Key People
Ed Thompson
Director
Ed founded Uptimize to bring slick online learning tools to critical areas of education and employment. He became passionate about not just diversity – but its business impact - while developing diversity initiatives in the London tech sector, notably co-founding the successful apprenticeships program ‘Tech City Stars’. He is a graduate of Oxford University.
Ed Thompson
Director
Ed founded Uptimize to bring slick online learning tools to critical areas of education and employment. He became passionate about not just diversity – but its business impact - while developing diversity initiatives in the London tech sector, notably co-founding the successful apprenticeships program ‘Tech City Stars’. He is a graduate of Oxford University.
Key Advisors
Allison Shefcyk
Disability & Education Professional and Researcher
Allison has contributed to notable and leading research in the field of gender and disability – specifically autism – at the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at the University of Connecticut. Having co-authored a number of papers and articles on this topic, she now provides Uptimize with insight specifically through the lens of gender and autism, helping us continue to produce the most relevant, accurate content materials.
Allison Shefcyk
Disability & Education Professional and Researcher
Allison has contributed to notable and leading research in the field of gender and disability – specifically autism – at the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at the University of Connecticut. Having co-authored a number of papers and articles on this topic, she now provides Uptimize with insight specifically through the lens of gender and autism, helping us continue to produce the most relevant, accurate content materials.
Christine Barratt
Leadership & Management Skills Coach
Christine is an experienced, AoEC- qualified executive skills coach and founder of leadership development consultancy Velocity at Work. Christine leverages her 30 years business experience – much of it seniormanagement – to provide commercial, results-oriented business coaching and mentoring. She focuses on leadership development.
Christine Barratt
Leadership & Management Skills Coach
Christine is an experienced, AoEC- qualified executive skills coach and founder of leadership development consultancy Velocity at Work. Christine leverages her 30 years business experience – much of it seniormanagement – to provide commercial, results-oriented business coaching and mentoring. She focuses on leadership development.
Valerie Paradiz
International Autism Expert
Val is a leading figure in the autism sphere in the United States. Val has extensive expertise in developing curricula for educational programs relating to people with autism, and founded the Integrated Self Advocacy (ISA) program, which provides tools and curricula to foster greater ability in self-determination. Formerly the Executive Director of the Autistic Global Initiative of the Autism Research Institute, she is now a board member at Autism Speaks.
Valerie Paradiz
International Autism Expert
Val is a leading figure in the autism sphere in the United States. Val has extensive expertise in developing curricula for educational programs relating to people with autism, and founded the Integrated Self Advocacy (ISA) program, which provides tools and curricula to foster greater ability in self-determination. Formerly the Executive Director of the Autistic Global Initiative of the Autism Research Institute, she is now a board member at Autism Speaks.
