The Team
Content Development
Platform Development
Dr. Ken James
Physics Lead
General Editor, STEM
Oxford-educated physicist who has led science departments in top UK independent schools.
Dr. Tessa Peres
Editor in Chief
General Editor, Humanities
Cambridge-educated author of 75 bricks in literature, history, and history of art. Recruits and trains new authors.
Joe Francis | Founder
CEO
Former Senior Master at Eton, twice a Head (HCH London, Stoke College) who has also taught in top state
schools (LAE Stratford, Holyport). A prize-winning academic author, Joe's experience, pedagogy, and
editorial pedigree lie behind the 'brick', Brillder's unique digital learning unit.
Lindsay Macvean
CTO & Co-founder
Experienced international technologist, with expertise in data analytics and integration.
Cambridge-educated UX/UI designer now leading design for Heylo; designed Brillder’s UI.
Teaches at UCL Academy. MSC (1st Class) St Andrew's.
John Allen
Economics Lead
Head of Economics at a major secondary UK independent school.
Experienced investment professional and well-known financial academic, Jess has designed investment
products and managed substantial asset portfolios.
Ghada Shebl
UX Design Lead
Experienced UI designer with a background in coding. US-educated, now based in Germany.
Frontend developer, responsible for platforms and integrations with client systems.
Dr. Peter Richards
Biology Lead
University of Edinburgh, European Specialist in Veterinary Pathology.
Sophie Harbour
Psychology & Social Science
Nicola Taylor
Criminology & Law
Emma Crewe-Read
Finance & Legal Support
Background in fashion, retail & journalism: manages influencers and major clients; runs diary, office
and administration.
Sam Steddy
Product Development &
Libraries
Lecturer at University of Greenwich who authors and teaches using bricks. Sam is our principal tester,
and also works with library clients.
William Gooch
Full Stack Developer
Built prototype in 2019 while still a student at Eton. Now studies computer science at St. Andrew’s.
Andriy Romakh
Senior Backend Developer
Hugely experienced trouble-shooter with deep knowledge of our codebase.
Chemistry - under development
+10Additional authors
+3 Subjects under development
We 'burn' about 250 man hours per week, but 60% of our workload is delivered by part-timers at exceptionally
efficient cost.
The Team
Joe Francis | Founder
CEO
Former Senior Master at Eton, twice a Head (HCH London,
Stoke College) who has also taught in top state schools
(LAE Stratford, Holyport). A prize-winning academic
author, Joe's experience, pedagogy, and editorial pedigree
lie behind the 'brick', Brillder's unique digital learning unit.
Lindsay Macvean, 33 | Founder
Executive Director, Tech
Experienced international technologist, with expertise in data analytics and integration.
Experienced investment professional and well-known financial academic, Jess has designed investment products and
managed substantial asset portfolios.
Sasha Walicki, 26
Co-founder
Cambridge-educated UX/UI designer now leading design for Heylo; designed Brillder’s UI.
Emma Crewe-Read
Finance & Legal Support
Background in fashion, retail & journalism: manages influencers and major clients; runs diary, office and
administration.
Dr. Tessa Peres
Editor in Chief
General Editor, Humanities
Cambridge-educated author of 75 bricks in literature, history, and history of art. Recruits and trains new
authors.
Dr. Ken James
Physics Lead
General Editor, STEM
Oxford-educated physicist who has led science departments in top UK independent schools.
Sam Steddy
Product Development & Libraries
Lecturer at University of Greenwich who authors and teaches using bricks. Sam is our principal tester, and also
works with library clients.
Frontend developer, responsible for platforms and integrations with client systems.
Ghada Shebl
UX Design Lead
Experienced UI designer with a background in coding. US-educated, now based in Germany.
Teaches at UCL Academy. MSC (1st Class) St Andrew's.
John Allen
Economics Lead
Head of Economics at a major secondary UK independent school.
Dr. Peter Richards
Biology Lead
University of Edinburgh, European Specialist in Veterinary Pathology.
William Gooch
Full Stack Developer
Built prototype in 2019 while still a student at Eton. Now studies computer science at St. Andrew’s.
Andriy Romakh
Senior Backend Developer
Hugely experienced trouble-shooter with deep knowledge of our codebase.
Sophie Harbour
Psychology & Social Science
Nicola Taylor
Criminology & Law
+10Additional authors
+3 Subjects under development
