We were overwhelmed by the quality of the response, and are proud and excited to introduce seven new Eureka! Board Members who’ll oversee both Eureka! The National Children’s Museum in Halifax and Eureka! Science + Discovery, opening in Wirral this Autumn.
Shahban Aziz
Shahban Aziz
Shahban is a Haligonian born and raised (that’s someone from Halifax, for the uninitiated). He’s an education expert with a passion for inclusion and equality.
Shahban studied Economics and Social Sciences in Manchester, then gained his postgraduate legal qualifications at BPP Law School.
He has worked for the last decade in senior roles in the education sector, gaining experience of managing multi-million-pound budgets, leading large teams across multiple locations worldwide and ensuring a world-class student experience.
Shahban is also a Trustee for Young Citizens and regularly volunteers to provide employability workshops to youth groups and on projects to enhance opportunities for disenfranchised communities.
Fay Best
Fay Best
Fay is passionate about supporting young people to access STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) education and careers.
A consultant and trainer for STEM-based projects, with expertise in the area of inclusion and the promotion of women into STEM, Fay works with employers, educators, and professional bodies to develop strategies to increase skills and widen diversity.
Fay started her career as a design engineer before becoming a lecturer in engineering, giving her an insight into both industry and education.
Sue Higginson
Sue Higginson
Sue is the Principal and CEO of Wirral Metropolitan College, the largest Further Education College in Wirral. She has many years’ experience in the FE and HE Sector, as well as private sector and multi-national organisations.
Sue is also a Non-Executive Director and Vice Chair of the Association of Colleges, Vice Chair of The Association of Liverpool City Region Colleges and a keen supporter of Wirral Chamber of Commerce and Liverpool City Region LEP.
A qualified teacher of further and higher education, Sue also holds an MBA and postgraduate qualifications in management and leadership. She’s a smart cookie – a member of MENSA, a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM); a Chartered Manager and a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.
John Kelly
John Kelly
As an ex-KPMG senior Partner of 21 years, John is a globally recognised specialist in the field of mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
With 35+ years’ experience leading strategic change and transformation across a range of industries, he certainly knows his stuff!
John is a Trustee of the Dean Trust, holds directorships at several start-ups, runs his own consulting business and mentors numerous former colleagues and friends. Married with two children, John somehow manages to also find time to watch sports (anything ball-based) and is trying to remember how to play golf!
Educated at St Edwards’s College in Liverpool, John studied Economics at The University of Manchester, trained as a Chartered Accountant at Price Waterhouse in Liverpool, then took up senior finance roles in industry before joining KPMG.
Shagufta Sharif
Shagufta Sharif
Shagufta has worked in the not for profit sector for more than a decade, including at Girlguiding UK and WISE (Women in Science and Engineering). She specialises in Diversity and Inclusion and currently works at the Department for Transport as the Inclusion Lead. She has also volunteered for Girlguiding UK as a trustee and leader for over 20 years!
Her work has involved outreach and supporting young people to consider careers in STEM.
Shagufta is looking forward to providing insight and expertise as a trustee, to ensure Eureka! continues to have a positive impact on young people.
John Sutcliffe
John Sutcliffe
John is passionate about helping kids have great experiences to help them form the building blocks of their future careers – whatever they might be.
Born in Calderdale, John went to Brooksbank School in Elland and then Leicester University before training to be a Chartered Accountant down in that London.
John was Finance Director, then CEO of Henry Boot PLC, based in Sheffield, before retiring in May 2020.
He is married to Adele, a teacher who has taught in Calderdale for most of her life, and they have a married daughter. John and Adele recently became very proud grandparents. Ahhhh.
Kirsty Ward
Kirsty Ward
Kirsty joined Marks & Spencer in November 2018 (not just any job…) as the Director for Bank & Services, where she is responsible for the financial services, gift cards, corporate sales and M&S Energy businesses. Kirsty is also the Executive Sponsor for M&S’s Buddy Network (not just any network…), an employee-led group supporting colleagues managing their mental and physical health conditions.
Prior to this, Kirsty spent a decade at Walmart, where she was Vice President of Financial Services for Walmart in the US. Prior to that, Kirsty led the creation and launch of Asda Money and Asda Mobile.
Kirsty’s early career started in product development and marketing at Sara Lee, followed by leadership roles at Boots, where she developed the much-loved Advantage Card program.
Kirsty is a Harvard Business School alum and holds a BA Marketing. Kirsty is a previous trustee of Eureka! having served on our Board before – and is now returning to be part of #TeamEureka for a second time!
By: Michelle Emerson