subject exam boards and oversees the implementation of quality assurance procedures and standards in relation to all qualifications. Lyn previously worked for an educational publisher and has managed a professional management training centre.

Phone: 01799 544939
Email: [email protected]

Helen joined the NCTJ in March 2024 and is responsible for providing administrative support for the Diploma in Journalism and Certificate in Foundation Journalism qualification.

Previously Helen worked for the Civil Service and has a degree in History from the University in Exeter.

Phone: 01799 544941

Email: [email protected]

Alison joined the NCTJ in May 2016 after relocating from West Sussex, where she worked as a finance administrator. Before this Alison’s career background was in childcare.

Alison is responsible for the Diploma in Journalism exam papers, marking and results, certification and aggregate results in addition to maladministration and appeals.

Phone: 01799 544935

E-mail: [email protected]

Emma joined the NCTJ in August 2022 and is responsible for coordinating the Diploma in Journalism, e-Portfolio, certification and National Exams.

Prior to joining the NCTJ, Emma worked in retail for more than 20 years in various sectors – a UK clothing brand, home furnishing company, toy store and petrol stations. Through this, she gained vast knowledge and experience of management, leadership and customer service skills.

Sarah joined the NCTJ in June 2017 and is responsible for the NCTJ’s marketing and communications.

Since joining the charity as marketing and communications executive, Sarah became manager in 2019 before joining the senior management team in 2021.

Sarah particularly enjoys working on schemes such as the Community News Project and Journalism Diversity Fund, and is passionate about encouraging people from all walks of life into journalism careers.

Sarah has a first-class degree in publishing, journalism and media. Before joining the NCTJ, Sarah worked for an independent magazine publisher and events organiser.

Phone: 01799 544947

E-mail: [email protected]

Naomi joined the NCTJ in July 2024 and is responsible for overseeing the work of the NCTJ exams team, led by our assessment manager, and chief examiners to ensure the efficient administration and delivery of all NCTJ assessments.

Naomi is the chief point of contact for our awarding organisation regulators and is responsible for the NCTJ’s overall compliance with the recognition conditions regarding our qualifications, standards, public confidence and accessibility.

After graduating from the University of Sussex with a degree in biochemistry with management studies, Naomi began her career as a secondary science teacher. She then worked at the National Foundation of Educational Research (NFER) as a research manager. Before joining the NCTJ, Naomi had worked at OCR, part of Cambridge University Press and Assessment (CUPA), for over 10, years in various roles, the most recent being as a senior manager in assessment standards. Naomi has also completed an executive MBA at Cranfield University in 2021 and a Master of Education (MEd) from the Open University in 2011.

Phone: 01799 544938

E-mail: [email protected]

Ellen joined the NCTJ in July 2021 and is responsible for co-ordinating the National Qualification in Journalism, shorthand and overseeing all apprenticeship administration including end point assessments.

She has a degree in forensic science from the University of Lincoln.

Phone: 01799 544943

Email: [email protected]

Sophie joined the NCTJ in June 2021 and is responsible for supporting the head of finance.

Previously she has worked in the charity sector, at the Children’s Society and Emerging Markets, and while living abroad in Poland she worked as a copy editor for a bilingual property magazine. She also studied economics and politics at Bath University.

Phone: 01799 544936

Email: [email protected]