Who we are

Upon leaving full-time teaching, Farida founded Mannan Education to provide educational support for school aged pupils throughout the academic year. Her company is another local Chiswick institute, based in the Hogarth Community Centre.

Emeritus Professor of Pharmacy at the Universities of Brighton and Sussex. Past Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Brighton and Head of Schools of Pharmacy at Brighton and Cardiff Universities. Former QAA Higher Education institutional reviewer, Teaching Excellence Framework Project Board member, and Accreditation Lead for the General Pharmaceutical Council. Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Stephen has acted as a pharmaceutical expert to industry, the Department of Health and the European Commission and has been an external examiner and adviser to a number of universities.

Ann Cottis was a partner in PwC until her retirement after 38 years; following many years as a tax partner she developed and led the people agenda across the partnership. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1979 and a Chartered Tax Advisor in 1980 after completing a Maths degree at Warwick University. She has held a number of non-executive directorship and trusteeships including City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Surrey Cricket Foundation.

Ben is a senior executive in the Health and Social Care sector. Prior to this, he spent 20 years as an educator, latterly as Head of a renowned performing arts school. He studied in Music and French at Bristol University and the Sorbonne (Paris). He went on to study in the USA at post-graduate level in vocal performance, conducting, and piano, whilst teaching undergraduate music theory and piano. He started his career as freelance musician, working for ten years as a tenor lay-clerk, animateur, accompanist, musical director and jazz pianist.

Jo works as Director of Education and Studies at the University of Brighton and has been awarded an MA in Education. She is a highly experienced Higher Education practitioner with a track record of cross institutional leadership in Education and Student Experience. Prior to her work in Higher Education, Jo held a senior position in Television Production and Commercial Theatre. She is also a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Fellow of SEDA (Staff Educational Development Association).

Property development and project management specialist, Rob has a degree in architecture and started his career working in construction before spending more than 22 years at a major property company, Capital & Counties, where he ran their project team. Until his recent retirement, he was a director of Rosenau Properties.

Ruth is an experienced HR professional who has worked for a range of organisations, most recently as an Interim consultant focussing on business change and transformation.  She has been a mentor in a secondary school and a governor for the University of Bedfordshire.