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We are committed to excellence. So, we employ the best people to provide support, from enquiry to graduation.
Our directors and senior managers have proven knowledge and skills that put them at the cutting edge of online learning.
And our tutors are recognised professionals who have been trained to provide high quality educational support.
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Olly Thom
Managing director
Olly Thom: Managing director
As CMP’s Managing Director, I oversee the running of the college and am the main point of contact for all new course enquirers.
I have a thorough understanding of online learning, and a wealth of experience in marketing, business, content writing, customer relations, SEO and sales.
I help drive CMP forward by researching and implementing new marketing strategies.
My role mainly comprises sales and marketing. I handle our social media accounts, maintain and update our advertising platforms, and run multiple ongoing marketing and digital advertising campaigns. I am also responsible for creating, editing and producing all of CMP’s videos.
I enjoy coming up with ideas to promote the college. It’s very fulfilling when you see an idea become a reality.
I’m also involved in taking care of our students. I work with our senior team to ensure they have the best learning experience, and leave with a first class, long-lasting impression of us.
Barney Thom
Creative director
Barney Thom: Creative director
I am responsible for creating and maintaining the CMP website. I also take care of the graphic design and am in charge of keeping the CMP website performing well on Google searches, using strictly white-hat SEO strategies and techniques.
I am the co-founder of Digital Creative Hub, an award-winning website and graphic design studio based in Newcastle Upon Tyne who offer an exclusive 20% discount all all design services to CMP students.
I have designed countless blogs, websites and logos for CMP students over the years, including a blog which won the Best Sports Blog Award at the Wales Blogging Awards.
Jake Thom
Operations director
Jake Thom: Operations director
I oversee CMP’s day-to-day operations, finances and learner experience, and I manage our client relationships to ensure we deliver outstanding service at every stage. I’m also responsible for resolving any issues quickly and effectively, maintaining our reputation for prompt, personal support.
I hold a First Class Honours degree in Business Management.
A key part of my role involves streamlining our systems and processes to make the college more efficient. I enjoy identifying creative, practical solutions and continually improving the way we work.
I also manage and develop our Online Learning Area, ensuring a smooth, accessible experience for all learners.
Above all, my focus is on maintaining the highest standards across every area of the college.
Our expert tutors
Andy Carter: External affairs specialist & Course tutor
Group head of news | Comms consultant
Group head of news | Comms consultantBBC | Sky News | Leeds City Council | Northumbria University at Newcastle
I am CMP’s external affairs specialist, and as award-winning communications professional I have significant experience working at a very senior level in both the public sector and higher education.
My skills include media relations; internal, crisis and stakeholder communications; and web and social media and consultation and engagement. In the past, I used my extensive digital, social media and video and audio podcasting skills to help a major UK utility company improve its customer communications.
I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and the Public Relations and Communications Association, and director of my own PR, communications and broadcast consultancy.
I am currently working in local government in northern England.
I am a former broadcast journalist with more than 16 years’ experience with the BBC, Sky News and several other media groups.
I also offer coaching services through my own businesses, and support colleagues across the public sector.
I am also CMP’s tutor in PR and social media marketing, the college’s career mentor, and chair of trustees for a charity based in Leeds.
Rachel Finnegan: Head tutor
Writer | Freelance academic editor | Proofreader
Writer | Freelance academic editor | ProofreaderIrish Academic Editing | Pococke Press | Full Member of AFEPI Ireland
Dr Rachel Finnegan is head tutor for the College of Media and Publishing (CMP) and is also responsible for proofreading the CMP’s documentation and learning material.
She was tutor for the Proofreading and editing course from 2016 to 2022.
She has a BA and a PhD in classics (Greek and Latin) and is a full member of the Association of Freelance Editors, Proofreaders and Indexers of Ireland (AFEPI Ireland). She also has several professional qualifications from CMP, CIEP and the Publishing Training Centre (UK).
Rachel has been running her own editing business, Irish Academic Editing, since 2015 and her skills include proofreading, copy editing, academic editing, academic writing and editorial training
Her clients include academic publishers, art publishers, academic institutions, cultural institutions, local authorities, government agencies, and individual writers and researchers.
Before joining CMP, Rachel was an academic administrator for 3 years, a lecturer in arts and humanities for 17 years, and an academic head of department for 3 years. She is also the author of 9 published books, including 2 biographies, and numerous peer-reviewed journal articles on the history of eighteenth-century travel and collecting.
Julian Brouwer: Course tutor
Writer | Columnist | Journalist | Editor
Writer | Columnist | Journalist | EditorUK national newspapers | UK national magazines | New York magazines
I am a journalist, writer and proofreader and editor with over 25 years’ experience, and I am a tutor on CMP’s copywriting, creative writing, proofreading and editing, and webediting courses.
I started out on local newspapers and quickly moved on to some of Britain’s top national papers.
My writing has taken me all around the world and to New York, where I worked for some of America’s top publications and also found time to pen a daily column for the Daily Express.
I worked as a proofreader for a group of newspapers and a host of other London-based organisations, so I am used to finding errors that even eagle-eyed subeditors miss.
As well as working as a proofreader, I run a news agency called London News Service which supplies news and features to national papers. I previously ran a similar agency called Manhattan News, which supplied American stories to Britain.
I’m an avid music fan, and an experienced reviewer. I had my own music column that was syndicated across local newspapers in London, and have written about everything from the Rolling Stones to local pub gigs.
I have written a string of short stories and am currently working on my first full-length book “Bi-polar Hack” which will be out next year.
Justine Holman: Course tutor
Journalist | Editor | Copywriter | Writing Consultant
Elle | Chat | TV Times | The Express | Liberate Media
I am a tutor on CMP’s Blogging, Business writing, Copywriting, English writing skills, SEO content writing, social media marketing and web writing courses.
As a professional copywriter and writing consultant, I have experience in running integrated campaigns, combining PR, social media and developing content.
I am a content specialist for Coleman Hammond Digital. Working across a number of luxury brands, I produce and plan Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest content on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.
I also work as a copywriting and PR consultant for Liberate Media, and run client-based services incorporating social media, blogging and copywriting. With Liberate I work as the lead copywriter for international hotel chain, Movenpick.
Recent clients have also included Salvo 1969, a leading Italian food importer. My brief included proofreading content across blogs, banners social media and newsletters.
I am an entertainment, health and travel journalist and editor with over 25 years’ experience.
I started out as a researcher on Elle before working my way up through magazines such as Just 17, Chat, and Women’s Weekly, and ending up as features editor on TV Times.
My work has taken me to some interesting places. I’ve interviewed Take That, shaken Bruce Willis’ hand, and sat next to Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox on the LA set of Friends.
I’ve still yet to find a better job than this one. Whether I’m talking to David Coulthard about F1, or Jerry Springer about his travel plans, there is nothing better than pulling a story together from a 20-minute chat.
Shuna Meade: Course tutor
Freelance editor | Proofreader
Freelance editor | ProofreaderFinal Polish Editorial | Professional Member CIEP | Partner Member ALLi
I am a course tutor for the proofreading and editing course.
I am a Professional member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) and a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors.
Before I trained as a professional editor and proofreader, I spent 20 years living and working in London, including eight years in the music business at EMI Music International, where I helped integrate new EMI companies into the business.
I’ve been the unofficial proofreader in every job since graduating from St Andrews University in Scotland. (If St Andrews sounds familiar, it’s where Prince William met Kate Middleton – long after I was there, though!)
Over my career I’ve gained a breadth of experience across a number of sectors including the music industry, digital radio, music and film promotion, public relations, brand management, and more recently in tourism, real estate and resort development. I even did a stint as an English teacher in Guatemala, and provided UK base support for an expedition through Africa!
After moving to the Caribbean with my American husband, I began to write fiction, and creative non-fiction about life on a tropical island.
I set up my editorial business Final Polish Editorial in 2017 and specialise in editing fiction and creative non-fiction books, while providing editorial services for small business owners (blogs, websites, and any type of marketing collateral).
My clients include self-publishing authors, published indie authors, publishers, and small business owners. I’ve even edited the autobiography of a Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame member.
Elena Vivaldo: Course tutor
Copywriter | Digital Marketer | Product description writer |
I am a course tutor for the CMP’s copywriting course. I also work as a freelance copywriter, SEO content writer and business writer.
I’m a CIM digital marketer and through my business Vivaldo Copywriting, I work with clients all over the world. I’ve been working remotely even before lockdown normalised it, so I’m a big supporter of doing things in your own time to create your own work routine.
As a scuba diving instructor, travel and scuba diving are what I write about the most, and you can find my byline on PADI, Waterlust, DIVEIN and World Nomads. But I also write product descriptions for eCommerce stores (anything from clothes to jewellery and arts & crafts), website copies for software companies and sales emails for entrepreneurs.
I focus on writing SEO-rich content without falling prey to AI writing tools that take us further away from quality, human-penned content.
