Julie Coombes joined the British Science Association as our new Head of Marketing and Communications in March 2025, and has spent the past couple of months getting up to speed on all things BSA.

Julie has worked in the higher education sector for many years, so she is fairly new to the science engagement space. We caught up with her to find out more about what attracted her to the role and what she likes to do outside of work. 

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Can you tell us a bit about yourself – what is your background?

My career has mostly focused on marketing and communications for higher education, working at the University of Southampton, London College of Fashion, Edinburgh College of Art and most recently at London College of Communication, UAL. Education is something I’m really passionate about, especially as I’m the first person in my family to go to university. I know it’s often said, but education really is transformational. It can have a huge impact on individuals – it certainly did on me. I’m a big believer in widening participation and outreach and providing opportunities. Education is a privilege - ideally it shouldn’t be, but in reality, unfortunately I think it still is.

After working in education for many years, I wanted to try something different and worked at a national drug and alcohol charity and then briefly in the NHS. Everyone thought it was a big switch, but I actually found a lot of synergy in the work.

Over time, my remit has really broadened. Marketing, communications and PR have always been the core part of my work but I’ve also worked in development, events and exhibitions, content, digital, and mentoring programmes too.

I never had a formal career plan and it feels like it just evolved naturally. I’m ambitious in my work rather than my career path – I’ve always wanted to do good work, with good people, for good organisations. Which is what led me to the British Science Association.

What drives you in your work?

What’s driven me is loving the work – I love storytelling. I’ve stayed in marketing and communications within charity and the non-profit sector because I believe in the organisations.

I’ve always wanted to work somewhere where I believe in the “product,” whatever that is. It has to be something I find ethically strong. I’ve loved working with charities, in education, and with the NHS. You work with people who genuinely care about what they do. There’s a passion and a sense of purpose that creates a unique atmosphere. It’s not soulless - people care. And I love that.

I want to build good teams and work with people who are passionate about what they do. I’ve always found that I work better with others. My ideas are stronger when they’re shaped in collaboration.

What drew you to the British Science Association?

I think I’m quite intuitive and this just felt really right and the right move.

When I was doing my research, I ended up doing a deep dive on content. The more I found out about the British Science Association and its varied programmes - it just felt like, “Yes, this is somewhere I’d absolutely love to work.”

What does EDI mean to you?

The main thing for me is about recognising and celebrating difference and giving access to opportunities. Also, I think on a personal level, for me, it’s been about doing work to understand my own privilege.

When I took on the role at LCC as the senior lead and co-chair of EDI, it’s something I felt so strongly and passionate about but I was also a bit nervous that I might get something wrong. It doesn’t mean you should let that fear stop you from getting involved and learning more. For me, it’s using your lived experience, being an active ally, doing the work and also being open.

Sometimes we put too much weight on individuals. I’ve been in that situation, where I’ve literally been the only woman - the only senior woman in a room. I don’t want to be the tokenistic figure. I don’t want to have to be the voice for all women, but I also recognise that, actually, if I’m the only woman in that room, I do need to be able to use my voice, to speak up, and to challenge.

I think, certainly from a professional perspective - but also from a life perspective - it’s important to ensure there are different voices in the room. Because, actually, there’s some stuff that I won’t have a line of sight on or I won’t inherently understand because I haven’t got that lived experience. So, for me, EDI is also very much about taking on personal responsibility - it’s my job to educate myself about other people's life experiences, other people's viewpoints. Because I will be better for it. I will do better work because of it.

Is there something you're really passionate about that's completely separate from work?

I’m obsessed with my cat Bryan. He’s a rescue cat, a big personality and I absolutely adore him.

I’m really into gardening and we’re lucky enough to have a garden, and our own veg patch. I love being outdoors, and there’s something so grounding about getting your hands in the dirt.

One of the other reasons I do it is secretly trying to get the kids interested in eating more vegetables, so we always grow unusual things like cucamelons, purple carrots, and ghost pumpkins. It’s so fun and rewarding, though I never feel like I get enough time for it.

I love being outdoors in general. We live in a beautiful area near a nature reserve and by the river. Being near water is so important for me—it’s really good for my soul.

And I’ve been a lifelong fan of RuPaul’s Drag Race from the very first episode. It’s my guilty pleasure and the only reality TV I really watch.

I also adore going to museums. Before I had kids, I’d love visiting them alone so I could take my time, dive into the details of exhibits, and really enjoy them. Now it’s a bit more of a balancing act with the kids, but if I choose carefully then they get into it as well.

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