Meet the Team

Natasia Hieber MA Chartered CIPD - Trainer | Assessor | IQA

Natasia has been an avid member of the HR community since 2007. She holds a BA (Hons) in Business Communication, an MA in International Human Resource Management and a PGCE in Education.

She has over 17 years’ experience working within Human Resources as a Generalist with a focus on Recruitment and Learning and Development. She has taught on the CIPD and HR Apprenticeship Programme since 2009 as an accredited CIPD Tutor and Internal Verifier. Natasia is fortunate to have worked with a number of credible Institutions developing, authoring and Internally Verifying content. In her spare time Natasia enjoys reading thrillers, running and HIT training!

Muriel Secker – Head of Curriculum and Development |IQA

Muriel is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD with 30 years experience in Training and Consulting within the NHS and Education Sector. She was the Course Director for CIPD Programmes at Westminster Kingsway College for 12 years and has a substantial following of ex-students who she has supported in their professional careers through her Careers Consultancy ‘We Grow Careers’. She is a Committee Member of the CIPD. Muriel enjoys reading Thrillers and looking after her 3 cats.

Andrea Young – Head of Quality and IQA

Andrea has a wide range of experience in education and learning and development, including design, development, delivery, assessment, and portfolio management of qualifications in the areas of HR, L&D, business and leadership. Andrea has a keen interest in learning technologies and is actively involved in blended, distance and digital learning. She is passionate about learner success and the transformation that educational attainment can bring about in the life of her learners, irrespective of their age or background. Andrea is also an experienced educational quality assurance manager with previous roles in quality assurance and accreditation for awarding organisations and training providers. Andrea is a Chartered Member of the CIPD, has a BA Hons in Business Studies, MA HRM, PGCE and is TAQA qualified.

Rekha Sojitra – Business Support

Rekha holds a BSc (Joint Honours) in Information Technology with Business Information Systems. She is friendly professional with a dependable reputation for managing complex projects and is recognised for her professional demeanor, commitment to learning and development, integrity, self-confidence with the ability to take initiative. Rekha is passionate about health and wellbeing and holds an ITEC Diploma in Reflexology. In her spare time, she loves to have fun and believes “Laughter is the best medicine”. Rekha likes participating in charitable events.

Muaaz Abid - Business Development Consultant

Muaaz is our Business Development Consultant and looks after business growth and partnership. Additionally, being a Associate CIPD himself, he advises on course levels and other queries. Having completed this masters in Human Resources and Organisations from London School of Economics, he displays a keen interest in people profession. We have always found him proactive, ambitious, and enthusiastic within the team.

Having worked as educational consultant and business development head in previous roles, he is an excellent resource for the company. We value his everyday contribution to our organisation!

Ben Burchett BA MA Chartered MCIPD - Tutor | Assessor

Ben has been working in the HR field for over 20 years and has worked in HR roles in both the UK and overseas. He has worked for both private and public sector organisations and has worked at both an operational and senior level. Ben is an HR generalist with experience working across the entire spectrum of HR activities. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Studies, a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Development and Consultancy and the Post Graduate Certificate in Personnel and Development from the CIPD. Ben has been teaching on CIPD courses for a number of years and is able to draw on his wealth of practical HR experience to make lessons and engaging and relevant for his learners.

Sapinder Birring - Tutor | Assessor

Sapinder is a dedicated HR Lecturer and has been teaching the CIPD Programme for many years she has over 18 years’ experience in the Education sector. Sapinder has experience of teaching CIPD Level 3 and 5. She has also taught on a range of different programmes ranging from Business, HR, Marketing to GCSE English and holds a PGCE and a MA in Education. In her spare-time she enjoys keeping fit and socialising with family and friends.

Giedre Skatikaite - Learner Support and Wellbeing Lead

Giedre has worked as admin support for charity organisation for over a decade. She is dedicated to providing Learners with support so that everything runs smoothly. She has great organisational skills and calm approach to solving problems.

Having worked in Well-being industry as Reflexologist for many years, Giedre is able to offer help with finding ease and balance in stressful daily life.

Giedre is happy to assist with any issues that may arise within learning journey at We-are-hr.

Ingrida Macenkiene - Learner Support/ Administration

Ingrida is an enthusiastic and dedicated HR professional with over 7 years experience in the Education Sector. Having worked for one of the largest Educational Trusts in the UK as a stand-alone HR Lead. She is able to offer a great deal of expertise in all aspects of HR as well as operations. She is dedicated to providing Learners with exceptional and unique support through streamlined systems and processes so that everything runs smoothly. She is passionate about well-being and self-care and is an amazing listener. Ingrida is happy to help with any queries that you may have!

Ashish Koladiya – Digital Marketing Executive

Meet our adept Digital Marketing Executive, a face behind our online presence! He holds MBA in Digital Marketing from the University of the West of Scotland. With a passion for staying ahead in the digital landscape, he brings a fresh perspective to our marketing efforts. At We-are-HR, he is responsible for managing the digital side of the marketing & business, more focused to implement new strategies.

Keith Watson – Tutor

Meet Keith, our seasoned HR professional and Fellow of CIPD, CMI, LPI, and ITOL. With global experience in Africa, the Middle East, South East Asia, and India, Keith brings a pragmatic approach and deep knowledge of Employment Law. As a skilled tutor in CIPD qualifications and a lay member of the Employment Tribunal, Keith is dedicated to community engagement, serving as a Board Member of the Welcoming Association Edinburgh.

Ryan Burton - Course Advisor

Meet Ryan! As an experienced Course Adviser and Student Support Coach, he knows that anyone can achieve their goals with the right support and mindset. He’s passionate about creating sales and marketing strategies that truly connect with customers. Ryan loves working with different teams to find creative solutions and believes in keeping things fun and approachable. What drives him every day is setting exciting goals and helping others achieve them!

Marco Van Dyk - Tutor

Marco is a highly experienced specialist in Training and Development, Coaching and Mentoring, with a strong background in curriculum writing and content creation. As a Lecturer in Human Resource Management within Higher Education and a former Course Director in Hospitality, Business, and Retail Management, he brings a wealth of academic expertise. His career is further enriched by senior-level industry experience as a Restaurant Manager and Management Trainer in the licensed and hospitality sectors. Marco combines contemporary knowledge in Operational Management, Human Resource Management, and Training and Development, making him an invaluable asset to our team.

Mary Saakian - Tutor

Mary brings over 10 years of experience in Human Resource Management across both non-profit and private organisations. Her expertise spans recruitment, talent planning, learning and development, and strategic HR initiatives. A dedicated Associate CIPD member, Mary holds a First Class B.A. in Human Resource Management, showcasing her academic excellence. With a strong foundation in HR best practices and a passion for people development, Mary is a key contributor to our team’s success.

Idris Ashard - Tutor

Idris is a passionate HR leader with a strong focus on the charity sector, where he champions the critical role HR plays in supporting the people charities serve. Alongside his current role as a lecturer for HR and CIPD students, Idris is a regular contributor to media discussions on HR trends and issues. He has a proven track record of coaching leaders to improve frontline services, ensuring they meet the needs of those in need. As a chair of EDI committees, Idris has successfully increased workforce diversity and enhanced wellbeing cultures, making him an influential figure in driving positive change.