International Women's Day 2025 Alumni Celebration
At Ysgol Gyfun Tredegar Comprehensive School, we take immense pride in the achievements of all of our past and present students, but this International Women's Day we would like to recognise the achievements of some of the women from our community of alumni, whose journeys after leaving our school are a testament to resilience, ambition, and success.
Rooted in our ethos of pride and working together for success, these remarkable women have made their mark across diverse industries, breaking barriers and inspiring future generations and will no doubt serve as an inspiration to our current pupils. Their stories showcase not only individual excellence but also the power of education, determination, and collaboration in shaping a brighter future.
On this International Women’s Day, we honour their accomplishments and celebrate their impact. Their success is our success, and their journeys continue to inspire the next generation of young women to dream big, work hard, and achieve greatness.Hayley Doorhof - Programme Director, British Army.
My journey to my current role has been varied as I never knew what I wanted to do when I left school. I went to Swansea University to study Management Science (Business & Maths) and when I graduated I got a job as a business advisor helping young people under 30 to set up their own businesses.I suppose I ‘fell into this job’ as it was for an organisation that I had a summer job as a receptionist with, whilst in University. If it wasn’t for this summer job, I wouldn’t have known there was such a job out there.
I then moved around a few different organisations doing similar roles as a business advisor until I applied for an ‘Estimator’ job within the finance team at General Dynamics. This was a complete change in sector but the company had just won a huge contract and was holding open days to encourage local people into roles. As it’s a large organisation I got to understand that there are a wide variety of jobs on offer, some which I never knew existed whilst I was in school. I got the opportunity to move into a different department as a Project Manager. I had finally found my ideal role!
Since getting this role, I have been promoted several times within this area. I have most recently been promoted to Programme Director. Here I lead a £5.6 billion pound programme building armoured vehicles for the British Army.
Andrea Waters - ALN Co-ordinator, Ysgol Gyfun Tredegar Comprehensive School.
I am a proud past pupil and Head Girl of YGTCS, having completed my GCSEs and A-levels here in 2003. I then studied at UWE Bristol to pursue my teaching degree.
After 3 years teaching in Blaenau Gwent, I was fortunate enough to return to Tredegar Comprehensive School in September 2000 and here I have remained ever since!
I feel privileged to have taught so many fantastic students over the years (and now some of their children). I am fortunate and blessed to work alongside colleagues and great friends whose common goal is to teach, guide and support our wonderful students.
Rebecca Richards - CEO, International Vehicles Division, Rheinmetall Defence UK.
After completing my GCSEs and A levels at Tredegar Comprehensive School I attended the University of Bristol, where I studied Law and also spent a year abroad studying International Law in Singapore. After completing my degree and post graduate legal proactive I worked in a solicitors in Cardiff before moving to work in house legal department for an international iron and steel company in Bournemouth. This involved drafting proposals and negotiating contracts around the world, from China, south America and India to UK sites such as Port Talbot. This gave me great experience of businesses and how industry works but also of doing business in different cultures and exporting from UK. After two years of living away and travelling around the world in this role I wanted to move back to Wales and closer to my family in Tredegar. I moved to a role in the commercial and legal department of General Dynamics as a Contracts Manager. I was new to defence but found the programmes and new opportunities interesting and my skills from negotiating a variety of contracts with international customer were transferable. I worked my way up to senior leadership role as Head of Commercial in General Dynamics and led the negotiations for design development and support of armoured fighting vehicles to be supplied to the British army, securing multi million and billion pound deals, setting up a new manufacturing facility in Merthyr and creating 100s of new jobs here in wales. Gabrielle Elizabeth Davies - DPhil student, Merton College Oxford.
Since leaving TCS I was placed in the Seren Network for ‘Wales brightest sixth formers’ where I developed a passion for academia. Carly Cannings - The Happy Business School, Founder.
I attended Tredegar Comprehensive School from 1994-2001 and I was Head Girl in my final year.
After studying law and French at university I spent over 10 years working as a solicitor. I ended up in a senior leadership role before leaving to set up my own business, The Happy Business School in 2022. I now help organisations create happy, thriving, people-centric workplace cultures. Since starting my business, I have been named as one of the top 100 small businesses in the UK and one of the most inspiring female entrepreneurs. I have been invited to Downing Street where I met then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and given evidence on workplace culture in the House of Commons.
Liz Francis - Head of UK Communications, Japanese pharmaceutical company.
I was quite shy in my school years, and after completing my A'Levels at Tredegar, I went on to University at Plymouth. I had planned to go to Swansea, but after visiting the Plymouth campus, I completely changed my mind. I’m so glad I did, as studying further away from home opened up a world beyond Wales and significantly boosted my confidence.
As part of my degree, I spent the third year in industry working before returning to complete my degree. I worked for a pharmaceutical company in Essex, where my role involved setting up internal intranet sites and transitioning the company magazine to a digital format. Collaborating with a design agency, I learned a great deal, despite having no prior knowledge of websites or intranets.
After finishing my degree, the company that hosted my placement invited me to apply for a permanent position. Following several interviews, I was thrilled to secure the job and moved to Essex to join the HR department. In this role, I trained employees on using HR systems and as part of my role began creating communications about the systems, which revealed my true passion.
The company then merged and I found myself on the move again and this time headed to the Head Office in Brentford, Middlesex. There, I developed online materials to help employees understand their pay, benefits, and company policies, which included launching a supporting communications campaign. Through this work, I connected with the head of the communications team and eventually transitioned to a new role within that team. As the only UK member, I collaborated with colleagues in Philadelphia and North Carolina, which allowed me to travel frequently to the US. My role also involved supporting Europe, leading to trips across Spain, France, Italy, and Romania.
I then moved around the Communications department to different roles of increasing responsibility, until I became a Director. In this role, I worked with the company CEO and Chief Compliance Officer on big global projects and campaigns that were rolled out to more than 100,000 employees and which I had to produce in 26 languages. After some time in this role, I was asked to go and take on a role in Belgium in the Vaccines business as a secondment. So I spent just under a year traveling weekly to Brussels to lead a Communications team there, working on various projects and supporting the senior leaders in the business.
I then chose to leave that company and became a communications consultant in the UK business of a Japanese pharmaceutical company. Initially signing up for 6 months, to support a change in leadership and help them navigate through a crisis period. During this time, I identified the need for a dedicated communications team and created a new role for the Head of UK Communications, which I was then offered. I am still in this role, having moved to Surrey and I sit on the country leadership team and have recruited a small team to support. We are responsible for all communications to employees, company events, communications to the healthcare community about our products, campaigns to the general public to raise awareness of the disease areas in which we work, creating press releases and dealing with enquiries from journalist and driving engagement through social media. No two days are the same and I love it!
Natalie Street - Cwtch Creative, Owner. Flexicare, Communications Director.
I found 
my passion for design in the art department of Tredegar Comprehensive School. With the guidance and support of my teachers, I discovered that it was possible to turn my passion into a career. The school supported me in my application to art college, where I began to focus all my efforts into graphic design. I then pursued a BA (Hons) in Graphic Communication at the University of Wales, Cardiff. It was during my time here that I discovered I was dyslexic. While this never held me back, it helped me understand my natural inclination toward the arts.
In 2005, I started my first job as a graphic designer. In this role I worked on many high-profile projects including the project management of the Welsh Conservative’s election campaign.
In 2010, I established my own business, Cwtch Creative, 15 years on, I continue to provide branding and design services to many local and national companies. That same year, I joined Flexicare (Group) Limited as a Marketing Services Coordinator. Over the years, I’ve progressed within the company, taking on the role of Marketing Communications Manager before stepping into my current position as Communications Director.
Flexicare is a leading global designer and manufacturer of medical devices. Headquartered in the UK, our global network of 17 subsidiaries supports over 105 countries. In my current role, I oversee global marketing communication strategies, ensuring that Flexicare’s brand effectively reaches our audiences.
My advice to students: follow your passion and don’t be afraid to turn it into a career. With the right support and determination, you can achieve your goals—even in the face of challenges. Find what you love, work hard, and embrace every opportunity to grow.
Emma Aherne Probert - Senior Nurse for Acute Paediatrics, Paediatric Outpatients, Children’s Epilepsy and the Advanced Paediatric Nursing Team.
I loved my school years spent at Tredegar Comprehensive School, where I also studied my A levels in Biology, English and Physical Education, from there I went on to study Nursing at Cardiff University.
I successfully qualified as a Registered Children’s Nurse and started my first job on a general Children’s Ward. From here my career journey led me to children’s A&E for 9 years, then on to be the Deputy Manager for children’s community & specialist school nursing. Within this time I was able to invest further into my education undertaking an MSc in Specialist Practitioner Qualification and a Diploma in Leadership & Management in Health. With the experience, knowledge and skills I developed through the years I have achieved my ultimate goal, I am now the Senior Nurse for Acute Paediatrics, Paediatric Outpatients, Children’s Epilepsy and the Advanced Paediatric Nursing team within one of our local Health boards.
Catherine Hares - Parks & Hospitality Manager, Aneurin Leisure Trust.
After leaving Tredegar Comprehensive School a proud Deputy Head Girl with three A-Levels in 1998 I embarked on student life at Cardiff University, reading a BA in Education, Psychology and Politics; Achieving a 2:1 Honors with BPS. From here studying a PGCE in Primary Education at UWIC (Cardiff Met) achieving distinction. I later read a Masters degree in Education.
Primary School Teaching was an exciting career path, one I fondly look back on. Sport had always been a passion so when an opportunity arose with Blaenau Gwent Sports Development Team I applied, and was successful. I worked from 2002-2006 as a Women & Girls Sports Development Officer, the role focused on creating opportunities for increased female participation in sport. In 2002 I was the founder member of Tredegar Netball Club and supported the development of establishing Ebbw Vale and Nantyglo Netball clubs. I progressed to Sports Development Manager in 2006 leading a team of 14 dedicated Sports Development Officers in Blaenau Gwent as well as being a regional lead within Sport Wales for physical literacy until 2014. Sport has always been an important part of my life, during my work in this period and also socially as a coach, leader and participant. When sport is at its best, the mental and physical benefits are immeasurable.
Aneurin Leisure Trust was formed in 2014 and an opportunity for me to Manage the team of incredible staff at Bedwellty House & Park, the skills I had learned through teaching and through sport were transferable to being able to successfully manage the site and lead the team. Parc Bryn Bach was added into my into my remit in 2017 with a new role as Parks & Hospitality Manager, part of the Senior Management team over-seeing the development, growth and leading the leaders at these two incredible sites.
Always being committed to learning, developing and professional development, giving 100% to my roles I have recently been successful in being appointed as an Assistant Director within Aneurin Leisure Trust. This role will enable me to further work within, influence development positively impact the local area, which is something I am particular passionate about.
Aside of my work pathway I have always engaged in volunteering and developing wider skills outside of the workplace to support the community. I am an active Vice Chair of Governors at Tredegar Comprehensive School and Bryn Bach Primary School.
While my career has taken me out of the Sporting arena, I have remained active within sport being an active volunteer coach at Tredegar Netball Club where I have coached for the past 22 seasons, still playing…as a veteran now! I have also been an active board member of Wales Netball National Governing Body for the past 10 years. In August 2024 I was elected as Chairperson of Wales Netball. A volunteer role I am particularly proud of.
Besides juggling a varied career path to date, enjoying sport and developing myself professionally, I am also very family orientated. My Family are at the heart of everything I do.
We can all achieve anything we want if we set our minds to it….and we believe.
Taryn Stephens - Deputy Director for Social Services and Integration, Welsh Government.
I completed my A Level studies at Tredegar Comprehensive in 2004. In 2006, I started volunteering for the Youth Offending Supervision and Surveillance Programme alongside my full-time job. This opportunity opened the door to a full-time position as an Outreach worker within a child protection team. During this time, I pursued and completed two degrees—one in Social Sciences and Psychological Studies, and another in Social Work.
Following my qualification as a Social Worker, I embraced various roles within Children's Services. Social work, though highly demanding, is a profound privilege, to work alongside children, young people, and their families, supporting positive change.
In 2020, amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, I took on the role of Head of Children's Services and Safeguarding in Merthyr Tydfil. This position entailed leading child protection, children looked after, and various preventative services. Soon after, I was honored to concurrently serve as the Vice Chair for the All Wales Heads of Children's Services.
In 2023, I was appointed as the Deputy Director for Social Services and Integration within the Welsh Government. In this capacity, I work closely with Ministers, Cabinet Secretaries, the First Minister, and the Chief Social Care Officer for Wales to support policy and legislative developments in social care. I lead teams dedicated to safeguarding and advocacy for children and adults, enhancing the social care workforce, and improving pathways of care, including domiciliary care, care homes, and support for unpaid carers across Wales.
Throughout my career, I have been incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by inspiring women who are committed to supporting people and communities. Their unwavering dedication to nurturing the next generation of female social care leaders is truly remarkable.
It is an immense privilege to work in a sector devoted to making a positive impact on people's lives, and I am continuously inspired by the resilience and strength of those we serve.
Bethan Suillivan - Law Student, University College London.
Achieved 13 As and one Distinction in GCSEs. Went on to do 4 a levels at merthyr College (2A*s 2As).
I am now at UCL studying Law (the top uni for law in the UK).
I hope to become an international barrister and human rights advocate, specialising in women’s rights globally and aiding for equal access to education for girls globally.
I am a published writer in the UCL Law journals. Additionally, I am a final candidate for the role of publications officer in the UCL Law society! Go tred girls!! Xx
Megan Jones - Teacher of Humanities, Ysgol Gyfun Tredegar Comprehensive School.
After completing my studies at Ysgol Gyfun Tredegar Comprehensive School in 2018, I continued my education at Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone, where I studied Law, Psychology, and History.
My growing passion for History, nurtured during my GCSE and A-Level studies, led me to pursue a degree in History at Cardiff University.
Upon graduating in 2023, I began a PGCE at Cardiff Metropolitan University. During my university enrichment period, I had the opportunity to return to Ysgol Gyfun Tredegar, which reaffirmed my desire to work at the school.
Shortly after, I was fortunate enough to secure a position as a Humanities Teacher at Ysgol Gyfun Tredegar. I am thoroughly enjoying my role and feel privileged to teach and inspire the next generation of ambitious students from Tredegar, who have the potential to achieve great things.
Chloe Thomas - International Table Tennis Player.
I attended Tredegar Comprehensive School 2005 - 2010.
Below is a summary of my achievements:
National Champion at U13, Cadet, Junior, U18, U21, Senior Women’s Champion, Women’s Doubles Champion and Mixed doubles Champion.
Represented Wales at Youth Commonwealth Games in Pune India 2008.
Represented Wales at Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014, Gold Coast Australia 2018 and Birmingham 2022.
Bournemouth University – studying Nutrition BSc 2015-2019. Played for university team - British Womens University Champion 2015.
Bronze medallist at Commonwealth Championships in India 2015.
Represented Great Britain in the World University Championships in Taiwan 2017 and Italy in 2019.
Represented Wales at World Championships in Germany, Netherlands, China, Malaysia and Sweden.
Played in European Leagues for clubs in Sweden Spain and Germany.
Gemma Howlett - Head of Teaching, Learning and Student Experience, Institute of Health, University of Cumbria.
I left Tredegar Comprehensive School in 1999. I moved to Cheltenham to study sport and exercise sciences at the University of Gloucestershire. I had no idea what I wanted to do or where I would end up in the world. A few years later after a variety of different jobs and travel adventures I joined the ambulance service and became a paramedic working across Gloucestershire, then Worcestershire and finally central Birmingham as a rapid response advance paramedic working solo on a car. I moved into education as a Lecturer at the University of Worcester. I have taught many student paramedics and other health professionals and am proud of the care they will have gone on and provided and the impact they will have had in their communities. I have worked in various University's since in a variety of roles, I have written various academic journal articles and book chapters and am now the Head of Teaching, Learning and Student Experience in the Insititute of Health at the University of Cumbria. My learning continues and I am studying for my PhD in the School of Social Justice and Education at Lancaster University, my thesis will be submitted later this academic year (fingers crossed) and I will be the first person in my family to become a Dr! (by PhD). When I left school I never thought I would do or achieve half of the things I have done over the years, and I definitely wouldn't have classed myself as academic when I left school. Happy IWD to all of you reading this.
Kate Logan - Historic Properties Director, English Heritage.
I left Tredegar Comprehensive School in 1998 and headed to Leicester University to study History (as it was my favourite subject taught by the fantastic Mr Matthews). I really enjoyed living in a city and made lots of new friends at university – leaving home wasn’t as scary as I thought it was going to be especially when so many other people were in the same boat. Following university, I applied to be an intern working for an accountant in New York City. It was one of the best experiences of my life – I loved every minute of it. When my internship ended, I came home and lived in Cardiff for a while and then back in Tredegar working for a charity in Cardiff Bay. I started as an administrator and worked my way up and eventually decided to move to England to work at English Heritage which is a large organisation that looks after the national collection of historic properties (such as Stonehenge, Hadrian’s Wall and Dover Castle) – it’s like the English version of Cadw. I’ve worked for English Heritage for almost 20 years doing various jobs including the Director of Stonehenge which is one of the largest visitor attractions in England. I loved my time at Stonehenge – every day was different, and I got to meet Presidents, Prime Ministers and the odd celebrity. I’m now the Historic Properties Director responsible for all aspects of the care, management and development of English Heritage’s 400 historic sites and monuments across the country and for the on-site visitor experience. I manage people and big budgets, and I travel all over England. It’s hard work but I love my job particularly because it’s a charity, so our aim is to make a positive impact on society and make heritage accessible to everybody. I would never have thought as a school pupil that my favourite subject would turn into a career.
When I’m not in work I spend time with my family as I have two little girls. Tredegar will always be home to me and the values I developed while growing up there are core to who I am today. I still have the fondest memories of school, the friendships I made and the things I learned.
Vicky Huckson - Head of HR, Schaeffler.
I left Tredegar Comp in 1999 after studying A Levels and moved to Cardiff to study Psychology at university. In 2003 I decided to make a change and moved to Sydney, Australia. I joined Schaeffler Australia in 2004 and worked through a number of departments before finding my happy place in Human Resources. I am now the Head of HR for Schaeffler in the Pacific region and have had the opportunity to travel throughout Asia, Europe and the US on a number of projects and training. My true passion for HR is making a difference to people’s lives and supporting them through their highs and lows. Many years ago a female manager told me to never doubt my own ability and always push myself outside of my comfort zone and I think back on that advice often when I have a challenge to overcome. My advice to students, follow your dreams and never do anything that conflicts with your true values and integrity.
Amy Weldon - Buyer, Next.
I’m Amy Weldon was Harding. I studied at Tredegar Comprehensive School between 1996-2002.Asyia Ilahi - Medical Biochemistry student, Swansea University.
I was a pupil at Ysgol Gyfun Tredegar Comprehensive School from 2017-2022. During my time there, I gained many skills that have prepared me for my future aspirations and goals; it is the skill set enhanced by my amiable, helpful teachers and their astounding support that has landed me where I am today- Swansea Uni!
In YGTCS, I chose music, history and Spanish as my options, nurturing my abilities and aspirations to go far in education. Through guidance and continued aid throughout my comprehensive life, especially during COVID, I was able to leave this amazing school with grades that reflect the hard work and dedication of everyone involved, 11 A*s and an A.
Moreover, I was a Form Representative through my five years at YGTCS, and a prefect in my final year. The responsibility and widely applicable abilities I learnt in these positions, I feel, were key in my progression through my young adult life.
The grades I received, and skills I harnessed, provided ample stepping stones to go onto college in Ebbw Vale to carry on my pursuit of education, studying Biology, Chemistry, Psychology and Maths. Although it was a massive change in how my education was formatted, I grasped any opportunity to broaden my academic horizons: involving myself in
student leadership, as I did in YGTCS, volunteering throughout the college and even landing a week's work experience in the Swansea University Chemistry Labs!
After a very quick two years of college, I was delighted to be accepted into Swansea University, studying a Masters in Medical Biochemistry.
University, although slightly daunting, is an incredible place and I’m loving every second of it.
I've already secured a 1st in my first semester and cannot wait to see what the next three years hold for me. Ideally, I’d love to use my acquired knowledge and degree to pursue a career in Oncology (the study of cancer) as it is such a widely researched, yet deeply misunderstood science- I aspire to bring new and innovative ideas to the table.
Currently I have been employed by a sector of the Uni that help in providing insight and knowledge to young children and people about the awe-inspiring advantages of attending university, The Step Up Programme along with the Reaching Wider Programme, so if you ever come to Swansea on a school trip, you may see me there :)
Chloe Green - Teacher of KS3, Ysgol Gyfun Tredegar Comprehensive School.
I am a proud past pupil of Ysgol Gyfun Tredegar Comprehensive School, having completed my GCSE’s here in 2018.
From there, I went to Merthyr College to study A Levels. Next, I went on to Swansea University to study for a Welsh degree, further deepening my passion for the language and education.
After completing my undergraduate studies, I pursued a PGCE at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, which set me on the path to achieving my goal of becoming a teacher.
In September, I was very fortunate to return to Tredegar Comprehensive, this time as a KS3 teacher, bringing my journey full circle, returning back to my school 6 years later. It has been incredibly rewarding to come back to the school that shaped me, and I now have the privilege of inspiring and supporting the next generation of students, just as my teachers once did for me.
Georgia Burchell - Radiographer, Aneurin Bevan Health Board.
I left Ysgol Gyfun Tredegar in 2018 unsure of my career path and studied A-Level Law, Physical Education, and Psychology at Coleg Gwent. It was during my Physical Education studies that I discovered a passion for the human body, which led me to pursue a career in healthcare.Sarah Jenkins - Weapons Engineer, Navy.
I was raised in Ashvale, Tredegar, and went to Tredegar Comprehensive School. After leaving, I chose to enlist in the Royal Navy as a Communication Specialist, seeking to gain experience, enhance my skills, and travel the world. After completing basic training, I relocated to Portsmouth, where I would spend most of my career, except when deployed at sea. I advanced to become a Weapons Engineer, earning an Electrical Engineering degree along with numerous other qualifications and skills.
One of the main motivations for my involvement was to engage in sports, with rugby union being my main focus. I’ve had the fortunate opportunity to play it while pursuing my career. I am currently the head coach for the Royal Navy Rugby Union Women’s team, a position that is challenging yet highly fulfilling.