Our Team

Our Team

 

Management

Patience B., Service Manager

Patience joined Autus as an Administrative volunteer in 2019 bringing with her over 25 years experience in supporting businesses in admin and project management areas across multiple industries. Now as Service Manager she utilises those skills in the day to day running of Autus with the team.

Favourite parts of the job:
"Working with people who are enthusiastic about their roles and being able to identify the needs and outcomes of a task then bringing those elements together so that the business can run both productively and efficiently."
 
Hobbies:
"I like to think eating could be a hobby, which usually involves me cooking or baking. I am also interested in the history of food and enjoy being creative and working with my hands."

 

James B., Technical and Projects Officer

James first got involved with Autus after being directed to their 'videogame design course' by the job centre back in 2014.  It turned out there had been a misunderstanding of just what 'virtual teaching environment' meant, but having enjoyed the employability course nonetheless he went on to do work experience with the IT team at Hao2.eu Ltd before becoming a volunteer for Autus.  Currently his role involves supporting new participants and managing the technical side of Autus, including the website and virtual world.

Favourite parts of the job:
"The written element!  It might seem a bit boring but as an English graduate I really do enjoy getting to tinker with the text being put up on the website and so forth.  Well, that and the technical side of things; the workings of a virtual world are absolutely fascinating."
 
Hobbies:
"Computer games.  I know that sounds a bit silly, but besides playing them I enjoy following the industry as a pastime and sharing my experiences and thoughts with friends and anyone else will put up with it.  I also enjoy reading and writing."

 

Training

Andrea A, Session Leader

Andrea joined Autus in 2018. She is an experienced content creator and has been teaching 3D design for virtual worlds since 2015. As a session leader, she focuses on smart and modern 3D content creation with both inworld and external tools and LSL scripting. Her goal is to make recent 3D content creation tools available to the learners, not only to increase their ability to form their virtual world but also to help them understand the general basics of game development.

Favourite part of the job:
“These moments when the learners confidently use their building skills to express themselves by creating something unique and exciting, either as a standalone piece of art or as part of a team project. Step by step, they make both worlds a better place.”
 
Hobbies:
“Dogs, horses and Oriental dance. Most of my other hobbies became my profession in one or another way.”

 

Andrea (Jaminda), Session Leader

Andrea has a wide and varied background of working with visual images in 3D sim programs and other online platforms. She joined Autus as a volunteer and now works on our social media pages, keeping everyone up to date with programmes and activities at Autus. She will be running the new programme DISCOVERY! starting in September, using images as a way of exploring who you are.

Favourite part of the job:
“Seeing our learners increase in their confidence and make those important moves to achieve their goals.”
 
Hobbies:
“Art exhibitions, museums and history in general. Music live and otherwise.”

 

Helene (Kitty), Senior Session Leader

Helene (Kitty) joins Autus with over 20 years experience in Virtual Worlds. As session leader, Kitty develops and implements programs designed to enhance the virutal users experience and improve their knowledge base, while also improviing interactive and social skills. The core of these sessions aim to help the learner gain confidence in their abilities to be independent.

Favourite part of the job:
“Sharing the excitement of a completed project with my learners.”
 
Hobbies:
“Competition cooking, photography, hiking, and growing vegetables.”

 

Ross, Session Leader and In-House Builder

Ross is a multi-disciplinary artist, musician and qualified teacher who has worked with Autus and its affiliates in a variety of capacities. He has experience with both formal and informal educational settings having developed successful technology-based courses for a wide age range, as well as providing pastoral care within a thriving modern school and as a former member of the Hampshire Youth Services. Ross also works in a freelance capacity on commissioned 3D design work for virtual worlds.

Favourite part of the job:
“I am looking forward to working with new learners as a Session Leader and utilizing my creative and technical skills to support them on their journey.”
 
Hobbies:
“My passions include 2D and 3D art, photography, music composition and furthering my own studies across many areas.”

 

H C., Support

While they were doing an internship with Autus, H worked on various projects including Connect4D, CareerTech and Social Job Club. They also supervised volunteers when they were in the office. They also did some work independently, and some work supporting Kitty with running projects.

Favourite parts of the job:
"I enjoy working with Autus because of the great team, great environment and mission I believe in."
 
Hobbies:
"In my spare time, I enjoy reading (mainly fantasy and sci-fi) and playing dungeons & dragons. I am a cat person."

 

Volunteers

If you would like to donate some of your time to help us, then please see our Support Us page, or contact us at info@autus.org.uk or by phoning 07432 300287