Meet the team

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]

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]

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]

Alex joined the NCTJ in 2024 as head of finance and IT. She previously worked as director of finance and operations for several national charities, including Living Streets, Locality and most recently the Multiple Sclerosis Trust. Alex qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2012, having trained at Buzzacott LLP in their charity audit team. Prior to that, Alex studied for an MA in mathematics at the University of Oxford. Alex is also a trustee and non-executive director for the Charity Tax Group, which is the voice on tax issues for the charity sector.

Phone: 01799 544934
Email: [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]

Maddie joined the NCTJ in January 2025 as communications manager, supporting the NCTJ ambassadors and leading the charity’s public affairs activity.

With a background in politics and public affairs, they are motivated by ensuring that journalism remains sustainable, recognizing its crucial role in upholding democracy.

Before joining the NCTJ, they worked in the public affairs team at Alzheimer’s Research UK, and began their career as a parliamentary assistant in the House of Commons while still at university.

They hold a joint honours degree in politics and sociology and a master’s in Public Management with Distinction.

Phone: 01799 544933

Email: [email protected]

After gaining a degree in Spanish from the University of Nottingham and then completing a PGCE in Primary Education at with a specialism in Spanish, Laura spent ten years teaching in schools. She then took time out to focus on raising her two young children while also running her own Spanish teaching business.

Laura joined the NCTJ in 2022, initially serving as project manager for the Meta-funded Community News Project. She now holds the position of senior training coordinator at the Journalism Skills Academy, where she supports distance learners and oversees corporate training programmes, ensuring the smooth and efficient delivery of all training initiatives.

Phone: 01799 544932

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]

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]