With more than 16 years of service at Cambridge, John has combined deep practical experience with strategic leadership.
Having worked for nearly 15 years as a research laboratory technician before stepping into his current role, he brings authenticity and insight to his advocacy for technicians. His unique journey allows him to bridge the gap between lived technical practice and institutional change, ensuring that technicians’ voices are heard and valued.
John’s achievements include:
- Spearheading national initiatives on professional registration, career pathways, mentoring and workforce planning, making a tangible difference both within Cambridge and across the UK sector.
- Introducing innovative local projects, such as repair café events, which have engaged technicians in new, community-focused ways. These events, organised in partnership with Cambridge Carbon Footprint, have not only encouraged technical staff to share their skills but also created new networks and broken down traditional silos. The initiative has attracted widespread institutional support from sustainability and civic engagement teams and reached thousands across the university community.
- Creating bespoke training opportunities: By securing funding for a dedicated development programme, John has delivered management and career-focused workshops, which have now become a regular feature of Cambridge’s technical development offering.
- International influence: He has co-authored a publication connecting UK and Argentinian technicians, showcasing his belief in global collaboration.
Despite his sector-wide impact, John remains characteristically modest. He speaks openly about the honour of being shortlisted, but is quick to highlight the daily contributions of technicians across the country who, as he puts it, “are working miracles every day.”
His humility and empathy are matched by a quiet determination to keep pushing for recognition and support for his colleagues.
For John, the greatest joy of his role comes from connecting with technical colleagues across disciplines, discovering common ground and building networks where none existed before.
His work is guided by simple but powerful principles: understand the problem, find solutions and make improvements.
Whether chairing meetings with research council leaders or helping to fix a kettle at a community repair event, John’s approach combines professionalism and humanity.
Meet the other nominees for this year’s Outstanding Technician of the Year Award:
- Jiteen Ahmed, Aston University
- Helena Brown, University of Leeds
- Phil Chaplain, Robert Gordon University
- Dr Alex Laude, Newcastle University
- Linda Lightley, Northumbria University
- Joe Rees-Jones, University of York
- Kate Robinson, Harper Adams University
Winners will be announced on 13 November at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
Read more about the THE Awards
Read the shortlist for all awards
