Staff contacts

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 NQJ and supports administration for the Diploma in Journalism.

Joanne joined the NCTJ in June 2003 as chief executive. She began her career in the regional press after graduating from the University of Exeter in 1987 with a degree in history. She joined the Newspaper Society’s marketing department and then moved into training as senior training officer and then training manager.

Joanne completed postgraduate qualifications in human resource management before joining the Periodical Publishers Association (PPA) in 1995. She was director of the Periodicals Training Council (PTC) for five years. For two years she combined her role at the PTC with her work to set up the Publishing NTO. Joanne was chief executive of the Publishing National Training Organisation.

Phone: 01799 544930 or 01799 544014
Email: [email protected]

Chris joined the NCTJ in April 2008 as head of finance and IT. He began his career in banking, working for 25 years at NatWest/Royal Bank of Scotland. He spent many years in general banking and then specialised in financial banking management.

Before joining the NCTJ, Chris worked for Rainer, a national charity for under-supported young people, as regional finance manager and systems accountant.  He has more than 20 years’ experience in banking and finance management.

Phone: 01799 544934
Email: [email protected]

With a degree in media and over 10 years’ experience within the media industry, Kathryn joined NCTJ in March 2019 and is responsible for managing special projects within the NCTJ, including the Community News Project.

Before joining the NCTJ, Kathryn worked at the University of Cambridge and NBCUniversal.

Phone: 01799 544933

E-mail: [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]

Cecilia joined the NCTJ in February 2018 and is responsible for the administration and coordination of events, training, distance learning, and the Journalism Diversity Fund.

Cecilia graduated from the Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf in Germany with a first class postgraduate degree in Comparative Studies in English and American language, literature and culture in 2017. She has work experience in events management, PR and administration.

Phone: 01799 544945

E-mail: [email protected]

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

Sarah has a first class degree in publishing, journalism and media and since graduating in 2014 has had both marketing and journalism experience. Before joining the NCTJ, Sarah worked for an independent magazine publisher and events organiser.

Phone: 01799 544947

E-mail: [email protected]

Rachel joined the NCTJ in March 2017 and is responsible for supervising the work of the NCTJ exams team and chief examiners to ensure the efficient administration and delivery of all NCTJ assessments. Rachel is also the chief point of contact for our awarding organisation regulators and is responsible for overall compliance with the recognition conditions regarding our qualifications, standards, public confidence and accessibility. She also oversees the recruitment and training of NCTJ examiners/assessors, the monitoring of NCTJ-accredited centres, investigating and reporting on malpractice and maladministration cases, and ensuring high levels of quality assurance and standards including particular needs and equal opportunities. Rachel previously worked at a speech and drama awarding organisation in London as qualifications manager.

Phone: 01799 544935

E-mail: [email protected]

Alison joined the NCTJ in May 2016 after relocating from West Sussex, where she worked as a finance administrator. Before this Alisons 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 544938

E-mail: [email protected]

Emma joined the NCTJ in April 2018 as accreditation manager. She is responsible for organising the accreditation system and liaising with centres, editors and students on all accreditation matters.

Before joining the NCTJ, Emma was a senior journalist at Newsquest Essex, having worked in a variety of different roles and newspapers at the company over six years. Emma studied on the NCTJ-accredited postgraduate diploma in print journalism at the University of Sheffield in 2011 and went on to complete the National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ), receiving two awards for her news interview and media law.

Phone: 01799 544944

E-mail: [email protected]

Julie joined the NCTJ in September 2019 after relocating back to the UK from the Middle East. Julie’s recent background has been in education as a qualified teacher. Previously, she worked for the Department of Trade and Industry promoting UK trade to Central Europe.

Julie is responsible for the Certificate in Foundation Journalism, e-portfolios, national examinations and administration for the Diploma in Journalism.

Andy has been working for the NCTJ since August 2015. A qualified archaeologist, in 2006 he gave up a career digging muddy trenches to travel extensively, before settling into a long-term role within the foreign exchange industry. Prior to the NCTJ, Andy worked for the University of Cambridge as an examinations administrator.

Andy is responsible for the provision of shorthand exams and supports internal projects.

Phone: 01799 544941

Email: [email protected]

Henry joined the NCTJ in April 2019 and is responsible for developing new business opportunities and strategic partnerships for the charity.

Henry acquired the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism in 2010 before spending nine years working in editorial at the London Evening Standard, the Independent and then Mail Newspapers. For six-and-a-half of those years, Henry worked on the Mail’s app, Mail Plus, firstly as sports editor and then as product manager.

Phone: 01799 544940

E-mail: [email protected]