Ed Almond, Chief Executive and Secretary
Ed Almond joined the IET in 2001 as Head of Business Planning and Performance. Ed gained an MBA in 2004 before becoming Director of Corporate Strategy & Planning in 2005 and Director of Finance and Planning in 2006. Previously he worked within the John Sisk construction group and provided strategic support to the UK Board.
In 1989 Ed commenced training as an accountant with Ernst & Young working with a wide variety of clients including McDonnell Information Systems and Leica. He qualified in 1992 and is now a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.
Ed trained in Biological Sciences at the University of Exeter before completing a Masters in Applied Molecular Biology at University College London. With a particular interest in extremely thermophilic archaebacteria, Ed undertook postgraduate research within the Chemical Engineering departments of Cornell University and the University of California at Berkeley before returning to the UK and working for the SERC at Rothamstead Research Station in 1987.
Toni Allen, Chief Engagement & Growth Officer
Toni Allen has over 20 years’ experience in driving forward thinking integrated sales, marketing and commercial strategies to maximise B2B and B2C opportunities, launch new propositions and deliver sustained profitable growth in complex marketplaces. Working across diverse multi-cultural markets, she has driven multi-sector strategies and market approaches in sectors such as Food, Healthcare, FMCG, Technology, Education, Aerospace, Automotive, Building Services, Cybersecurity, Arts, Charities and Non-Profit Organisations.
She has extensive experience of working with organisations, from start-ups to global corporations, using strategic thinking to develop new solutions to address client needs. This includes developing acquisition strategies, new product development and innovating new propositions in vertical and horizontal markets. She has worked agency and client-side on large multi-faceted global campaigns, including bringing new products to market in new retail categories and strategic innovation in established categories.
Toni has a diverse go-to-market background, from launching the UK’s first Carnival Arts Degree and the 2012 Olympic Carnival Roads Project, to developing new secure mental health propositions for Autism and PTSD, to launching the first digital e-cigarette offering for a major global tobacco brand and leading Key Accounts and Customer Experience programmes such as the launch of a dedicated BSI Online Portal designed to enhance a unified client experience. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a regular judge of the B2B Marketing Awards and the Lloyd’s Bank Business Awards.
Morna Dason-Barber, People Director
Morna Dason-Barber joined the IET as HR Director in January 2019 having previously worked within HR at The British Standards Institution (BSI) for 12 years. Before joining the IET, Morna’s most recent role was as EMEA HR Director. Before working at BSI, Morna undertook several roles including that as an HR Manager at Lloyds Banking Group and as HR Manager at JLR (formerly Jaguar Land Rover) where she started her career as a Graduate Trainee.
Morna is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and is an Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Accredited Coach.
Sara Killingworth, Director of Portfolio and Product Management
Sara has over 20 years’ experience in developing and delivering new propositions, product and marketing strategies to support growth and engagement. She has held a number of management roles in sales and marketing, working in sectors including publishing, telecommunications, food, education and consumer electronics. Sara joined the IET in 2017 as Head of Marketing and was promoted to her current role as Director of Portfolio and Product Management in 2024.
During her time at the IET, Sara has been responsible for strategic marketing, data and insight, market research and marketing operations and has worked on several strategic initiatives including membership growth, the development of new products such as Inspec Analytics, the transition of the IET’s 40+ journals to Open Access and more recently the acquisition of WISE Campaign. In her new role, Sara takes responsibility for developing the IET’s portfolio strategy and product management initiatives, delivering business and market intelligence and evolving and enhancing our member and customer experience.
Sara is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and holds their post-graduate diploma in Marketing.
Christopher Knibb, Director of Governance and External Engagement
Christopher Knibb joined the IET in 2017 as Head of Corporate Communications with responsibility for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, external and internal communications, and government relations.
He has overseen a host of award-winning campaigns during his time at the IET aimed at improving diversity in our sector and inspiring the next generation.
Prior to joining the IET, Christopher worked for various NHS organisations, leading on communications, patient and public engagement, social marketing, fundraising, information governance and corporate services.
With a journalism background, he left newspaper reporting to move into communications, joining Thames Valley Police’s communications team where he worked on a series of high-profile cases, as well as supporting community relations following the London terrorist attacks in 2005.
Christopher has a degree in Writing and Publishing and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Public relations, as well as qualifications in Governance. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and an affiliate member of the Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland.
Michelle Richmond MBE, Interim Operations Director
Michelle Richmond was appointed IET Director of Membership & Professional Development in 2006. Her career started in 1981 with Siemens Plessey Radar, Isle of Wight, as an apprentice and then microwave technician engineer. On completion of her degree, Michelle became Principle Microwave Design Engineer. She was then promoted to Development Manager working on AR327 Military Radar System. Michelle joined Nokia Huntingdon in 1995 as base station Product Manager.
Michelle moved to Matra Marconi Space in Stevenage in 1996 as Antenna Project Manager and later Deputy Project Manager for the Skynet 5 Satellite System; in 2000 she joined Ubinetics, a PA Consulting Group technology spin-off company, as Programme Manager, working on advanced 3G test platforms and then as Operations Manager. Ubinetics was acquired by Aeroflex in 2005.
Michelle also represents the IET on the Engineering Council Board of Trustees and was a member of the IET Council at the time of its formation by the IIE and IEE. She was awarded Britain’s ‘Young Woman Engineer of the Year’ in 1990. She is a Chartered Engineer and has an electronics engineering degree from the Southampton Institute of Higher Education (part-time) and was awarded a Fellowship of the IET in 1999.
Michelle was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list 2019 for services to engineering.
John Sullivan, Chief Technology Information Officer
John joined the IET as Chief Technology Information Officer in March 2024 having previously worked at Virgin Trains as CIO and Change Director and Gondola Holdings as IT Director. He has a proven record of delivering digital technology transformations within the rail and hospitality industries and has enhanced customer, member and staff experiences to drive advocacy and business value.
In his role at Virgin Trains, John defined the strategy for all customer-facing technology and delivered significant change by prioritising the future customer journey and the correct sequence of events. Prior to this, he oversaw all aspects of technology and digital innovation for Gondola Group and its restaurants – Pizza Express, ASK, Zizzi and Byron Burgers.
As a modern CTIO, John focuses on delivering change that accelerates digital business transformation by using the latest innovative technology and with a strong focus on cultural, recognising change must be done as one team across the business with a united and clear set of objectives.
Simon White, Chief Finance Officer
Simon was promoted to his current role in August 2023, after joining the IET in 2021 as a consultant focusing on Change and Performance. Covering Finance, Strategic Planning, Projects, Property and Facilities in his remit, he also has an overarching focus on supporting the creation of a continuous improvement culture.
Before joining the IET, Simon held several senior leadership roles in the FMCG and Retail sector, each with a strong customer and delivery focus. From the foundation of his degree in Management and Computer Science, he is a CIMA qualified accountant with experience of delivering strategic change with a global perspective.