Jon Egging Trust appoints Dr Alex Brown as new CEO
The Jon Egging Trust is delighted to announce that its Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Alex Brown as successor to Dr. Emma Egging in the role of CEO.
For the past five years, Alex has held the role of Enrichment Programme Manager at STEM Learning. In this role he led the successful implementation and growth of their youth focussed and enrichment programmes. Alex brings a wealth of knowledge working alongside the space sector as the UK Manager of the European Space Agency’s European Space Education Resource Office (ESERO). Alex has a PhD in Earth Observation and brings a breadth of expertise across youth programme development and STEM engagement; knowledge that will be vital to JET as the charity looks to further expand its reach and impact across the UK in the next decade.
Alex says: “I am extremely honoured and excited to be taking on the role of CEO, and to have the opportunity to build on the fantastic work of Emma and the team at JET.
“With the poverty gap continuing to grow, meaningful change to a more equitable future for young people is essential. JET has a key role to play in creating this future. Its focus on long-term STEM interventions empowers young people with the aspiration, motivation and confidence to succeed. With support from across the STEM sector and beyond, we can make meaningful change to society by giving young people the tools to overcome the barriers they face to achieve a brighter future.
“It is an immense privilege to be joining JET at this important time and I look forward to working alongside talented and passionate colleagues to empower young people from across the UK.”
Outgoing CEO and JET founder, Dr. Emma Egging, is transitioning to become a Trustee from December, and sees Alex as a strong successor whose skills and network will enable the continued growth of the charity she founded in 2012 in memory of her late husband, RAF Red Arrows pilot Flt Lt Jon Egging. Emma has built an exceptional JET team over the last 12 years and the charity is operational in 14 counties, delivering a unique, high impact three-year programme – Blue Skies – that enables young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to re-engage with education and to thrive. To date, JET has worked with 45,000 young people across the UK.
Emma says: “I am delighted to be handing over the JET CEO baton to the brilliant Dr Alex Brown.
“Since day one, JET has championed the power of partnership to provide our young people with access to opportunities linked to the inspirational worlds of aviation, STEM and space. Our expert JET team use these environments to help build vital teamwork, leadership and employability skills in our students, enabling them to reach for the stars. Having worked with Alex previously in his role at STEM Learning, I have seen his impressive leadership skills in action. This, coupled with his background of using STEM engagement to enrich young lives, makes Alex the ideal successor to lead JET into the future and I look forward to continuing to support Alex and the team in my new role as Trustee.”
Chair of Trustees for JET, Richard Peberdy says: “As a Board we are so proud of what JET, under the leadership of Emma, has achieved. We are delighted that she will be joining us on the Board and that together we can support Alex to further build JET’s model in the coming years.”
Alex will formally take over as CEO on 2nd December, following a period of handover in November. Alex joins JET at an exciting time, with the charity on track for significant growth this academic year, more than doubling the number of students it supports through its Blue Skies programmes (from 413 last year to over 850 this year). In addition, JET’s Inspirational Outreach student numbers are projected to grow from 3,450 last academic year to around 5,700 in 24/25.
ENDS
About the Jon Egging Trust
Founded in 2011 by Dr Emma Egging OBE, following the tragic death of her husband, Red Arrows pilot Flt Lt Jon Egging, the Jon Egging Trust (JET) supports vulnerable young people who are struggling at school to build social and emotional learning skills and reengage with education.
Over the past decade, JET has supported more than 40,000 young lives through its long-term Blue Skies programmes which build confidence, resilience, employability skills and aspiration, and link students to inspiring STEM workplaces and relatable role models who allow them to think differently about their futures. Blue Skies programmes are delivered in partnership with JET’s network of high profile corporate and military partners across the UK.
