Meet the Team
The Schools and Colleges Liaison Service:
- Offers impartial information, advice and guidance about how to research Higher Education (HE) courses and institutions.
- Gives specialist advice on topics such as student finance and making an effective application through UCAS.
- Works closely with our school and college partners across the region to widen participation to HE.
- Provides a number of progression activities for adult learners as well as Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities for school/college staff and careers advisers.
- Acts as a liaison point between school/college staff wishing to form links with University staff in specific subject areas.
All members of the Schools and Colleges Liaison team at Huddersfield have passed the relevant safeguarding checks (DBS) and have undertaken child safeguarding training.
Contact us on 01484 472282 or schools.liaison@hud.ac.uk
The team
Amanda Kenningley
Deputy Head of Schools and Colleges Liaison Service
Julie Pink
| Job Title | Head of Schools and Colleges Liaison Service |
|---|---|
| School / Service | Marketing, Communications and Student Recruitment |
| Phone Number | |
About Julie Pink
After graduating from the University of Leeds with a BA in Management Studies and Philosophy, I joined Sainsbury’s on their Graduate Management Training Programme. After a few years at Sainsbury’s working in and around North London, I moved back to West Yorkshire in 1992 to join the University of Huddersfield. From 1994 onwards I have headed up the Schools and Colleges Liaison Service seeing it grow from a team of one and a half to a team of seventeen over the years.
Whilst at the University, I have gained an MA in Education Marketing from the University of Central England and have gained fellowship of the Chartered Management Institute. I am a member of the West Yorkshire’s Uni Connect steering group, Go Higher West Yorkshire, I chair the Kirklees Community Learning Trust and I am the Chair of the Board of Directors for C+K Careers. I have two grown up children and I love travelling, reading, and going to the gym (in that order!)
Amanda Kenningley
| Job Title | Deputy Head of Schools and Colleges Liaison Service |
|---|---|
| School / Service | Marketing, Communications and Student Recruitment |
| Phone Number | |
About Amanda Kenningley
I have worked in the Schools & Colleges Liaison team at the University of Huddersfield since 2006 and I’ve been Deputy Head of the Service since 2017. My job is varied and I enjoy working with young people, especially when you can see how the work done may change their perceptions of Higher Education! Having left college at 18 and entering the world of work, I decided a few years down the line to go to university and was so glad I did. Encouraging young people to enter into Higher Education through the work I do gives me a great sense of achievement. In addition to the work I do at the university with schools and colleges, I have held several voluntary roles within HELOA (the professional association of staff in Higher Education who work in student recruitment, outreach, marketing and admissions), most recently being the UK Vice Chair for Group Development, which allowed me to liaise and collaborate with staff from various universities across the UK. I have also held voluntary positions within schools, including parent governor at a local secondary school and trustee on the Board of the Valley Learning Partnership (a Strategic Learning Partnership which formalises collaboration between groups of schools in Calderdale and neighbouring areas). I recently completed CMI Level 5 Certificate in Management & Leadership and CMI Level 7 Strategic Management & Leadership.
Prior to working at the university, I worked in marketing roles at De Montfort University, Bradford College, Impact Theatre Training and Wakefield Council, so I have an insight into a variety of institutions. Outside work I like walking challenges, having undertaken the Yorkshire 3 Peaks a couple of times, the Ullswater Way the Northumberland Coast Mighty Hike. I have two boys who keep me very busy, particularly with their various sporting activities, in my spare time.
Gemma Stead
Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer (West Yorkshire)
Hannah Alipoor
Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer (North and West Yorkshire)
Marica Shelbourne
Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer (South Yorkshire)
Natasha Parker-Wood
Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer (West Yorkshire)
tel:+441484258337
Ruth Cohen
Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer (Widening Participation)
Sophie Craven
Schools & Colleges Liason Officer (Progression Module & Headstart)
Sophie Craven
| Job Title | Schools & Colleges Liason Officer |
|---|---|
| School / Service | Marketing, Communications and Student Recruitment |
| Phone Number | |
About Sophie Craven
I coordinate the University’s schemes that attract UCAS points: primarily the Progression Module and Headstart Huddersfield. My role involves working with key individuals in schools and colleges to publicise and recruit students onto the schemes. I work with partner institutions, including Leeds Beckett University, to develop existing and new teaching and assessment resources for the Progression Module. In addition I am responsible for developing and coordinating training for teachers and providing ongoing support for the schemes. I also work with schools and colleges to organise and deliver a range of campus visits, presentations and workshops.
I have worked in Schools Liaison, Student Recruitment and Widening Participation roles for over 15 years and prior to that I worked for an Education Business Partnership on enterprise and mentoring projects. I am a qualified teacher of History with an MA in History and PGCert Technology Enhanced Learning. I am also a published education author and contributor to a number of UK school subscription publications. In my spare time I enjoy reading and walking the Calder Valley where I live with my husband and two children.
Ruth Cohen
| Job Title | Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer |
|---|---|
| School / Service | Marketing, Communications and Student Recruitment |
| Phone Number | |
About Ruth Cohen
The main function of my role is to provide awareness of Higher Education for young people from a vulnerable background. Within my role I am dedicated to ensuring that young people continue to be inspired about the possibility of Higher Education and the opportunities that education can unlock.
I am responsible for the management of our looked after young person program working in conjunction with our student’s services team. I am the regional rep for Yorkshire and Humber on the National Network for Care Leavers and I sit on the Northclass group. I also work with the Go Higher West Yorkshire Partnership and sit on 3 of their vulnerable students groups.
I also run an exciting project with local primary and secondary schools looking at raising aspirations with students who come from more challenged and disadvantaged backgrounds. This is called the Aspire project and it is being run over 10 years.
I have worked within the HE sector for over 19 years, and I believe passionately about Education for all.
My life outside of work is taken up with my family and all that entails!
Kate Filimon
| Job Title | Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer |
|---|---|
| School / Service | Marketing, Communications and Student Recruitment |
| Phone Number | |
About Kate Filimon
After studying English Literature at the University of Sheffield and then working in Market Research in Leeds, I began working in Higher Education in the South West in 2014 – and now I’m delighted to have returned to the north to continue my career in this area. I am passionate about promoting fair access to university and ensuring that all young people have access to equal educational opportunities.
My role involves delivering aspiration-raising talks and workshops and attending careers fairs to provide information and guidance to students and their families about the variety of Higher Education options available to them. I’ve recently taken over responsibility for building relationships with schools and colleges in the North West in particular; I’m based in the region and spend the majority of my time paying visits to institutions throughout the area, from Cheshire to Cumbria!
When I’m not at work, I’m particularly interested in live music, theatre and literature and you can often find me at festivals of all shapes, sizes and genres.
Gemma Stead
| Job Title | Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer (West Yorkshire) |
|---|---|
| School / Service | Marketing, Communications and Student Recruitment |
| Phone Number | |
About Gemma Stead
My role primarily involves giving information, advice and guidance to prospective students and their families. This involves delivering talks and workshops and attending careers fairs to provide information and guidance. I also specifically work to build links between the University and schools and colleges in the West Yorkshire region and host campus visits. I enjoy working in a variety of different settings and meeting new people every day.
I have been working in Higher Education since 2011 both in the UK and Canada, working in a variety of different roles in marketing, admissions, student recruitment and outreach. I have a degree in History and International Relations and I am very passionate about the wealth of opportunities Higher Education can bring. I also hold a CIM Professional Diploma in Marketing and have Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Psychotherapy.
Outside of work, I have a busy family life with two young children. I also enjoy practising yoga and going on retreat weekends for some well earned peace and quiet!
Hannah Alipoor
| Job Title | Schools & Colleges Liaison Officer (North and West Yorkshire) |
|---|---|
| School / Service | Marketing, Communications and Student Recruitment |
| Phone Number | |
About Hannah Alipoor
I moved to Huddersfield from Bradford in 2013 when I came to study BA English Language and Linguistics, then continuing on to MA Intercultural Communication. Throughout my four years as a student I worked as a Senior Student Ambassador, a job that I really enjoyed and inspired me to continue working in HE, specifically Schools and Colleges Liaison.
Working as a Schools and Colleges Officer my job involves promoting the University and/or HE in schools and colleges across the UK, with a particular focus on North and West Yorkshire. This involves going into schools to deliver presentations and workshops, hosting and delivering activities on campus, as well as building and maintaining relationships with staff members within schools and colleges.
In my spare time I love going to new places, whether that be in the UK or abroad. Outside of work you will find me scrolling various search engines for the latest cheap flight!
Marica Shelbourne
| Job Title | Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer (South Yorkshire) |
|---|---|
| School / Service | Marketing, Communications and Student Recruitment |
| Phone Number | |
About Marica Shelbourne
I have been working at the University of Huddersfield since 2018 as a Schools and Colleges Officer. University of Huddersfield was where I studied my degree in Youth and Community Work, and since graduating I’d always hoped to get a job working with students and progressing them into Higher Education and the opportunities it can provide them with. My job is very varied, some days I’ll be delivering an assembly to a whole year group or a small classroom and on others I could be at large scale careers events in a football stadium! In addition to my role as an Officer, I am a Vice Chair (Communications) for HELOA (North East, Yorkshire and the Humber) – this helps me to see what’s happening in the world of Higher Education, build closer links with other Universities and share best practice.
Kai Walker
| Job Title | Recruitment Events Coordinator |
|---|---|
| School / Service | Marketing, Communications and Student Recruitment |
| Phone Number |
+44 (0) 1484 258337 |
About Kai Walker
In 2020 I graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in BSc Geography. As part of my studies, I had the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica where I was able to conduct my own research project, observing ant communities to determine the impact of different land uses on biodiversity. Following my graduation, I joined the NHS Test and Trace programme, initially as a call agent before being promoted to the service helpdesk. In my spare time I have volunteered with the National Trust, Colne Valley Tree Society, and West Yorkshire Dog Rescue.
I joined the University of Huddersfield in March 2022 in the role of Schools and Colleges Liaison administrator, where my responsibilities include the coordination of the Student Ambassador Scheme, assisting in the organisation of promotional events for both Higher Education and for the University, and managing the SCLS social media channels – along with much more!
When I’m not working you can usually find me relaxing at the cinema or going to see live music. I enjoy spending time outdoors in the beautiful countryside surrounding where I live, where I get to walk my two naughty whippets.
Natasha Parker-Wood
| Job Title | Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer (West Yorkshire) |
|---|---|
| School / Service | Marketing, Communications and Student Recruitment |
| Phone Number |
+441484258337 |
About Natasha Berry
I have worked in the Education sector since 2016, in a variety of primary & secondary schools, colleges and universities; my main interest is encouraging students to achieve more than they thought was possible and opening their eyes to opportunities they may not have considered.
My career experience covers a wide range of areas such as assisting teaching, SEN support, attendance, employability, wellbeing, accommodation and assisting international students in their transition to UK institutions. Alongside this, I hold a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and recently achieved a MA in Education from the University of Huddersfield.
My role in the Schools & Colleges Liaison service focuses on building relationships within the West Yorkshire region – including providing guidance and information at careers fairs, delivering participation-widening and aspiration-raising workshops, and hosting campus visits.
In my personal time, I enjoy oil painting, swimming and am a big cat lover. I am always pushing myself to beat my personal best in the pool and completing distance challenges – my most recent ones are swimming the length of the Amalfi Coast and The Channel!