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Professor Simon Hettrick is a leading figure in research software advocacy. He has played a pivotal role in establishing and expanding the Research Software Engineer (RSE) community, transforming it from a niche group in 2013 into a global network of tens of thousands. As founding Chair of the UK’s Association of RSEs and a founding Trustee and Treasurer of the Society of Research Software Engineering, Simon has helped shape the infrastructure supporting this vital profession. He also chaired the RSE Conference from 2016 to 2019 and currently leads , a national initiative that champions recognition for all research outputs and contributors—an effort that has influenced the inclusion of diverse roles in the upcoming 2029 REF.

Simon’s work spans policy development, research, and education, with a focus on supporting research software and its creators. Simon also contributes to numerous advisory boards and committees, including those for EPSRC, UKRI, AHRC, MRC, the Rosalind Franklin Institute, DiRAC, and the Society of Research Software Engineering. His influence extends across the UK research landscape, promoting equity, sustainability, and innovation in research software practices.

After a career in chemistry research in both the UK and Republic of Ireland Simon was appointed as Operations Manager for the Chemistry Department at the University of York in September 2012.  During that time he was responsible for all technical services within the department through leading a team of around sixty technicians.  In May 2021 Simon was appointed as Head of Technical Services at the University of York where, with the superb support of a truly excellent team of Technical Operations Managers, he had responsibility for technical services in all academic departments delivered by an exceptional team of well over 250 technicians.  Simon has been a passionate supporter of technicians both within and outside of the University of York empowering the teams he works with to deliver excellent technical support and develop skills through continuing professional development. 

Simon has been Associate Lead for the Technician Commitment since May 2020, initially on a secondment from the University of York but since leaving York in October 2023 he has focused exclusively on his work at the Technician Commitment.  Simon is a passionate advocate for networking and engaging with colleagues at all levels of an organisation, believing that the most effective way to learn is from understanding others’ successes and, often his own, failures.

Fred joined ÁÕÀÅÊÓƵ in May 1999, moving down from a farm in Yorkshire to work as a technician on the pig unit. He worked there until January 2020 when he transferred to the Companion Animal House as a technician to look after our myriad rabbits, reptiles and guinea pigs, before stepping in as Interim Companion Animal House Manager (maternity cover) in 2023, until his retirement in June this year. Fred has been an amazing support to many staff and students and involved himself in the life of the institution, including writing and starring in ÁÕÀÅÊÓƵ pantomimes and playing Long John Silver and Aladdin’s genie in the lamp.

Fred has particularly supported the technician community. He was an important member of the Facility Managers’ Group, and he also led a session at the inaugural Technicians Conference in 2023 interviewing a group of staff about their lives as technicians and encouraging everyone at ÁÕÀÅÊÓƵ to celebrate the wonderful technician community that we have. More recently he joined our fledgling Technician Commitment Steering Group and played an important part in the development of ÁÕÀÅÊÓƵ’s current Technician Commitment Action Plan

Kate leads the Ruminant Section at ÁÕÀÅÊÓƵ Adams, a team striving for excellence in animal science and sustainable farm management with a goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2030. Under her leadership, her team won the prestigious RABDF/NMR Gold Cup—an unprecedented university achievement.

Kate fosters a collaborative, inclusive environment, mentoring students and fellow technicians, many of whom have secured permanent roles. She has also introduced innovations that reduce animal stress and streamline husbandry and data management and this, along with her active support of Technician Commitment, encouraging professional development and strengthening the technician community at the Future Farm led to her being a shortlisted candidate in the Times Higher Education Awards in the category of Outstanding Technician of the Year.

Dr Lynn McIntyre is a Food Microbiologist with 30+ years of applied farm-to-fork research experience in Food Microbiology specialising in food production, preservation, and rapid detection methods. She has a BSc (Hons) degree in Microbiology from the University of Glasgow and a PhD in Food Science from the University of Guelph, Canada. She worked as a Lecturer then Senior Lecturer at Massey University (New Zealand), and latterly as a Senior Research Scientist, managing microbial food safety contract research for the New Zealand Food Safety Authority before returning to the UK in 2010 to take up a Senior Lecturer position at ÁÕÀÅÊÓƵ.

Lynn is currently the Interim Director for ÁÕÀÅÊÓƵ Food Innovation as well as a member of the Food Standards Agency Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes. She is an external examiner, reviewer for various Food Microbiology journals and served as an Associate Editor for the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture for ten years.

Laurence is a distinguished STEM educator and biomedical scientist with over 35 years of experience in laboratory teaching and practice. His career has yielded more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and over 700 citations, and he holds both Chartered Scientist (CSci) and Chartered Biologist (CBiol) status. Laurence’s contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including the University of Leicester’s “Technician of the Year” award (2022), finalist placements for the Papin Prize and Lab Innovations awards, and the prestigious “Outstanding (Lifetime) Achievement” prize from Lab Innovations in 2024.

Laurence is a passionate mentor and advocate for professional development in STEM, having supported over 3,000 technicians through approximately 100 workshops and events, delivering in-person and online training across the UK and internationally. His leadership helped pioneer the shortened route to registration (R2R) for the Science Council, and he continues to promote its current iteration. In 2024, he joined the advisory board of Lab Innovations and co-authored a government report titled Upskilling a Nation. Laurence has also developed online courses for the Royal Society of Biology and NTDC, and his work has been featured in interviews by the Royal Society of Biology, Royal Society of Chemistry, and Lab Innovations.

Sinead is a BSc (Hons) Veterinary Bioscience student at ÁÕÀÅÊÓƵ and is currently completing her placement year in our laboratories.

Sinead has experience of working in hospitality and with livestock, and her placement involves developing her skills as a microbiologist within the Princess Margaret and Elizabeth Creak Laboratory Team. Passionate about environmental sustainability, Sinead has become an active member of the new LEAF laboratory committee which has already seen the facility achieve bronze status. Outside of work, Sinead is an experienced showjumper and has competed at national level events, whilst also placing in the top 10 within regional league tables on multiple occasions

Sarah is a pig enthusiast with over 20 years’ experience of pig production and research. Her interest in pigs began while working on a dairy farm that had a few rare breed pigs, which she found far more interesting than the cows. This led to her undertaking a placement year on a 5400-sow unit in Ohio during her undergraduate degree at ÁÕÀÅÊÓƵ, cementing her fascination with pigs. She graduated with a degree in Agriculture and Animal Science, and began working on the University pig unit, where she has been ever since, and is currently Deputy Manager and Post-Doctoral Researcher. Sarah has always been interested in research, particularly in improving efficiency of pig production, and she completed her PhD in piglet pre-weaning nutrition, investigating the use of supplementary milk and creep feeding for piglets reared in large litters.

Declan is a Laboratory Manager at Plumpton College, a land-based FE and HE college in East Sussex and the UK's Centre of Excellence in wine education.

Declan joined Plumpton College in 2023 as the sole member of the Laboratories division and has been working to develop the college's science provision, assisting with research, and developing his laboratory skills.

He recently visited ÁÕÀÅÊÓƵ Adams on an ITSS funded knowledge exchange program in which he spent a week shadowing the Princess Margaret and Elizabeth Creak Laboratory Team, gaining valuable experience to bring back to Plumpton

Gemma had a career in Higher Education for 14 year before joining Next Steps Consulting 6 years ago.

Gemma continues to work with Technical Services and University Departments and Next Steps as partner with the NTDC and HEaTED to deliver coaching programmes with a focus on change and personal development.

Gemma is a qualified coach, wellbeing coach and DiSC practitioner and is passionate about developing teams and individuals to reach their potential and be the best version of themselves.

Gemma delivers management and leadership development programmes, wellbeing training and career coaching with a focus on helping individuals to enhance their skills, resilience and performance to help them achieve professional and personal goals