Speaker profiles

Tim’s first job was as a computer operator on the ICL 1905/Applied Dynamic 256 hybrid at Cranfield Institute of Technology, and then at the Open University as a Cobol programmer, while gaining an HNC in Computer Studies. After graduating from Southampton University in Sociology he joined BBC Radio as a studio manager. From radio he moved to TV, winning awards as an outside broadcast Producer, and rose to become the Head of Events and Assistant Head of Sports and Events Group. He was responsible for coverage of major events, as well as sports, factual and entertainment content. In 1990, Tim moved to Walt Disney to become Managing Director of Buena Vista Productions, responsible for international TV production and a principal in the launch of EuroDisney. In 2000, Tim joined a new dotcom, Wide Learning, as Chief Operating Officer, a company producing online financial and regulatory e-learning content. In March 2005, Tim became CEO at JANET(UK) – formerly UKERNA – responsible for providing JANET, the UK’s powerful world leading research, learning and education network. His particular interests are in IPTV, video conferencing and the optimization of business value by sharing without undermining the autonomy of partners. He is an active member of the HE Shared Services Advisory Group and the Parliamentary Information Technology Committee. Tim is an alumnus of Ashridge School of Management, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Member of the British Computer Society and the Royal Television Society. Tim has been engaged at the Manchester Commonwealth Games, the Athens and Beijing Olympics, as part of the international broadcast quality assurance team. He is a non-executive director of several companies, and for his charitable activities, he is a trustee of an old people’s residential home and produces the annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.

Andrew Abboud is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at City University London. Andrew has over 20 years of experience working at international professional services organisations. Andrew spent a large part of his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers where, amongst several senior technology roles, he was the Global Learning and Education Technology Leader. This role included the development and implementation of technology solutions to meet the firm's worldwide training needs. Prior to joining City University London, Andrew was the Group Director of Enabling Services at Detica plc, responsible for property and facilities, procurement, knowledge management, improving business processes, controlling enterprise costs and raising the performance of information systems.
At City, Andrew is responsible for leading and developing the University's Information Services (IS), including library services, business systems, technology operations, and information compliance. His main role is to ensure investment in Information Services is supporting the University's strategy to lead London in education, research and knowledge transfer for businesses and professions.

Linda Carter is an Associate for the Leadership Foundation and Director of the successful Future Leaders Programme, working with her dream team comprising John Mulligan and Susan Chadwick. Following a successful academic career, Linda created her own company, Chrystallise Consulting, specialising in leadership development. She works with a range of clients, mainly from the public sector, designing and delivering leadership programmes and creating team building experiences. Using techniques grounded in positive psychology and appreciative enquiry she seeks to bring the best out of the individual, the team and the organisation. Linda has been commissioned to research best practice and organisational cultures, to evaluate team leader programmes and has been invited to speak at conferences, both home and overseas. Her work with LSIS and Becta has provided opportunities for designing and delivering programmes within the further education sector to help leaders maximise the value of technology. She is a contributory author to the management text: Management and Organisational Behaviour (7th Ed 2005) and Essentials of Organisational Behaviour 2006 both by Laurie Mullins

Susannah Quinsee is Director of Learning Development at City University London and an alumni of the Future Leaders Programme. She leads the Learning Development Centre (LDC) which encompasses educational development and technology enhanced learning activity for the University. The LDC is a central service, academic department and a research active centre. Previously Susannah was Head of E-Learning and Associate Director of Information Services and Libraries also at City University London. In this role she managed the implementation of e-learning at the University. Susannah has also worked as a Senior Lecturer in Educational Development Centre and in lecturer and in academic support roles at a number of other higher education institutions in the UK. Susannah has considerable experience in the areas of online learning, student support, implementing learning and teaching strategies and project management in relation to higher education. Susannah’s current research focuses on leadership and change management in relation to learning development, developing communities of practice in higher education and engaging staff in new learning and teaching methodologies, particularly using technology.

James Cracknell is one of the most successful and inspirational athletes of the modern era. A double Olympic Champion, and World Record holder, and with six World Championships to his name, James is one of Britain’s true sporting heroes. After the Athens Olympics, James took a year out from competitive rowing, but still managed to set the record for the fastest two Britons to row across the Atlantic (49 days) while competing in the gruelling Atlantic rowing race with TV presenter Ben Fogle. Shortly after this, James retired from competitive rowing. However, never one to sit still, he continues to set himself new challenges. He’s run the London and New York Marathons, won the Mark Webber Challenge, taken part in the Coast to Coast race in New Zealand, competed in the European Triathlon Championships for GBR for his age group, as well as successfully completing his Cross Continent Challenge in aid of Sport Relief in 2008. Most recently, James took part in the Amundsen Omega3 South Pole Race, again with Ben Fogle, and their third team member Ed Coats (the winner of a nationwide search). Not just content with extreme challenges, James has also established himself as both writer and broadcaster. He is the London 2012 Sustainability Ambassador and he is an experienced and entertaining corporate speaker and awards host.