Insights from Flexi-Grant’s MD: Aligning systems with the Business Vision (and Custard Creams)
A special blog post brought to you from Flexi-Grant’s Managing Director; Keith Turkington… Many years ago (but not in a land far, far away because…
Meet the team behind the leading grant management software.
KEITH TURKINGTON
Managing Director
Keith has a Masters in Computer Science, a Certified Diploma in Accounting & Finance, is a Chartered Manager, a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, a Chartered IT Professional, a Member of the British Computer Society & a Certified PRINCE2 Practitioner and brings almost 30 years of business experience to his role. His main areas of responsibility are finance, strategy and business development and, like all business owners, never really switches off from work, but when he does he loves to travel, play golf and cook.
Keith Turkington
Managing Director
KEITH TURKINGTON
Managing Director
Keith has a Masters in Computer Science, a Certified Diploma in Accounting & Finance, is a Chartered Manager, a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, a Chartered IT Professional, a Member of the British Computer Society & a Certified PRINCE2 Practitioner and brings almost 30 years of business experience to his role. His main areas of responsibility are finance, strategy and business development and, like all business owners, never really switches off from work, but when he does he loves to travel, play golf and cook.
DAVID CORDNER
Technical Director
David is one of Fluent’s co-founders. When he’s not designing game changing features for Flexi-Grant®, he’s trekking up the Mourne Mountains, travelling or trying to digest every trend and new idea he can through podcasts & articles.
David Cordner
Technical Director
DAVID CORDNER
Technical Director
David is one of Fluent’s co-founders. When he’s not designing game changing features for Flexi-Grant®, he’s trekking up the Mourne Mountains, travelling or trying to digest every trend and new idea he can through podcasts & articles.
GARY MCNALLY
Business Services Manager Manager
Gary has a degree in Management Science & a Masters in Business Administration & is a PRINCE2 project manager. With over 20 years experience as a manager in both the private and public sectors, his serious approach to work belies his great sense of humour & his bottomless well of amusing stories on every topic keeps us all entertained! Indulges his life-long passion for photography in his spare time (a skill we put to good use for our early team photos).
Gary McNally
Business Services Manager
GARY MCNALLY
Business Services Manager Manager
Gary has a degree in Management Science & a Masters in Business Administration & is a PRINCE2 project manager. With over 20 years experience as a manager in both the private and public sectors, his serious approach to work belies his great sense of humour & his bottomless well of amusing stories on every topic keeps us all entertained! Indulges his life-long passion for photography in his spare time (a skill we put to good use for our early team photos).
ALEXANDER THOMSON
Head of Practice & Implementation
Alexander is our resident Head of Practice in London with more than 10 years’ experience in the science & health research management sector. Alexander led the project to implement Flexi-Grant® for the Royal Society back in 2016. When Alexander isn’t at work you will likely find him spending time with his young family, or tending to his allotment.
Alexander Thomson
Head of Practice & Implementation
ALEXANDER THOMSON
Head of Practice & Implementation
Alexander is our resident Head of Practice in London with more than 10 years’ experience in the science & health research management sector. Alexander led the project to implement Flexi-Grant® for the Royal Society back in 2016. When Alexander isn’t at work you will likely find him spending time with his young family, or tending to his allotment.
ALAN FINLAY
Product Engineering Team Lead
Alan has a degree in Computing & IT & is a PRINCE2 project manager. He is now responsible for excellence, innovation and general awesomeness in Flexi-Grant® & aims to ensure that our technical team are at the top of their game so that Flexi-Grant® remains a market leader in grant management. In work he is known as ‘Ask Alan’. Away from work his dedication to having a good time on staff nights out has earned him the nickname ‘Shot Alan’.
Alan Finlay
Engineering Manager
ALAN FINLAY
Product Engineering Team Lead
Alan has a degree in Computing & IT & is a PRINCE2 project manager. He is now responsible for excellence, innovation and general awesomeness in Flexi-Grant® & aims to ensure that our technical team are at the top of their game so that Flexi-Grant® remains a market leader in grant management. In work he is known as ‘Ask Alan’. Away from work his dedication to having a good time on staff nights out has earned him the nickname ‘Shot Alan’.
CHRIS SHIELDS
UX Designer
Chris has a degree in Interactive Multimedia Design and has a games design and testing background. He applies his skills to enhancing the usability and design of Flexi-Grant® so we are all looking forward to an even better looking and easier to use GMS! Outside work he enjoys indulging his passion for Arduino projects and is currently building a miniature magnetic hovercraft. Just to see if he can.
Chris Shields
Product Manager
CHRIS SHIELDS
UX Designer
Chris has a degree in Interactive Multimedia Design and has a games design and testing background. He applies his skills to enhancing the usability and design of Flexi-Grant® so we are all looking forward to an even better looking and easier to use GMS! Outside work he enjoys indulging his passion for Arduino projects and is currently building a miniature magnetic hovercraft. Just to see if he can.
JON TRIGGS
Head of Customer Success
Jon heads up Fluent’s Customer Success team which is responsible for delighting our Flexi-Grant® clients.
Jon Triggs
Head of Customer Success
JON TRIGGS
Head of Customer Success
Jon heads up Fluent’s Customer Success team which is responsible for delighting our Flexi-Grant® clients.
CLAIRE SPEEDY
Content + Brand Manager
Claire returns to Fluent as our Content + Brand Manager after a year of travelling around New Zealand, Bali, the Philippines and Vietnam. With a Master’s in Marketing and an BSc in Leadership & Development her focus will be on executing agile projects geared towards the growth of Fluent as a brand. When she is not in work she’s out drinking coffee, reading incessantly or travelling.
Claire Speedy
Content + Brand Manager
CLAIRE SPEEDY
Content + Brand Manager
Claire returns to Fluent as our Content + Brand Manager after a year of travelling around New Zealand, Bali, the Philippines and Vietnam. With a Master’s in Marketing and an BSc in Leadership & Development her focus will be on executing agile projects geared towards the growth of Fluent as a brand. When she is not in work she’s out drinking coffee, reading incessantly or travelling.
DAMIAN HUGHES
Senior Solutions Developer
Damian has a degree in Interactive Multimedia Design & is PRINCE2 qualified. He has been with Fluent from the very early days and so he takes care of many of our valued long-standing clients & also plays a vital role working on quality issues. Out of work is a long-suffering Newcastle United fan and Dad to 2 young children (not in that order of importance obviously!).
Damian Hughes
Senior Solutions Developer
DAMIAN HUGHES
Senior Solutions Developer
Damian has a degree in Interactive Multimedia Design & is PRINCE2 qualified. He has been with Fluent from the very early days and so he takes care of many of our valued long-standing clients & also plays a vital role working on quality issues. Out of work is a long-suffering Newcastle United fan and Dad to 2 young children (not in that order of importance obviously!).
DAVID BOYD
Senior Product Engineer
David has a Masters in Computing & brings a focussed engineering talent to the development of Flexi-Grant®. In his spare time he is working on an online game (skills he develops there happily pass over to his Fluent work!), his detailed knowledge of WW2 military equipment and his ever-expanding whiskey collection (possibly all at the same time – after all this is a man who until recently was taking a Physics degree for fun!).
David Boyd
Senior Product Engineer
DAVID BOYD
Senior Product Engineer
David has a Masters in Computing & brings a focussed engineering talent to the development of Flexi-Grant®. In his spare time he is working on an online game (skills he develops there happily pass over to his Fluent work!), his detailed knowledge of WW2 military equipment and his ever-expanding whiskey collection (possibly all at the same time – after all this is a man who until recently was taking a Physics degree for fun!).
DAVE MCNEELY
Team Lead – Product Services
Dave has almost 20 years experience in software & web development and customer service; he has ILM training in leadership & management and has been a Team Leader for the last 5 years. In 2000 he spent a year and a half volunteering in Mozambique as an IT Development Instructor. Dave has joined Fluent to take the lead on major client bespoke projects. Outside work he is a keen cycler (‘keen’ is the word if you can cycle across Italy, as he did recently) and is also busy preparing his garden for chickens (anticipating free eggs already!).
Dave McNeely
Team Lead – Product Services
DAVE MCNEELY
Team Lead – Product Services
Dave has almost 20 years experience in software & web development and customer service; he has ILM training in leadership & management and has been a Team Leader for the last 5 years. In 2000 he spent a year and a half volunteering in Mozambique as an IT Development Instructor. Dave has joined Fluent to take the lead on major client bespoke projects. Outside work he is a keen cycler (‘keen’ is the word if you can cycle across Italy, as he did recently) and is also busy preparing his garden for chickens (anticipating free eggs already!).
LOUISE SHEPERD
Senior Grants Consultant
Louise joins us with a degree in business management, 10 years under her belt in the NHS and 2 years working for Cancer Research UK as their grants manager. Her new role here at FG HQ will enable her to use her experience of implementing Flexi-Grant® at CRUK to help our brilliant clients do the same. When she’s not working she is baking & enrolled in drama school.
Louise Sheperd
Senior Grants Consultant
LOUISE SHEPERD
Senior Grants Consultant
Louise joins us with a degree in business management, 10 years under her belt in the NHS and 2 years working for Cancer Research UK as their grants manager. Her new role here at FG HQ will enable her to use her experience of implementing Flexi-Grant® at CRUK to help our brilliant clients do the same. When she’s not working she is baking & enrolled in drama school.
MICHAEL TURKINGTON
Flexi-Grant® Consultant
Michael has a degree in Geology, is a PRINCE2 qualified practitioner & an ILM Certified Trainer. His rock solid logical & process driven mind (see what we did there?) is crucial in helping implement, train & support Flexi-Grant® clients & he provides our technical team with a much-needed customer perspective on Flexi-Grant®. Outside work he loves following sport, especially football (he even plays a bit) and cricket, and has an almost encyclopaedic recall of stats from both.
Michael Turkington
Senior Flexi-Grant® Consultant
MICHAEL TURKINGTON
Flexi-Grant® Consultant
Michael has a degree in Geology, is a PRINCE2 qualified practitioner & an ILM Certified Trainer. His rock solid logical & process driven mind (see what we did there?) is crucial in helping implement, train & support Flexi-Grant® clients & he provides our technical team with a much-needed customer perspective on Flexi-Grant®. Outside work he loves following sport, especially football (he even plays a bit) and cricket, and has an almost encyclopaedic recall of stats from both.
ANDREW HARVEY
Senior Solutions Developer
Andrew has 18+ years of experience as a developer in the FinTech space and is the lead developer of our ESIF EU grants management product. When he’s not at work, Andrew is a keen mountain and marathon runner – and is also the proud owner of a ‘pet’ Land Rover.
Andrew Harvey
Senior Solutions Developer
ANDREW HARVEY
Senior Solutions Developer
Andrew has 18+ years of experience as a developer in the FinTech space and is the lead developer of our ESIF EU grants management product. When he’s not at work, Andrew is a keen mountain and marathon runner – and is also the proud owner of a ‘pet’ Land Rover.
Steven McStravog
Team Lead – Product Development
Steven McStravog
Team Lead – Product Development
Steven McStravog
Team Lead – Product Development
JOE DONAGHY
Senior Solutions Developer
Joe has a degree in Interactive Multimedia Design & develops some of the more complex features for Flexi-Grant®. Unwinds through games development and is a real hands-on DIY man at home (will he ever get his kitchen finished?). Having become a new Dad in 2017 we suspect his time for DIY is even scarcer…
Joe Donaghy
Senior Solutions Developer
JOE DONAGHY
Senior Solutions Developer
Joe has a degree in Interactive Multimedia Design & develops some of the more complex features for Flexi-Grant®. Unwinds through games development and is a real hands-on DIY man at home (will he ever get his kitchen finished?). Having become a new Dad in 2017 we suspect his time for DIY is even scarcer…
GARETH HILLEN
Team Lead – Product Maintenance
Gareth did his first degree in Economics but decided to leave the world of sums behind to pursue a career in IT. He joined us fresh from his Masters in Software Development. As well as being eager to develop his skills at Fluent he brings a once rare degree of sportiness to the team as he plays for his local rugby team. The technical team morning scrums suit him very well, we just have to stop him grabbing people’s shirts!
Gareth Hillen
Team Lead – Product Maintenance
GARETH HILLEN
Team Lead – Product Maintenance
Gareth did his first degree in Economics but decided to leave the world of sums behind to pursue a career in IT. He joined us fresh from his Masters in Software Development. As well as being eager to develop his skills at Fluent he brings a once rare degree of sportiness to the team as he plays for his local rugby team. The technical team morning scrums suit him very well, we just have to stop him grabbing people’s shirts!
ADRIAN TUMILTY
Senior Implementation Consultant
Adrian has experience in both Operations and Service Delivery Management for some of the world’s largest tech companies – and uses this to help our clients get the most out of Flexi-Grant®. Outside of work, Adrian has a keen interest in both music production and emerging technologies – describing himself as an Information Security, Privacy, and Blockchain enthusiast.
Adrian Tumilty
Senior Implementation Consultant
ADRIAN TUMILTY
Senior Implementation Consultant
Adrian has experience in both Operations and Service Delivery Management for some of the world’s largest tech companies – and uses this to help our clients get the most out of Flexi-Grant®. Outside of work, Adrian has a keen interest in both music production and emerging technologies – describing himself as an Information Security, Privacy, and Blockchain enthusiast.
KIM McCULLAGH
Community Manager
Kim is coming to us from a career in the Education industry in London with a Bachelor’s degree in Computing & Information Systems. She is now a key part of Flexi-Grant’s Customer Success team in her role as Customer Success Coordinator. In her spare time she is a keen baker, a busy mum to a toddler and you will never see her without caffeine.
Kim McCullagh
KIM McCULLAGH
Community Manager
Kim is coming to us from a career in the Education industry in London with a Bachelor’s degree in Computing & Information Systems. She is now a key part of Flexi-Grant’s Customer Success team in her role as Customer Success Coordinator. In her spare time she is a keen baker, a busy mum to a toddler and you will never see her without caffeine.
LAUREN WILLIAMS
QA Analyst
Lauren has a degree in Computing (Artificial Intelligence), a Masters in Cyber Security and is a PRINCE2 qualified practitioner. Instead of fighting off hackers she diligently tests our flagship product to ensure it runs as smoothly as possible. In her spare time she loves to bake and the Fluent Team has already been the very willing recipients of her excellent salted caramel brownies. Needs both a blanket & hot water bottle to operate at peak efficiency in the office in cold weather.
Lauren Williams
QA Analyst
LAUREN WILLIAMS
QA Analyst
Lauren has a degree in Computing (Artificial Intelligence), a Masters in Cyber Security and is a PRINCE2 qualified practitioner. Instead of fighting off hackers she diligently tests our flagship product to ensure it runs as smoothly as possible. In her spare time she loves to bake and the Fluent Team has already been the very willing recipients of her excellent salted caramel brownies. Needs both a blanket & hot water bottle to operate at peak efficiency in the office in cold weather.
LUKE McCREADY
Solutions Developer
Luke has a background in software development and has been working in grant management IT support since 2012. He uses that experience to support our ESIF grant management product and strengthen Fluent’s solutions development team. Outside of work, Luke is an incredibly keen fitness enthusiast and paranormal movie buff.
Luke McCready
Solutions Developer
LUKE McCREADY
Solutions Developer
Luke has a background in software development and has been working in grant management IT support since 2012. He uses that experience to support our ESIF grant management product and strengthen Fluent’s solutions development team. Outside of work, Luke is an incredibly keen fitness enthusiast and paranormal movie buff.
HAYLEY GREGG
UX Designer
Hayley joins the Design team with a 2:1 in Interaction Design, a certificate in Interactive Multimedia Design and experience in a VR/AR company. She’s passionate about solving problems & making things easier to use/intuitive for new users. Outside of work she’s an avid weightlifter and most of all enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Hayley Gregg
UX Designer
HAYLEY GREGG
UX Designer
Hayley joins the Design team with a 2:1 in Interaction Design, a certificate in Interactive Multimedia Design and experience in a VR/AR company. She’s passionate about solving problems & making things easier to use/intuitive for new users. Outside of work she’s an avid weightlifter and most of all enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
ANTONIO LOPES
Customer Success Analyst
Antonio has joined the Customer Success team after 5 years in Zurich completing a PhD in Virology. Thankfully for Flexi-Grant®, he has taken a break from studying influenza virus’s to support our amazing Flexi-Grant® clients in a customer success analyst role. Fun fact: he loves to cook whilst listening to Elvis!
Antonio Lopes
Customer Success Analyst
ANTONIO LOPES
Customer Success Analyst
Antonio has joined the Customer Success team after 5 years in Zurich completing a PhD in Virology. Thankfully for Flexi-Grant®, he has taken a break from studying influenza virus’s to support our amazing Flexi-Grant® clients in a customer success analyst role. Fun fact: he loves to cook whilst listening to Elvis!
LUNA
Head of Happiness
Luna is our brand new Head of Happiness. When she isn’t taking long walks in the forest she loves to catch her own tail, destroy any and all toys, chew on stones and run around the office like an absolute ejit! She makes the entire team insanely happy and there isn’t a bad day that can’t be fixed by one of Luna’s cuddles.
Luna
Head of Happiness
LUNA
Head of Happiness
Luna is our brand new Head of Happiness. When she isn’t taking long walks in the forest she loves to catch her own tail, destroy any and all toys, chew on stones and run around the office like an absolute ejit! She makes the entire team insanely happy and there isn’t a bad day that can’t be fixed by one of Luna’s cuddles.
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