The BESA Team

Caroline had a distinguished career in the UK Civil Service prior to joining BESA in 2012, leading communications teams at the Department for Education, Ofsted, Partnerships for Schools, Cabinet Office, and the Department of Trade and Industry. Caroline is actively involved in various government and sector advisory boards and has received numerous accolades, including Education Investor’s ‘Outstanding Contribution to Education’ award. Caroline is a frequent contributor to charitable educational activities, reflecting her commitment to the education sector. Her currently voluntary work and advisory roles include school governorship at Bishop Stopfords School, the Open University & University of Lincoln’s Protecting Girls from Online Harm research project, Oxford Internet Institute’s ‘Towards equity-focused approaches to EdTech research project, the Government’s International Education Sector Advisory Group and the DfE’s Content Store Expert Advisory Panel. When not involved in BESA activities Caroline can be mostly be found walking her chocolate Labrador, Rufus.

Julia leads on commercial and operational issues and supports Caroline to promote the work of BESA and our members within the UK and internationally. Prior to joining BESA in 2019, Julia worked in education publishing and EdTech, both in-house and as an external marketing consultant. Having used BESA’s services as a member, Julia understands the needs of our suppliers and is passionate about ensuring that every company takes full advantage of the benefits of their membership. In her spare time she runs (a lot!) and is Vice Chair of the Trade Association Forum. Find her on Twitter @juliamgarvey.

Ronke is a chartered accountant qualified with both the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and CIPFA. With over 28 years of post-qualification experience, she has worked with various trade bodies, including the Musicians Union and the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), as well as in the education sector, holding financial leadership roles at Leigh Academy Trust (MAT), Rose Bruford College, and St Aquinas Sixth Form College. Additionally, she has served in the charitable sector and as a financial analyst at Transport for London (TfL). Ronke is a passionate advocate for education and philanthropy, particularly in reducing child illiteracy in Africa. She founded a charity to support access to education for underprivileged children and also teaches finance in schools to inspire the next generation of chartered accountants. In her spare time, Ronke enjoys gardening, cooking, travelling, and reading.

Peter represents the interests of BESA members to parliamentarians and officials across Government departments, working on various policy issues across the association. His passion for the education sector developed while working for a BESA member, where he contributed to the development and implementation of EdTech products and curricula for the Primary Sector. In addition to his professional work, Peter volunteers as a Governor at a federation of local primary schools in East London.

Sam is dedicated to driving growth and engagement across BESA’s diverse membership community. With 10 years of experience in membership services, Sam specialises in developing strategies to enhance member services, attract new members, and deliver value using data and feedback. As the primary contact for BESA’s close to 400 membership base, Sam and the team can be reached at members@besa.org.uk for assistance with membership benefits or joining the association.

Samantha manages and delivers impactful events that support the education sector and BESA’s almost 400 members. With a background in community engagement and museum curation, Samantha is passionate about listening and adapting programming to the needs of members.

Bryony ensures members have access to the services and support they need. She has a background in marketing and holds an MSc in Aid and Conflict.

Meg coordinates events for BESA members, including international exhibitions, and special interest and working groups, connecting members by creating engaging and impactful experiences. Meg has a background in education events, virtual platforms and international summits.

Chloe coordinates BESA’s webinars, awards, conferences, and special interest and working groups. She supports members by curating high-demand topics and delivering engaging events that provide training and insights.

Swathy promotes BESA’s brand and initiatives, running digital campaigns to raise awareness of the association’s impact and support members. She has a background in communications consulting, and is currently pursuing a Diploma from The Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Zoe acts as the first point of contact for senior staff members, providing operational and secretarial support. She supports Caroline Wright, Julia Garvey, and BESA’s Executive Council. Zoe also coordinates BESA’s HR function, assisting with the development and implementation of HR policies, recruitment, and training, while supporting staff on HR-related issues. Outside of work, she has a passion for theatre, enjoys trying new restaurants, and stays busy raising her two young children.