Joan is currently a Senior Manager at Swarthmore Education Centre with curriculum responsibilities including ICT, Arts & Crafts, and Health & Wellbeing and manages the Next Step Advice & Guidance contract.

Joan started her career in computer programming and network administration. She decided to change career direction by joining VSO and worked in Eritrea and Indonesia. On her returned she trained and became a qualified FE teacher, careers guidance adviser and studied management. Before working at Swarthmore Joan had taught in FE and managed a learning centre for St Anne's Community Services, supporting homeless adults and other ‘socially excluded', ‘hard to reach' adults.

She has 8 years experience of working in the public sector and has spent the last 11 years working in the voluntary sector.