The BESA Team

Caroline had a distinguished career in the UK Civil Service prior to joining BESA in 2012, leading communications teams at the Department for Education, Ofsted, Partnerships for Schools, Cabinet Office, and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Caroline is actively involved in various government and sector advisory boards and has received numerous accolades, including Education Investor’s ‘Outstanding Contribution to Education’ award. Caroline is a frequent contributor to charitable educational activities, reflecting her commitment to the education sector. Her currently voluntary work and advisory roles include school governorship at Bishop Stopfords School, the Open University & University of Lincoln’s Protecting Girls from Online Harm research project, Oxford Internet Institute’s ‘Towards equity-focused approaches to EdTech research project, the Government’s International Education Sector Advisory Group and the DfE’s Content Store Expert Advisory Panel.

When not involved in BESA activities Caroline can be mostly be found walking her chocolate Labrador, Rufus.

Julia leads on commercial and operational issues and supports Caroline to promote the work of BESA and our members within the UK and internationally.

Prior to joining BESA in 2019, Julia worked in education publishing and EdTech, both in-house and as an external marketing consultant. Having used BESA’s services as a member, Julia understands the needs of our suppliers and is passionate about ensuring that every company takes full advantage of the benefits of their membership.

In her spare time she runs (a lot!) and is Vice Chair of the Trade Association Forum.

Zoe acts as the first point of contact for senior staff members, providing operational and secretarial support. She supports Caroline Wright, Julia Garvey, and BESA’s Executive Council.

Zoe also coordinates BESA’s HR function, assisting with the development and implementation of HR policies, recruitment, and training, while supporting staff on HR-related issues.

Outside of work, she has a passion for theatre, enjoys trying new restaurants, and stays busy raising her two young children.

Samantha is Head of Events at BESA. She leads the development and delivery of BESA’s UK and international events, including seminars, exhibitions, and conferences. With a background in museum education and community organising, Samantha brings a deep commitment to creating impactful, engaging experiences for members. She is passionate about listening to the sector, adapting programming to meet evolving needs, and ensuring BESA events provide meaningful opportunities for learning, networking, and growth.

Peter represents the interests of BESA members to parliamentarians and officials across Government departments, working on various policy issues across the association. His passion for the education sector developed while working for a BESA member, where he contributed to the development and implementation of EdTech products and curricula for the Primary Sector. In addition to his professional work, Peter volunteers as a Governor at a federation of local primary schools in East London.

Sam is dedicated to driving growth and engagement across BESA’s diverse membership community. With 10 years of experience in membership services, Sam specialises in developing strategies to enhance member services, attract new members, and deliver value using data and feedback. As the primary contact for BESA’s close to 400 membership base, Sam and the team can be reached at members@besa.org.uk for assistance with membership benefits or joining the association.

Chloe supports the delivery of BESA’s diverse events portfolio, including high-profile award programmes such as the Bett Awards and BESA Awards. She manages the full judging process, liaising with judges and partners, coordinating category allocations, and ensuring a smooth and transparent experience from sifting applications to final decisions.

As the main contact for BESA’s webinars, Chloe oversees all stages of delivery, from creating webpages and liaising with speakers to producing promotional assets such as speaker social cards. She also supports BESA’s presence at major exhibitions, including Bett UK, where she manages member branding and ensures BESA’s stand showcases the strength of its community.

Chloe plays a key role in the coordination of conferences, meetings, and roundtables, liaising with speakers and attendees, conducting risk assessments, managing communications, and analysing post-event feedback to inform future improvements. She compiles detailed quarterly reports that evaluate event engagement and impact.

Meg coordinates events for BESA members, including international exhibitions, and special interest and working groups, connecting members by creating impactful experiences. Meg has a background in education events, virtual platforms and international summits.

Bryony ensures members have access to the services and support they need. She has a background in marketing and holds an MSc in Aid and Conflict.

Swathy delivers BESA’s marketing and communications activity, promoting the association’s brand and initiatives across channels. She runs integrated campaigns to raise awareness of BESA’s impact, engage stakeholders, and champion the work of our member community.