Meet the team
At the core of the Primary Engineer team is the understanding that the work we do has a tremendous effect on children’s lives. Alongside the hard work there is a lot of laughter and a significant ‘wow’ factor – you only have to join in one of our activities to see why we do it!
Susan Scurlock
CEO and Founder of Primary Engineer Programmes
Susan Scurlock, Founder & CEO of Primary Engineer Programmes
She previously worked professionally as a graphic designer, moving on to become a teacher in a secondary school for eight years. I enjoyed primary school thoroughly, well apart from music, barn dancing and learning French! I attended two primary schools, St. Maries Primary School in Bury until I was 8 and then Bury Convent Prep. I didn’t pass my 11+ exam and went on to attend St. Gabriel’s High School. Being one of only two girls in the physics class and, to my irritation still, was not allowed to study Technical Drawing as it was a ‘boys only’ subject at the time! I left with the highest score for exam results the school had achieved at the time, great school! I wasn’t called a swot for nothing…
Victoria Lane
Operations Director
Victoria Lane, Operations Director
A Barrister, as my dad was a policeman, I wanted to follow in his footsteps, but not have all of the physical side to complete.
What does your role at Primary Engineer involve?
I am responsible for supervision of the team. I support the CEO, SLT with strategic planning and operational activity. My role is varied: I can be at my desk one day, out at training/celebration events with the events team the next day, followed by strategic meetings the next.
Susan Scurlock
CEO and Founder of Primary Engineer Programmes
Susan Scurlock, Founder & CEO of Primary Engineer Programmes
She previously worked professionally as a graphic designer, moving on to become a teacher in a secondary school for eight years. I enjoyed primary school thoroughly, well apart from music, barn dancing and learning French! I attended two primary schools, St. Maries Primary School in Bury until I was 8 and then Bury Convent Prep. I didn’t pass my 11+ exam and went on to attend St. Gabriel’s High School. Being one of only two girls in the physics class and, to my irritation still, was not allowed to study Technical Drawing as it was a ‘boys only’ subject at the time! I left with the highest score for exam results the school had achieved at the time, great school! I wasn’t called a swot for nothing…
Victoria Lane
Operations Director
Victoria Lane, Operations Director
A Barrister, as my dad was a policeman, I wanted to follow in his footsteps, but not have all of the physical side to complete.
What does your role at Primary Engineer involve?
I am responsible for supervision of the team. I support the CEO, SLT with strategic planning and operational activity. My role is varied: I can be at my desk one day, out at training/celebration events with the events team the next day, followed by strategic meetings the next.
Chris Rochester
Regional Director, South of England
Chris Rochester, Regional Director, South of England
When I was at Primary School I wanted to be a journalist – I think initially it was confusion about wanting to be Superman rather than Clark Kent, but later ‘Press Gang’ was an influence too. I liked the idea of investigating and finding out about things and always enjoyed writing.
What does your role at primary Engineer involve?
As Regional Director, my role is about developing our work across the South of England, working with our existing stakeholders and developing new relationships with engineering industry and education partners.
Lise McCaffery
Regional Director, Scotland
Lise McCaffery, Regional Director, Scotland
My parents started the first integrated Primary and Secondary schools in Belfast in the 1980’s, educating Catholics and Protestants together, and I went to those schools. no prizes for guessing I wanted to be a teacher then!
What does your role at Primary Engineer involve?
My role at Primary Engineer involves growing the number of pupils, teachers, schools, councils, engineering and manufacturing companies, colleges and universities we work with, to ensure the positive impact of these partnerships is felt nationwide.
Chris Rochester
Regional Director, South of England
Chris Rochester, Regional Director, South of England
When I was at Primary School I wanted to be a journalist – I think initially it was confusion about wanting to be Superman rather than Clark Kent, but later ‘Press Gang’ was an influence too. I liked the idea of investigating and finding out about things and always enjoyed writing.
What does your role at primary Engineer involve?
As Regional Director, my role is about developing our work across the South of England, working with our existing stakeholders and developing new relationships with engineering industry and education partners.
Lise McCaffery
Regional Director, Scotland
Lise McCaffery, Regional Director, Scotland
My parents started the first integrated Primary and Secondary schools in Belfast in the 1980’s, educating Catholics and Protestants together, and I went to those schools. no prizes for guessing I wanted to be a teacher then!
What does your role at Primary Engineer involve?
My role at Primary Engineer involves growing the number of pupils, teachers, schools, councils, engineering and manufacturing companies, colleges and universities we work with, to ensure the positive impact of these partnerships is felt nationwide.
Steve Crowther
Director of Training
Steve Crowther, Director of Training
I come from a family of engineers and had to follow in my father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. However, I wanted to go into a cleaner part of engineering and I aspired to be a draughtsman. i didn’t like it that much and waned to makes things, instead of drawing them!
What does your role at Primary Engineer involve? As Director of Training my role involves the development of our various training courses and delivering many of these to teachers and engineers.
Liam Weatherill
Regional Director
Liam Weatherill, Regional Director
When I was at Primary School I wanted to work with animals and, as there was no real information about careers at this age, a VET seemed to be the only option. As the years passed I was drawn more towards creative writing, but eventually chose a STEM pathway. However, I did scratch my writing “itch” and wrote a novel; which was never destined to be a bestseller!
What does your role at primary Engineer involve?
As Regional Director for the North of England, my role is to develop fruitful and lasting relationships with stakeholders. Together, we can inspire children and their direct educators to develop the creativity and problem-solving capabilities of our younger generations, and introduce the world of Engineering to them all.
Steve Crowther
Director of Training
Steve Crowther, Director of Training
I come from a family of engineers and had to follow in my father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. However, I wanted to go into a cleaner part of engineering and I aspired to be a draughtsman. i didn’t like it that much and waned to makes things, instead of drawing them!
What does your role at Primary Engineer involve? As Director of Training my role involves the development of our various training courses and delivering many of these to teachers and engineers.
Liam Weatherill
Regional Director
Liam Weatherill, Administrator
When I was at Primary School I wanted to work with animals and, as there was no real information about careers at this age, a VET seemed to be the only option. As the years passed I was drawn more towards creative writing, but eventually chose a STEM pathway. However, I did scratch my writing “itch” and wrote a novel; which was never destined to be a bestseller!
What does your role at primary Engineer involve?
As Regional Director for the North of England, my role is to develop fruitful and lasting relationships with stakeholders. Together, we can inspire children and their direct educators to develop the creativity and problem-solving capabilities of our younger generations, and introduce the world of Engineering to them all.
Jennifer Scurlock
Institution of Primary Engineers, Institution of Secondary Engineers Programme Director
Jennifer Scurlock, Institution of Primary Engineers, Institution of Secondary Engineers Programme Director
I was always interested in physics, art and music as a child, but never aspired to a specific career.
What does your role at Primary Engineer involve?
My role involves coming up with new ways to engage pupils with STEM and to take ownership of their own learning! On a day-to-day basis I design and manage the Institution Programmes (IPrimEng and ISecEng), coordinate with schools and industry and deliver teacher training.
Chris Noone
Leaders Award Programme Coordinator
Chris Noone, Leaders Award Programme Coordinator
I had no idea– I still don’t!
What does your role at Primary Engineer involve?
I manage the Primary Engineer and Secondary Engineer Leaders Awards. I oversee the thousands of illustrations, letters and entry forms we receive and organise the teams of judges. Then, as soon as we’ve handed out the trophies, exhibited the fantastic illustrations and finished that Leaders Award for that area in that academic year, we start work on the following year’s competitions all over again.
Jennifer Scurlock
Institution of Primary Engineers, Institution of Secondary Engineers Programme Director
Jennifer Scurlock, Institution of Primary Engineers, Institution of Secondary Engineers Programme Director
I was always interested in physics, art and music as a child, but never aspired to a specific career.
What does your role at Primary Engineer involve?
My role involves coming up with new ways to engage pupils with STEM and to take ownership of their own learning! On a day-to-day basis I design and manage the Institution Programmes (IPrimEng and ISecEng), coordinate with schools and industry and deliver teacher training.
Chris Noone
Leaders Award Programme Coordinator
Chris Noone, Leaders Award Programme Coordinator
I had no idea– I still don’t!
What does your role at Primary Engineer involve?
I manage the Primary Engineer and Secondary Engineer Leaders Awards. I oversee the thousands of illustrations, letters and entry forms we receive and organise the teams of judges. Then, as soon as we’ve handed out the trophies, exhibited the fantastic illustrations and finished that Leaders Award for that area in that academic year, we start work on the following year’s competitions all over again.
Sally Tiplady
Events Manager
Sally Tiplady, Events Manager
I wasn’t too sure what I wanted to be as a young child, however, my dad always use to say I talked about being a doctor, as I was always using my Early Learning Centre doctor’s set to make all my dolls better!
What does your role at Primary Engineer involve?
My role at Primary Engineer is to explore the UK (my nickname is Sally the Explorer!), meeting teachers from areas across the country. My role involves pre-event logistics, and the running of our training events, celebration events, and exhibitions.
Rosie Mellor
Events Administrator
Rosie Mellor, Events Administrator
When I was at primary school I was an avid reader and I wanted so much to be a writer. I spent so much time in the worlds of Narnia and loved the Magic Faraway Tree books. I also loved singing and dancing and spent a good part of my childhood in local musical theatre productions.
What does your role at Primary Engineer involve? My role involves supporting the events team in our training, celebration events and exhibitions and pre and post event administration. I am helping to coordinate the upcoming conference and managing the virtual learning environment (VLE).
Sally Tiplady
Events Manager
Sally Tiplady, Events Manager
I wasn’t too sure what I wanted to be as a young child, however, my dad always use to say I talked about being a doctor, as I was always using my Early Learning Centre doctor’s set to make all my dolls better!
What does your role at Primary Engineer involve?
My role at Primary Engineer is to explore the UK (my nickname is Sally the Explorer!), meeting teachers from areas across the country. My role involves pre-event logistics, and the running of our training events, celebration events, and exhibitions.
Rosie Mellor
Events Administrator
Rosie Mellor, Events Administrator
When I was at primary school I was an avid reader and I wanted so much to be a writer. I spent so much time in the worlds of Narnia and loved the Magic Faraway Tree books. I also loved singing and dancing and spent a good part of my childhood in local musical theatre productions.
What does your role at Primary Engineer involve? My role involves supporting the events team in our training, celebration events and exhibitions and pre and post event administration. I am helping to coordinate the upcoming conference and managing the virtual learning environment (VLE).
Katrina Everett
Events Administrator
Katrina Everett, Events Administrator
When I was at Primary school I wanted to be a vet, as I grew up on a farm with a lot of animals and I wanted to keep them all fit and healthy. I changed my mind when I saw some of the things vets had to do!!
What does your role at Primary Engineer involve?
My role at Primary Engineer involves all the administration for training and celebration events and sending teachers and engineers certificates when they have completed their training.
Elizabeth Radcliffe
Administrator
Elizabeth Radcliffe, Administrator
A pilot.
What does your role at Primary Engineer involve?
I primarily work on the Leaders Award Team, as liaison with the schools, introducing, promoting and providing help and advice… when needed. I also add to the database following grading and help to prepare the projects for presentation ready to be displayed. I enjoy every aspect of my work, but the fun really starts when the projects start to arrive and I get to see the wonderful inventions and innovative, imaginative work produced by the students.
Katrina Everett
Events Administrator
Katrina Everett, Events Administrator
When I was at Primary school I wanted to be a vet, as I grew up on a farm with a lot of animals and I wanted to keep them all fit and healthy. I changed my mind when I saw some of the things vets had to do!!
What does your role at Primary Engineer involve?
My role at Primary Engineer involves all the administration for training and celebration events and sending teachers and engineers certificates when they have completed their training.
Elizabeth Radcliffe
Administrator
Elizabeth Radcliffe, Administrator
A pilot.
What does your role at Primary Engineer involve?
I primarily work on the Leaders Award Team, as liaison with the schools, introducing, promoting and providing help and advice… when needed. I also add to the database following grading and help to prepare the projects for presentation ready to be displayed. I enjoy every aspect of my work, but the fun really starts when the projects start to arrive and I get to see the wonderful inventions and innovative, imaginative work produced by the students.
Chloe Trippier
Creative Services Manager
Chloe Trippier, Creative Services Manager
I have always been a creative person and I changed my mind constantly. At one point I wanted to be a ballet dancer then an actress; I was just a drama queen!
What does your role at Primary Engineer involve?
I create the design aspects within the company, as well as the marketing. I support all of our social networks and try my best to get the word out about all our programmes in a creative manner.
Jemma Curtin
Administrator
Jemma Curtin, Administrator
Chloe Trippier
Creative Services Manager
Chloe Trippier, Creative Services Manager
I have always been a creative person and I changed my mind constantly. At one point I wanted to be a ballet dancer then an actress; I was just a drama queen!
What does your role at Primary Engineer involve?
I create the design aspects within the company, as well as the marketing. I support all of our social networks and try my best to get the word out about all our programmes in a creative manner.
Jemma Curtin
Events Assistant