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I'm passionate about technology, space, photography and music, and want to see the next generation also find inspiration in pursuing these things.
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| My work | |||
 Image from Bloomberg |
The Bloomberg Terminal - I am a programmer, technical manager and engineering leader at Bloomberg in London, where we have over 1500 software developers. The teams I look after design, build and maintain major subsystems of the Bloomberg Terminal. Here's my bio and an interview. | ||
| Charities I support | |||
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In 2015, at "Virgin Disruptors in Education", the impact accelerator Big Change were showcasing their pioneering work re-thinking our education system. I saw two 12-year-olds interviewing Richard Branson with such confidence and clear communication but with true humility - I thought there's something special going on here. These were kids at School21 - one project associated with Big Change. There was so much positive energy in the room as various people from Virgin Unite and Galactic Unite came up to speak, that I had to get involved. I discovered that Big Change consult with experts to establish at what points in the education arc the most difference can be made by focusing on those areas. They have been finding projects developing innovative solutions in these areas, mentoring them, giving them access to a network of experts, and providing early-stage funding to give them an opportunity to prove their ideas practically. Big Change, a registered charity, partly funds these projects through a series of endurance events. I passionately believe in what they are doing, and have tried to get behind them, so far raising
2023: Etape Loch Ness and Strive Lapland - here is a blog by Richard Branson. 2021: The 100 km Virtual Strive Challenge and hiking the 100 km STRIVE Weekender in the same week. 2020: The 2020 Virtual Strive Challenge, running, hiking and swimming (virtually) alongside 200 other Strivers raising £50,000 in total for Big Change. 2019: London to Paris in 24 hours - cycling 300 km / 186 miles during a wet and windy day and night in May 2019, a challenge organized by Sophie Radcliffe. 2018: The 2018 STRIVE Challenge, an endurance adventure in the French Alps, cycling 285 miles and climbing 42,000 feet up some of the mountain stages of the Tour de France, helping collectively to raise £1.3 million. Blog here. 2016: The 2016 STRIVE Challenge - blog here, and also part of an article written by Richard Branson about the challenge from his perspective.
Photo by Kev Wolf
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On-going: An online photo store, again raising funds for Big Change, previewed here: |
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In-Flight Entertainment - a hardback book now sold-out but available for viewing online - containing a collection of photographs I have taken at 38,000 feet. All proceeds from the sale of this book also went to support Big Change. |
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I have been supporting Virgin Galactic's education outreach programme Galactic Unite, inspiring young people to study Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects (STEM) and demonstrating that the future holds amazing possibilities for them to participate in the next generation of space travel and exploration. I co-founded the Galactic Unite Scholarship at the University of Leicester, awarding mentorship and financial help to a group of Physics students pursuing Space Science and Astrophysics. Holly Branson very kindly featured this initiative on her blog, here. In 2023 I took 6 of the scholarship students to Spaceport America to meet the Virgin Galactic team, and to see Spaceship Unity, just before its first commercial spaceflight.
Also, in 2022 I participated in an epic cycle ride from Las Vegas to the Gateway to Space in New Mexico, raising money for STEM-related organizations including Galactic Unite.
Photos of the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse, taken from Teton Valley, Idaho, US, in the company of the community of Virgin Galactic Future Astronauts.
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Stemettes Futures is the charity arm of Stemettes, an award-winning social enterprise working across the UK, Ireland and beyond to inspire and support young women into Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths careers . I've seen how they have guided young women in their impressive journeys into Computer Science, entrepreneurship and setting up their own startups. You can support them here. | ||
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The Benedetti Foundation delivers transformative experiences through mass music events and provides equal access to music participation and appreciation for all. Led by virtuoso violinist Nicola Benedetti and a tutor team comprising exceptional educators and performers from across the globe, the foundation unites those who believe music is integral to life’s education. Having been really impressed by their work, I have recently become a patron. | ||
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The Children's Trust look after kids with acquired brain injury, helping them recover and rehabilitate so that they can live as normal a life as possible.
I have cycled the Ride London 100 in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022 for the Children's Trust.
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The Prince's Trust does amazing work with young people, preparing them for work.
What it was like to run my first and only London Marathon in 2015.
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charity: water is a nonprofit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries. 785 million people live without clean water. That's nearly 1 in 10 people worldwide, or, twice the population of the United States without access to life's most basic human need. For those in the UK, find the UK site here. | ||
| Other passions | |||
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"In Flight Entertainment": Aurora seen in-flight. A Timelapse with music and a
Timelapse Playlist.
Photos too. Feature by ITV News. Another by Huffington Post. |
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As a keen aurora photograper, I was thrilled to have one photo shortlisted
for the Royal Observatory Astronomy Photographer of the Year, 2014 (10th picture on the page). You can still buy the book from Waterstones or
Amazon.
See similar photos in the In Flight Entertainment section of this site.
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Follow @pcwilliams on Twitter.