About TeenTech

What we do

We run lively initiatives with a supporting Award scheme to inspire the innovators of the future. We support teenagers in gaining skills, experiences and connections to guide them into contemporary careers and give everyone the chance to reach their full potential. We work collaboratively with companies, universities, business organisations and education business partnerships to build sustainable and imaginative programmes focussing on regions of greater social need in the UK and Europe.

We are an award winning charity, founded in 2008 by Maggie Philbin and Chris Dodson to help students see the wide range of career possibilities within science, technology and engineering. Our programmes are structured to guide students through key academic choices with a coherent journey through age appropriate interventions and continued opportunities even beyond our initiatives to gain experience, knowledge and skills.

We have won several awards including Best Engineering Event in Science and Engineering Week and has been recognised for the quality of our work to improve diversity by WISE, who presented CEO Maggie Philbin with an award for Best Outreach and Engagement.

Our alumni shine nationally and internationally, acting as powerful TeenTech ambassadors, helping thousands more young people recognise and develop their potential.

Board of Directors

Maggie Philbin

Maggie Philbin

CEO AND CO FOUNDER

Maggie Philbin has worked for over 30 years as a science and technology reporter, from Tomorrow’s World to Bang Goes The Theory. She has consistently worked to help improve diversity in Science, Technology and Engineering and co-founded TeenTech in 2008. She is President of the Institute of Engineering Design, Chair of the UK Digital Skills Taskforce, serves on the STEM Commission for Haringey and is an honorary member of the Women’s Engineering Society.

Britain is in the midst of another industrial revolution and only by engendering the spirit that allowed us to thrive so well in the first will we succeed in the next. For this to happen we need our young people to see technology and related applied sciences as a future not which they might just benefit from but which they can help create. If you have the right skills, if you have the right network, if you have the right attitude, this is a time of opportunity. We have to make sure we equip everyone in the UK for the digital revolution. Not just a fortunate few.

Andy Wilson

Andy Wilson

CHAIR AND Trustee

Andy started his career at Aardmann Features before joining the BBC as part of their move to develop online services. He has been at the forefront of technical and editorial development surrounding online and interactive services ever since. Currently Head of Business Development for The Digital Production Partnership, Andy joined the DPP from his role on BBC Make it Digital, where as Partnership Lead he led a collaboration between 54 partners, all helping to deliver one of the BBC’s most ambitious education initiatives in 30 years. Prior to this he was the Head of the BBC College of Technology, overseeing all training and development for technology, software engineering and enterprise systems for the BBC.

The UK needs the best talent to help us to innovate and create new technologies and products for the future. TeenTech’s unique blend of showcase events and a challenging awards competition helps to inspire children about careers in science, technology, engineering and maths. TeenTech’s diverse challenges enable children to develop their own ideas to solve problems from a range of sectors, helping them to learn what it takes to develop, invent and prototype solutions. Aided by fantastic partner organisations, TeenTech helps to shine a light on the opportunities that technical careers offer young people. I’m grateful for the opportunity to help TeenTech to continue to grow and to be able to inspire the next generation of inventors, scientists and digital creatives.

Darren Thomson

Darren Thomson

Trustee

Darren is the Head of Cyber Security Strategy at CyberCube Analytics, a software company providing analytic tools to the Cyber Insurance industry. Previously, Darren served as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Vice-President of Technology at Symantec Corp. where he had overall technical responsibility for strategic propositions at Symantec. His current responsibilities touch on software engineering, security strategy and the design and modelling of cyber disaster scenarios, used within the insurance industry to model financial risk. Darren is a regular contributor to various media publications and appears regularly on podcasts, television and radio programmes.

I’m passionate about the cause and the methods employed at TeenTech and, in particular, I’ve always been impressed by the way the TeenTech Awards not only encourage students to develop high-quality tech projects but to become powerful ambassadors for the industry. At Symantec, we have continued to work with winners from previous years giving them opportunities to further develop their technical skills and explore the range of career possibilities that are available to them in the IT sector. I’m very proud and honoured to be part of the team.

Chris Lynch

Chris Lynch

Treasurer

Chris is a Finance Executive in the software industry and is passionate about helping private technology companies and the people that drive them to realize their full potential. Taking software companies public on both the NASDAQ and the NYSE, Chris understands what it takes to be successful in the technology space and most recently he was Chief Financial Officer of Sprinklr (CXM) where he spent 9 years growing the company to where it now employees over 3,000 people in nearly 30 countries around the world.

As someone who’s worked in technology for most of my professional life, I’ve seen first-hand the positive impact that an organisation creating opportunities for young people in STEM can have when those amazing talents enter the workforce. TeenTech is a phenomenal organisation that has created an invaluable platform to inspire and empower our future technology innovators and I’m excited to lend my experience to this important mission.

Sandra Cooper

Sandra Cooper

Trustee

Sandra has extensive experience of building relationships between schools, businesses and the local community. Whilst Director of Humber Education Business Partnership she collaborated with us from 2011, helping to take TeenTech from a local initiative to one running nationally. She has great understanding of the best ways to build a community around an initiative, helping to ensure its sustainability and greatly magnifying its long term impact.

TeenTech is inspiring in so many ways. Although intended to motivate young people, we know that teaching staff and employers learn so much from being involved. This has helped to rejuvenate the school curriculum and given a real boost to Science and Technology subjects. TeenTech helps students clearly see different pathways and provides opportunities for quality interactions with apprentices and graduates to understand the advantages of respective routes.

Della Burnside

Della Burnside

Trustee

Della Burnside is a Solicitor and Managing Partner of the law firm, The Burnside Partnership. Over the years, Della has worked in both private practice and in-house at international businesses. She started her legal career specialising in intellectual property.

Della has held a number of directorships, including within the NHS and as Chair of McDonald’s UK Pensions Scheme. She has advised many charities and is an experienced trustee. Della is involved in a wide variety of start-up businesses and is a director of Inavya Ventures Limited, a med tech company focussed on using technology to manage lifestyle-related medical conditions. In addition, she supports initiatives encouraging social mobility, including through apprenticeship programmes of which she has considerable experience.

I have followed TeenTech’s activities for a number of years and have been incredibly impressed with its ability to engage and inspire young people with innovative and fun initiatives to promote science, technology and engineering. It has been wonderful to see first-hand the enthusiasm TeenTech’s programmes generate in young people, their parents and teachers. I am delighted to support TeenTech’s continuing work to help students develop key skills, such as communication, teamwork and persuasion, and help foster a life-long interest in innovation.

Kate Bevan

Kate Bevan

Trustee

Kate works for the Infosys Knowledge Institute, leading on cybersecurity, and has been writing about tech for more than 20 years. Previously she was the editor of Which? Computing magazine and she has worked for the BBC, the FT and the Guardian, among others, during her long career as a writer and a journalist. Kate is regarded as a leading expert on technology and has appeared on many radio and TV programmes from BBC Radio 4’s Today and PM programmes to Sky News, Channel 4 News and Al-Jazeera English. She is particularly interested in cybersecurity, and in communicating complex stories and issues clearly to a non-expert audience.

I was first approached by Maggie to be a judge for TeenTech a few years ago, and that was the start of my involvement in something I have loved doing and am proud to be a part of ever since. Seeing the excitement of the young people and being able to help them see what a career in STEM could offer them is a delight, and I am very proud to become a more formal and involved part of TeenTech.

Headshot by David Firn

John Constable

John Constable

Trustee

John is the Headteacher of Langley Grammar School in Slough, a large mixed selective school with a reputation for using technology effectively to support students’ learning.  Originally a mechanical engineer by training, he became a Physics teacher over 30 years ago and has held teaching and leadership posts in a number of different schools.  Through his school’s different designations, John is involved in a range of wider programmes and initiatives including teacher training, ongoing professional development and the use of individual technology for learning. He is a trained Ofsted inspector and enjoys the privilege of being able to visit other primary and secondary schools on a regular basis.

Children and young people are growing up in fast-moving world and embracing technology in ways we could not have foreseen just a few years ago.  However, there is still much to be done to persuade many young people to see themselves as contributors to the digital future instead of simply users of it. I am impressed by TeenTech’s imaginative and hands-on approach to encouraging young people to explore their potential futures in this area and am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the organisation and provide a perspective from what we used to call the ‘chalkface’.

Erem Kassim-Lakha

Erem Kassim-Lakha

Trustee

Erem Kassim-Lakha is a Partner at McKinsey & Company.  She focuses on helping clients across a range of industries achieve their growth objectives through bold commercial transformation.  She has over 20 years of consulting, management leadership and private equity experience.  Prior to joining McKinsey, Erem was the Global Managing Director of Impressionist & Modern Art at Christie’s. She has an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a Bachelors in Political Science from Brown University in the US. She has a 13 year-old daughter.

What excites me is the level of innovation that technology is bringing to different parts of the global economy and society.  More than ever, it is important to equip our youth with the confidence to embrace this innovation and help build a resilient future.  Technology is the new fuel – we are shaping our future leaders now, so all efforts to inspire confidence in our youth should be amplified.

Dr Andy Moore

Dr Andy Moore

Trustee

Andy has been leading Enterprise Digitalisation at Bentley Motors for the last 4 years. He is responsible for driving the adoption of digital technology such as software development, data analytics and UX design to improve user experiences and drive efficiencies. He is also responsible for leading and developing future digital talent at Bentley. Andy has two decades of experience within the automotive industry as an Engineer and Project Manager.

When I first came across TeenTech, I was inspired by the mission to help young people understand the wealth of career opportunities available in science, technology and engineering. The need for talented and diverse people in industry with these skills is growing rapidly, and a deep talent pool is critical to the success of UK PLC. I’m excited for the opportunity to help TeenTech have a positive impact on as many young people as possible, as well as contributing to the talent pipeline for industry.

Claire Scull

Claire Scull

Trustee

Claire Scull is Global Sales Enablement leader at a Life Sciences company focused on supporting go to market activities with skills, tools, systems, and processes to drive efficiencies for the commercial teams. At its heart, Enablement seeks to empower commercial role holders to be at their best! Claire has over 20 years IT & High Technology experience across a range of Sales, Marketing and Programme Management roles.

Claire has great passion for helping our young adults of today who are our future of tomorrow. Claire’s career start as a graduate has seen her dedicate much time and passion into launching early careers programmes.

I am excited to be working as part of the TeenTech Board to ignite a passion for STEM in children and young adults to have easier access to information, experience and confidence to embrace a STEM vocation, qualification or career.

Bill Walker

Bill Walker

Trustee

Bill is the Managing Director of Noise (UK) Ltd, a nationwide service network for consumer electronics and electricals and Commercial Project Director at PCCS Group Ltd, a software house providing solutions to companies large and small across the globe. Having started his career as an apprentice electronics engineer he has since worked in many varied roles from Service Manager to Tech Journalist and more recently Director General of a trade association, during which time he helped develop new qualifications with City & Guilds and a Trailblazer Apprenticeship scheme incorporating a hybrid teaching model allowing classroom, workplace and online learning. Bill also contributed to the UK Digital Skills Taskforce back in 2014.

I have always been passionate about encouraging young people into the various tech industries, having witnessed the demise of truly meaningful apprenticeships and witnessing the average age of the workforce in many of them steadily increase over the years. Thankfully I have been able to contribute in some small way in reversing this and worked with Teentech in its early years to help promote this. Having seen just what impact Teentech could have I now feel extremely fortunate to be able to continue this work further and as a Trustee, use all of my knowledge, experience and contacts to help it reach its full potential and reach as many young people as possible to inspire them with all of the varied possibilities there are in the world of tech.

Young Persons Advisory Board

Young people have always determined the direction of TeenTech. In 2007 Maggie interviewed students to understand what they felt they needed to bring the world of science and technology to life. The very first event in 2008 was based on their reflections in this video.

Young people have been closely consulted ever since, ensuring TeenTech deliver programmes which work.

We formalised this input by creating the TeenTech Young Persons Advisory Board in 2019.

Meet the current members and find out why they are involved.

Charles

London

When I was first introduced to TeenTech I was lacking a sense of direction, and often found myself having to stay after school, I struggled to focus and was probably heading towards exclusion.  Luckily, my teacher gave me an application to enter the TeenTech Awards in 2018. With two friends I entered an idea for an augmented reality comic book app and I realised; ‘I am good at this’. I started to appear early for school and stay on late. My marks and attendance improved and I was getting more involved in the club.  After forming my school awards team for TeenTech; The AlphaApps, I later launched it as a business offering games, podcasts, development services and interactive workshops. As a child growing up, there were no video game heroes that were people of colour, so I featured myself as the hero in a space game. In school, we wanted to inspire kids to be successful in tech so it was important to see someone who looked like me. Representation is really important to us. 

Nathan

Hampshire

I first heard about the Young Advisory Board at the London TeenTech Awards where I was a finalist for my data science project where I developed an artificial neural network. I thought it was an exciting opportunity to join the board and work with other like-minded young people who share my enthusiasm for technology. Having been selected as STEMM prefect at my school, I saw serving on the young advisory board for TeenTech as an opportunity for me to develop my leadership skills further and make a difference in a field that is very meaningful to me. Since being involved with TeenTech, my communication skills and confidence have improved tremendously, as well as my presentation skills. With the invaluable industry knowledge and improvements to my soft skills I’ve accrued during my time with TeenTech, I aspire to one day be an advocate for change within the Tech Industry opening doors for all demographics and walks of life.

Lauren

Hampshire

I’m now 22 and my whole journey started with TeenTech. It was the initial springboard into a world of opportunities I never thought I’d be part of. I was 14 when my science teacher suggested we took part and TeenTech has set me up for life. Without them I wouldn’t have had the work opportunities when I was still under 18. The contacts have been invaluable.

I want more young people to have these opportunities and especially to understand just how creative science, technology and engineering can be.

Miranda

Bristol

Being on the board of TeenTech is absolutely my thing; I love science and maths and really enjoyed my experience taking part in the TeenTech Awards. This gives me the opportunity to share that with others and encourage them to get involved.

I want to help get better representation for all backgrounds in STEM, so it’s important to share opportunities and experiences to let everyone see that these careers are there if they want them.

Beth

Manchester

My interest in TeenTech started when I was in Year 6 at Primary school with their City of Tomorrow programme and since then my enthusiasm for STEM has grown and grown! I was part of a team of 3 in Year 8 when we won the Future of Food category at the TeenTech Awards. My GCSEs are next Summer and I’m hoping to take sciences for A level and study Engineering at University.

Thamina

London

TeenTech has been a big part in my life. I had the opportunity to compete and be inspired by other likeminded and ambitious students all over the UK with their innovative ideas. I had the chance to enhance my presentation and communication skills through opportunities provided such as co-hosting the awards section of the event. I love to give back and inspire more young, underrepresented individuals to follow their passion in STEM/STEAM, and explore solutions for the under privileged by representing and being a member of the Young Person Advisory Board here at TeenTech!

Keira

Glasgow

I became involved in Teen Tech, because I strongly agreed with their mission to advance and interest young people in STEM subjects and STEM careers. Since becoming a member of the Young Person’s Advisory Board, I have had the opportunity to express my opinion that reflects the wants of young people and met some inspiring innovators in the process. I can’t wait to see how Teen Tech will develop further in the coming years!

Emily

Leicestershire

I think the Young Person Advisory Board is a great initiative for a youth led movement. TeenTech brings out the potential in young people and this board gives them a voice within the organisation.

Years ago (back in 2015), when I first participated in TeenTech, I had no idea how far it would take me. The opportunities that have stemmed from it are countless and I’ve developed so many skills at such a critical point in life.

Vidya

London

I have always been interested in STEAM subjects. Using a digital medium from young age allowed me to venture into different areas of computing, hardware and science. I have participated in Teentech Live sessions on various topics of technology.

As my interest veered from topic to topic, I decided to learn something concrete to produce an useful output. In that process, I sought out to learn Python and use data science in order to apply it to a climate change problem. After reading Bill Gates’ book called “How to avoid a Climate Disaster”, I used data from UNFCCC to predict the year when UK will achieve Net Zero Emissions. With this project, I participated in the Teentech 2021 competition. After getting selected as one of the three UK national finalist, I received the “Big and Bold” award.

Subsequent to that, I wrote a 2D game called mySnooker using p5js processing language and reached finals of TeenTech awards in 2022. I enjoyed playing this game and spread the joy by sharing the code as well as the game for others to enjoy by making it available to the visitors of my stall via QR code.

I can clearly see the benefits of giving exposure to children on various technology topics. TeenTech has been instrumental in cultivating the right interest. In order to share my experience with TeenTech and also to contribute to their educational objectives, I recently joined the youth board. I hope to benefit from the experience and also pay it forward through my services.

Advisory Group

Russ Shaw

Russ Shaw

Founder Tech London Advocates

In my role as Founder of Tech London Advocates, Teen Tech is one of the most well-run and popular digital learning initiatives for young people that I have come across. Maggie’s leadership of the organisation is outstanding, and both the young people and the teachers involved with the Teen Tech events benefit enormously from the programme. It is a great asset for schools…and frankly for the nation.

Russ is the Founder of Tech London Advocates, a global advocacy group of 2,500 senior leaders in the tech community, created to champion and accelerate the growth of London’s technology sector. Russ is a non-executive director and on the Advisory Boards of the L1Technology Fund, E2Exchange and Founders4Schools. He was appointed a London Tech Ambassador for the Mayor of London in 2014. He is an angel and venture capital investor with Ariadne Capital. Previously, Russ held senior management positions at Skype, Telefonica/O2 and American Express and was CEO of a later stage mobile startup called Mobileway.

Sue O’Hare

Sue O’Hare

European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre Operations Manager at STFC

Dr Sue O’Hare is a knowledge transfer professional working in innovation and enterprise at the interface between research and business. She currently manages the European Space Agency’s UK business incubator (the ESA BIC) at the STFC Rutherford Laboratory at Harwell, Oxfordshire She has worked in universities and companies, was a non-exec director of TeenTech for four years and is also Immediate Past Chair of the knowledge transfer professional association PraxisUnico, a Tech London Advocate and a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Educators.

TeenTech opens eyes, bridges gaps and builds new relationships. I first saw it in action in East London creating a buzz, raising aspirations of young people and teachers, and inspiring a blog by one of the business ambassadors saying how it had relit his fire. I’ve had so many opportunities through my career in technology and I’m delighted to help inspire the technologists of tomorrow.

Professor Alan Woodward

Professor Alan Woodward

Visiting Professor University of Surrey

Alan began as a physicist at the University of Southampton. However, he developed an interest in computing early on through signal processing for gamma ray burst detectors, and so switched to engineering after his BSc. Hence for his post graduate research, he moved to the engineering faculty to develop computer based techniques for analysing and recovering complex signals, including audio and structural vibrations.

After leaving university Alan worked for the UK government for many years, for whom he still provides advice. He has particular expertise in, and continues to conduct research into, cybersecurity, covert communications, forensic computing and image/signal processing. Alan has been involved in some of the most significant advances in computer technology which have seen him gain a number of professional accolades such as being made a Chartered Engineering, Chartered IT Practitioner, a Chartered Physicist, and Eur Ing, as well as academic awards such as being elected as a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, Royal Statistical Society and British Computer Society.

Technology and Engineering are our future. TeenTech is so rare in recognising this. There are numerous initiatives to involve young people in understanding science but TeenTech is one of a very select few that shows the next generation how it can be applied. I was delighted to be asked to be part of what I see as a vital task: engaging young people to be part of shaping our future rather than just being passengers on someone else’s journey.

Roland Allen

Roland Allen

I’ve spent much of my career working in Technology at the BBC and was privileged to serve on the TeenTech board for five years. TeenTech enthuses the Scientists, Engineers and Technologists of tomorrow that the UK so badly needs and to help UK industry to bridge the gulf to attract and retain them.

Delivery Team

Dani Longhurst

Dani Longhurst

Project Manager – TeenTech Awards

Through my experience of working at an Education Charity, and as a parent of teenagers, I know just how vital it is to engage students in an innovative way about the world of work. TeenTech does this in a very exciting and hands-on way and I am thrilled to be part of the team delivering these experiences to students across the country.

Elaine Manton

Elaine Manton

Project Manager, TeenTech

Elaine is a retired teacher and former STEM Coordinator, a Specialist Leader of Education (STEM) and a National Expert STEM Teacher.

The pace of change in the marketplace is so fast that teachers can get left behind, so we have to ensure they understand the needs of industry. We are training our young people for jobs that don’t even exist yet, the digital revolution is producing more and more challenging roles which is why we need to expose our pupils to more real-life creative problem-solving and entrepreneurial-type problems both within the classroom, and at extracurricular events. We got involved as a school in 2012 and were so inspired by the unique support and mentorship available to pupils via TeenTech, that we entered every year afterwards. There is nothing else out there that offers such meaningful individual feedback to every project idea that enters the awards. When companies are struggling to recruit staff, TeenTech is a much-needed initiative to prepare pupils for the world of work, and show them the growing skills gap shortage in the UK, and I am delighted to be on board!

Kathy Dare

Kathy Dare

Project Manager, TeenTech

As a teacher of Design and Technology, I had the pleasure of being involved with TeenTech through the Awards programme over the last eight years. My students learnt so much about themselves and their potential, and developed a wide range of transferable skills whilst exploring local and global issues which can be linked to topics across the breadth of the curriculum. I love the way TeenTech provides students with the opportunity to develop the germ of an idea into something tangible and bigger than they first imagined, boosting their pride and self- esteem. Collaborating with and presenting to industrial and educational experts from beyond the confines of their school helps to open students’ eyes to the contemporary world of work, making TeenTech such an engaging, relevant and innovative experience. I have seen first-hand the positive impact TeenTech makes on young people, their schools and teachers –many of whom have continued to build upon their achievements. I now feel truly privileged to have been welcomed onto the TeenTech team having moved on from teaching!

Natasha Ramsden

Natasha Ramsden

Finance Manager, TeenTech

I am very excited to join TeenTech, as it has a great track record of inspiring school children to discover a wide variety of career options and have fun along the way. I really admire how it uses its wide network of trusted partners to deliver on an impressive scale across the country. I look forward to supporting the team, especially as it moves into its 10th year of operation.

Ali Maggs

Ali Maggs

Director of Technology, TeenTech

As an app, games and website developer, I love that TeenTech enables me to inspire the next generation of innovators, working with young people across the UK. TeenTech also allows me to imagine and create exciting solutions to help us maximise our impact and reach even more young people. Throughout COVID, we pivoted quickly to deliver lively, fun and engaging virtual events that students, teachers and parents highly praised, and we worked with more than 18,000 students in the past twelve months through virtual and in-person events.