Meet our Team

Zena Cox
Operations Director

I have been involved with ideasUK for over ten years, joining as a member when launching an idea programme within my previous organisation, taking the formal role as operations director in 2016. Before coming to the world of innovation, my background is based within the commercial sector of pharmaceuticals with experience in management, change management, sigma project management and communications in addition to my experience in the field of innovation. I have a particular interest in how ideas management can be used to really engage employees, gaining business advantage as a result and enjoy supporting organisations to maximise their innovation programmes. My favourite innovation is electricity, having spent a few days without power, I have a new appreciation of just how essential it is to ‘normal’ life!

Andy Beddows
Managing Director ideasUK

Andy has been involved with ideasUK for almost 30 years. He is now in effect the ‘Custodian of the Brand’ and, whilst no longer a regular spokesman, he continues as an active influence behind the scenes ensuring that the best practitioners of today have the means to keep ideasUK in the forefront of supporting tomorrows innovation and recognition managers. My favourite innovation is the spreadsheet, for thirty years it has held my work and private life together!

Stuart Laws
HOCS D-Innovation-Ideas, MOD and Chairman ideasUK

Stuart joined the MoD in 1990, and has enjoyed a varied career to date and since moving to a Head Office based role in 2005 he has been involved with key improvement and engagement programmes and initiatives. Since 2012 Stuart has been solely responsible for the MoD’s Idea Scheme (GEMS), working with internal and external partners to drive improvements and enhancements in support of greater benefit for individuals and the business. With over 16 years’ experience of designing and delivering ICT projects within Defence, Stuart has a unique combination of knowledge and experience which he uses to help others deliver projects in support of Defence Innovation. My favourite innovation is the car, it enables freedom and independence, whilst also giving us a multitude of sporting opportunities!

Alan Firmin
Head of HR & Talent - UK Engineering

I have extensive experience of implementing and managing a large ideas programme in a corporate environment within a number of blue chip organisations. I am currently Head of HR for the UK Engineering Function within Thales UK. Within this role, alongside the Leadership Team I am responsible for creating an innovative environment for our engineers to develop, design and build world class products for our customers. My particular area of expertise is in the area of Reward, Recognition and Employee Engagement and through my varied experiences, I am able to support ideasUK members to achieve their potential. My favourite innovation is the dishwasher, ours was recently out of action and we realised how much effort and work it takes away!

Geoff Hill
ideasUK Director

Geoff has been associated with IdeasUK for over 30 years spending 15 years as one of our independent judges for the Idea of the Year competition.  He started his career as a toolmaker, progressing through the drawing office, research & development and into engineering.  In 1989 he founded Fastlane Displays Ltd, an exhibition company.  Now retired, Geoff still remains active in IdeasUK receiving an Honorary Fellowship and becoming a Director of IdeasUK in 2015.  As for retirement, he has built an art studio within his garage where you find him most days.  

My favourite innovation is the easel, invaluable for my new career as an artist!

Jayne Garner
Continuous Improvement Engagement Coordinator, Ricoh UK Products Ltd

I started working for Ricoh November 1990, and have worked in many departments in 2007 I became the Continuous Improvements Coordinator, supporting and encouraging employees to engage in Ricoh’s Continuous Improvement Programmes. I am the owner of the very successful RPL Together Suggestion Scheme which has achieved numerous Platinum Awards. I have a passion for innovation which benefits the business, but more importantly benefits the employees. Recognition is paramount at Ricoh and the best part of my job is having Senior Managers come to the Gemba (workplace) to personally recognise employee’s participation in making improvements. My favourite innovation is the Tefal Actifry, it delivers yummy, healthier chips not soaked in fat!

Sheila Walker

I have recently left  Direct Line Group after working with the organisation for 30 years, during which time I worked in many different parts of the business, from customer facing roles  to more specialist HR work and  for the last 7 years  managed our business wide Innovation platform, Idea Lab.  

My first contact with IdeasUK was at our Annual conference in 2017, I was engaged with the concept of IdeasUK from the outset and was delighted when I was asked to join the Advisory Board, this has allowed me to be involved in how IdeasUK continues to develop and support businesses and a chance to work with colleagues from across other organisations in the UK and beyond.  

This contact has been invaluable to me and helped me develop my facilitation skills and build my network of innovation specialists across all sectors.

In 2018 I was elected as a director of IdeasUK and am now looking forward to my next big challenge, as one of our Idea of the Year judges.

My favourite innovation is the wheelie suitcase, a fantastic example of innovative thinking, how did we travel without them!

Michael Davies
Head of UK Idea Management, HSBC UK Plc

I have 20 years’ experience within Idea Management and Innovation, and feel strongly that by harnessing the experience and innovation of our colleagues within the workplace companies can go from strength to strength with an engaged workforce. With global responsibility for Idea Management within HSBC, I have seen first-hand how great an impact it can have to someone’s confidence to have their idea taken on-board. I have experience in mentoring both up and down, and have the ability to influence senior management to the benefits bottom-up innovation can have on their organisation. My favourite innovation is the cat litter robot, OMG, anything that stops me having to do this job is amazing!

Tammy Holmes
Innovation and Adoption Programme Manager, West Midlands Academic Health Science Network

I have worked in the NHS for 17 years in numerous admin and clinical support roles and have a real passion for creativity and change. Currently, I work for the WMAHSN managing our Meridian Innovation Health Exchange. Meridian has been specially designed to support the West Midlands’ innovation ecosystem, assisting NHS, academia, commercial and industry stakeholders and supporting a collaborative approach to resolving clinical and service challenges to build a region-wide innovation culture. My favourite innovation is my GARMIN watch!

Hussain Al Fardan
Head of Innovation Centre, Strategy & Corporate Excellence, Dubai Customs

Hussain has over 20 years of experience in employee engagement, Innovation and Business Improvement with proven interpersonal and leadership skills. He is experienced in all aspects of Innovation both internal and external within the organisation, with demonstrable success in Building Innovation Culture within a Governmental environment. Hussain has developed and delivered an innovation culture method that is now used by many government departments across the UAE to develop employee driven creativity and manage continuous improvement. Hussain is also the Head of the Innovation Centre in Dubai Customs and the Chairman of Ideas Arabia and Ideas Emirates.

Chris Bolton
Good Practice Manager

I’m the Good Practice Manager at the Wales Audit Office where I’m involved in helping to improve public services through knowledge transfer and behaviour change. This covers the whole of Wales and the diverse range of public service and third sector organisations that work here. I’ve been involved in this type of work for over 20 years, helping to develop good relationships based upon trust and understanding which in turn support the knowledge, learning and innovation flow. I’ve been connected to ideasUK for almost 10 years and find it a constant source of inspiration from the people I meet and the learning I can take back to Wales. My favourite innovation is the microwave oven, so much easier than a conventional oven, and it was invented as the result of an accident!

Paul Powell
Group Head of Innovation

Paul has 14 years’ experience across Defence, with time spent on R&D, Support, Major Projects, BD and now Technology and Innovation, both in and out of customer organisations like DE&S and Rolls-Royce. He took on the role of Group Head of Innovation at Babcock International at the start of 2021 and is looking to harmonise the Innovation outputs across Babcock, it’s 30,000 staff and operations across 6 continents. Much to do!

My favourite innovation has to be the motorised life ring from U SAFE – amazingly clever idea. Also looks fun which means encouraging use should be no issue! 

Helen Pringle
Communications Expert

An internal, employee engagement and change communications specialist; I bring my expertise to ensure all employees feel they want to deliver their best for their organisations. A skilled and empathetic communicator who is adept at understanding the needs of varied audiences and in crafting creative and comprehensive plans that support business strategy. I am passionate and enthusiastic and most importantly I seek to use my skills to positively impact the people I come into contact with and the places where I work. ideasUK is a brilliant hotbed of new ways of working and ways of communicating. My favourite innovation is Waze. I often have to drive long distances on my own. Waze is a saviour for me, providing the most time efficient route and minimising delays, to ensure I reach my desired destination.

Emma Cowan
Relationship Manager AoTF at Innovate UK

22-years Telecoms industry experience and 12-years’ experience working in Innovation and idea management, identifying disruptive technologies, leading innovation transformation in a large organisation whilst advising and guiding idea submitters and entrepreneurs. I have expertise in modernising corporate innovation functions to best meet new emerging challenges, incubating internal projects and championing the best external ideas to ‘market launch’ by managing ideas and projects through a recognised and accredited workflow. I enjoy creating value through innovation, learning new things, coaching/ teaching talent and developing new ways to release innovation, ideas and enable disruptive thinking. Now working for Innovate UK, I have a keen interest in new and emerging technology and how it fits into our future. My favourite innovation is the Keysafe, I always have a spare in it because I could lose my keys in a padded locked cell!