Staff

ANDREA FREEMAN  

Principal

Andrea became the Principal of Oxford Media & Business School in July 2005.   

After graduating with an Education degree, Andrea has devoted her entire career to educating and training young people. Her vast experience includes teaching business studies, communication and presentation skills, as well as both developing and teaching the Professional Business Diploma Personal Development Planning module.  She has also worked for numerous examination boards as an Examiner and Principal Moderator, written articles for business magazines, and spent over 20 years in Oxfordshire school governor positions, including 12 years at a local co-educational senior school. 

Andrea is a qualified Myers-Briggs consultant, having delivered the MBTI programme to all her students, as well as an NVQ Assessor and Internal Verifier. Outside of OMBS, Andrea loves to spend time with her family and grandchildren, and is currently taking art classes which she really enjoys.  

SARAH BADGER 

Vice Principal  

After studying for a BSc in Human Psychology, Sarah went on to work within the field of mental health with vulnerable adults for over 10 years.  Deciding upon a career change, Sarah joined OMBS in June 2015.  She loves the variety of the role and seeing the students grow in confidence and maturity. 

Sarah enjoys spending time with her family, going to the gym, walking her two dogs, and when she has time, baking cakes and felting. 

PETER MADAMS 

Head of Business 

Peter has been teaching Business and IT at OMBS since 2016, and thoroughly enjoys his role as well as watching the students grow in ability and confidence. 

He has held many varied roles throughout his career, working in broadcasting and as a proof reader, stagehand, student warden and DJ. His teaching career started in Indonesia in the 1990s before taking him to Sicily and eventually to Oxford, where he settled and focused  on teaching IT at an international school. 

Peter is an accomplished singer, songwriter and musician in a local four-piece band, and often tries to bring music into the classroom at opportune moments such as Christmas or graduation celebrations. 

LAUREN SEGAL

Head of IT & Digital Literacy

Lauren has always been passionate about education and technology. She holds multiple degrees in education, including a Master’s in Digital Education and an Honours degree in Educational Psychology.

Her career has spanned higher education, learning and development and special needs education, with her enthusiasm for educational technology and digital tools growing throughout.

Originally from South Africa, Lauren began her career as an early years special needs teacher before moving into university teaching and administration as an Associate Lecturer. Since moving to the UK, she has continued working across education and professional development, including classroom  teaching and coordinating learning and development for a mental health charity.

Outside of work, you can find her illustrating children’s books, scrapbooking, and reading a good book.

POLLY COEY 

Head of Digital Marketing & In-House Marketing

After gaining a degree in English and Creative Writing at Aberystwyth University, Polly enrolled at OMBS. She loved the course and developed an interest in marketing, after studying what was then called the Business Communications module.  

She then spent the next eight years as a marketer in the charity, publishing, and education sectors. She successfully delivered both global and UK-based campaigns using a wide range of different tactics, from email and social media marketing to festival partnerships and video marketing – and (almost) everything in between!  

She is delighted to have returned to OMBS, this time not as a student, but as a teacher.  

JO DONELAN 

Head of Personal Development Planning, Careers Adviser & In-House Marketing

Having worked in the London business support recruitment market for 25 years  and in partnership with OMBS for much of this time mentoring students, giving talks and delivering work experience programmes, Jo considers it a privilege to have joined the OMBS team formally. She guides the students through the innovative PDP course and sustains strong relationships with industry, agencies and OMBS alumni. 

Outside of OMBS, Jo is a Master Intuitive Psychology Coach, a Wine Tour Guide at her local vineyard and can normally be found treading the boards with her local theatre company.

ROGER CHRISTIANSEN

IT Tutor 

After studying English Literature at Jesus College in Cambridge, Roger developed a career in the IT industry. After working for five years at a start-up business he then joined the local IT company Research Machines. After that he worked at global brands IBM and Ricoh in Marketing and Business Development roles at worldwide, European and local level. Several times during his career, he has been involved in taking new technologies to market, including launching one of the first global e-learning solutions, as well as high-speed, print-on- demand colour inkjet in the publishing market. 

Since 2016 Roger has been building a new career as a lecturer, teacher and freelance consultant. 

Outside of work, Roger loves cycling, paddleboarding and mountain walks – in fact anything that involves getting wet, cold and muddy! 

JEREMY RENALS 

Event Management Tutor

Jeremy teaches IT and Event Management at OMBS, using skills gained from over 25 years working commercially and teaching in colleges.

After graduating in maths and physics, he discovered a talent for technical communications, leading to a career writing for business and teaching business skills at university-access level. His last full-time role was for seven years, writing proposals for multi-million-pound security contracts.

Jeremy likes jazz, and plays percussion in a regular little jam in his local village pub. He’s now also learning to blow raspberries down a metal tube – which almost passes for playing the trumpet! 

JEFF BETHRAY 

Bursar  

Jeff has been the Bursar at Oxford Media & Business School since 2007, concentrating on group finance, student accounts and accommodation. Before this, Jeff had a long and distinguished career at St Aldates College, initially heading up the Business Studies Department, before moving into Building Management and Group Finance. He has also worked in the freight forwarding industry, served in the RAF, and has lectured in Management Studies. 

Jeff is a very keen rower and can often be found in the early morning with his crew out on the river Thames. 

TESSA OLIVER 

Head of Financial Services 

Tessa came to OMBS after studying at Westonbirt School, having been unsure if university was for her. The one-year intensive course suited her perfectly, making friends for life and learning key skills which led to a 10-year career as an Executive Assistant in London.  Using her employment skills, Tessa now runs a virtual assistant services business alongside working in the Finance Team at OMBS.  

Tessa loves being active and running around after her two little girls, ideally while also spending time on beaches in Cornwall or up snow-covered mountains. 

ALISON BLOOMFIELD

Head of Schools Liaison & Student Recruitment Officer 

Starting with two degrees in Geology as a mature student, Alison switched to what she knew she was good at and enjoyed the most – talking with young people about their futures. Her career has been spent working in marketing, admissions and student recruitment in international sixth form colleges, Oxford University study abroad programmes, English language schools, and now for OMBS. 

Alison spends her time visiting schools around the country, attending careers and futures fairs and giving talks to students encouraging them to think more broadly about their higher education options. 

Alison has a fascination for the history of the City of London and enjoys walking along the River Thames. One of her most satisfying achievements was planting a community orchard in her village. 

SHILPA SHAJI 

Admissions & Accommodation Assistant 

Shilpa joined OMBS at the start of 2026 as an Admissions and Accommodation Assistant. Shilpa brings over ten years of experience across healthcare, administration, and risk & quality management. Her professional background spans corporate, government, and healthcare settings, where she has developed strong organisational, coordination, and compliance skills. 

 Outside of work, Shilpa enjoys cooking—particularly Indian cuisine—while listening to music, and has enjoyed henna (mehndi) painting as a creative pastime for many years. She also values spending quality time with her family, which is central to maintaining balance in her personal and professional life.