Out in STEM

Peter Coles

Peter is Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics and Head of the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at the University of Sussex. His research is in the area of cosmology and the large-scale structure of the Universe.

Peter read Natural Sciences at Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge, before specialising in Theoretical Physics. He completed his doctorate at the Astronomy Centre at the University of Sussex under the supervision of John Barrow, the famous writer, before spending two years in Sussex as a postdoctoral research fellow. Peter held a number of positions at the School of Mathematical Sciences at what is now Queen Mary, University of London and was awarded an SERC Advanced Fellowship in 1993. In 1998 Peter was appointed Professor of Astrophysics for the the School of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Nottingham. In 2007, he took up the position of Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics in the School of Physics and Astronomy at Cardiff University and has been in his current position at Sussex since February 2013.

Kevin Coutinho

Kevin was appointed as the Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Windsor Fellowship in 2012. He is a Group 11 Graduate Windsor Fellow, sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and was previously the Director of Higher Education and Employment Programmes at the Windsor Fellowship.

Kevin joined the University of Oxford as Head of Equality and Diversity in 2017. He is also the Vice-Chair of the Higher Education Race Action Group (HERAG), a sector wide body that promotes race equality, and an Athena SWAN panellist. Between 2008 and 2016 he was an Equality and Diversity Consultant at the University of Cambridge and was a HR Strategy and Policy Partner at Birkbeck, University of London between 2016 and 2017.

Fran Cowling

Fran Cowling graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2010 with a Chemistry Msci degree. She then remained to complete her PhD in Inorganic Chemistry synthesising active site analogues of the nickel super oxidase dismutase enzyme and copper galactose oxidase. Whilst writing her thesis she was elected to be the national NUS LGBT+ officer. NUS is the collective and democratic representation of over 7million students in the UK. Fran's specifically focuses on the presentation experiences of LGBT students in further and higher education. Her current work focuses on improving trans students rights and representation on a student union level and nationally, the experiences and rights of LGBTQIA student sex workers, student estrangement and LGBT homelessness.

Joseph Hollis

Joseph (Joby) Razzell Hollis is currently finishing a PhD at Imperial College London, where he is investigating the morphology and stability of organic solar cells. 

I’m a practicing physicist and openly bisexual, out to friends, family and co-workers. I have recently started to consider what it means to be a bisexual man in academia, the need for both role models and a sense of community to help LGBT scientists be themselves, especially as it can be very tempting to remain invisible.

I can be found on Twitter at @Jobium. 

Read Out and proud in STEM.

Samantha Jayne Nelson

Vice President of Marsh's Global Energy Risk Engineering Team based in London, responsible for conducting underwriting and risk assessment surveys for a range of global operating assets and construction projects, specialising in upstream platforms, pipelines and subsea assets in addition to the provision of risk management and engineering advice for energy clients.

Prior to Marsh she was an Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) providing Operations leadership within oil exploration and production organisations.  She has vast engineering experience having working offshore in the oil and gas industry for 22 years.

She is Chair of the Marsh UK Pride group, active member of LINK (LGBT insurance network) and Trans*formation organisation and is passionate about creating an environment where all people are valued for their diversity, authenticity and journey.

Nadine Thompson

Nadine Thomson is a senior leader in technology. She runs her own IT consulting business, assisting organisations with technology operating models and global transformation programmes. After completing a Computer Science degree in Australia, she relocated to the UK in 2001. Over the past 15 years she has held various roles managing IT Support and Project Delivery functions across a range of industries including retail, tech, oil and gas, consulting and financial services. Outside of work, Nadine is a school speaker for STEMNET, encouraging young people to explore careers in technology. Nadine identifies as a lesbian and has been with her partner for 12 years. She also volunteers as a role model for Diversity Role Models.

Professor Tom Welton, Imperial College London

Professor Tom Welton is Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Imperial College London and Professor of Sustainable Chemistry. He was Head of the Chemistry Department from August 2007 to December 2014, during which time the Department achieved an Athena Swan Gold Award for efforts in promoting women in science. He became Dean of the Faculty in January 2015.

Tom works with ionic liquids in order to develop sustainable solvent technologies. He is the author of over 100 papers, primarily on the structures and chemistry of ionic liquids and their solutes.

Tom lives in London with his husband Mike.

Jamila Barrett

A Chartered Civil Engineer (MICE) with over 10 years’ experience in highways, traffic and transport.

I’ve been out and involved in LGBT network groups to varying degrees throughout my career. I did a variety of part time jobs as a student but I first got involved in LGBT networks when I started university. When I joined the TfL graduate scheme after university I attended the odd LGBT Staff Network Group event, then after a few years I volunteered to be the communications chair for the group. I went on to be the chair the following year and stayed on to be the vice-chair the year after.