As we start the new year, we welcome a new board. We asked each of the directors to introduce themselves.
Rebecca McDowall
Chair of the Board
As the new Chair of the Network, I’m looking forward to helping continue to bring people together in the community. I’m also keen to start giving back, after gaining so much value from the Network and all the fantastic people who are part of it. Outside of that, I’m passionate about accessibility and employee wellbeing, and will regularly have one of my meetings interrupted by one of my cats. I can wait to meet you all!
Neil Cunningham
Vice Chair of the Board
L&D can be seen
as a critical tool to help a business and its people to grow. Often it is seen
as nice-to-have. I believe that by learning from each other can move L&D to
be seen as business critical.
As Vice Chair and Director of Mentoring, I want to
grow both the network and the number of members who have meaningful mentoring
relationships.
Tom McDowall
Director of Events & Marketing
Hey, it’s Tom, yes I’m still here!
Having stepped down as chair, I will spend my fourth and final year on the board looking after events and marketing efforts. I shan’t bore you all with more about me; beyond that, I train L&D professionals and consult a bit now and then. More important than any of that is that if you’re reading this, you are part of a network to which I owe most of my career. With that in mind, if there is anything you need or want to ask, please drop me a line after 10 am. Attempts to contact me earlier than this are doomed to failure.
Richard Price
Director of Technology
I’m back for my second year as Director of Technology at the Learning Network and I couldn’t be more excited! We made some great progress consolidating the LN’s infrastructure last year, and we have some even bigger plans for 2025.
Digital learning is my passion both in my day job in the NHS, and in my ongoing work in global health education. How can we make our website and digital services give you even more value for your membership?
Helen Palmer
Director of Mentoring
I love January – the freshness, the blank page, the possibilities! I’m excited to be back for my second year on the Learning Network Board of Directors, continuing to grow the the Mentoring Programme, as well as the bookclub. Besides being a bookworm, in 2025 I am juggling (literally and metaphorically) family, study and a career transition. Anyone else looking for a new job or direction? Always happy to network over a nice cup of tea!
Tony Frascina
Director of Awards
I have been a member of the learning network in its various forms for over 25 years, many of which as a director (or committee member as it was). For the last 13 years, I have led the judging of the Learning Technology awards.
Steph Charlesworth
Director of Member Experience
As the new Director of Member Experience, I’m excited to work with our members to continue to build a great place for networking and sharing ideas.
As someone who is naturally curious, I can’t wait to get stuck in to this role and hear from you about what we can do to make your experience one that is impactful.
Polly Watt
Director of Community Engagement
As the new Director of Community Engagement, I’m dedicated to making every interaction with us meaningful and rewarding.
Beyond this role, I’m a Fractional Chief Learning and Development Strategist—and a shepherd! As a lifelong learner, I’m excited to dive into the CLO100
Learning Leaders Programme this year.
What learning goals have you set for yourself in 2025?
Emily Decker
Director of Member Experience
I believe that positive interactions have the power to build trust and lasting connections, and this has always been something I have sought to deliver in my professional career.
Now as I look forward to being your new Director of Member Experience, I want to make sure every member gets value from being part of our community and finds the same connections I have been fortunate to.
Outside of work, I am (slowly) learning Swedish and (even more slowly) training for a half-marathon. I’m excited to meet many of you at World of Learning in February – what other events are you attending this year?
David Hayden
Director of Marketing
I am often heard to say “every day is a learning day!” And it is and I love that, even the hard learning days! So to be in a career where learning is front and centre of what I do, what I talk about, what I get really excited about keeps me energised and engaged with the wider L&D community.
As the new Director of Marketing I am looking forward to sharing the work of The Learning Network within our community and hearing more about our members reality, building on the solid work undertaken in this role from previous directors.
On Saturday mornings I can be seen running or volunteering at a parkrun, which combines my love of running and travel alongside a good dose of learning too – it never stops!
Katerina Vourlakos
Director of Events
As the Director of Events, I’m dedicated to ensure a diversity of voices are represented at our in-person events and webinars. As an advocate of accessibility and inclusion in education, I’m excited to chair and organise another Mastery Day on Accessible Learning this year.
