Meet the team
Aingaran Pillai
Founder and CEO
Aingaran has helped public sector organisations improve their digital capabilities for over two decades. Since founding Zaizi in 2007, he’s collaborated with the Home Office, Ministry of Justice, and Department for Education amongst many others. He’s passionate about helping government organisations harness digital services and capabilities to make the UK the best place to live and work.
What does realising potential mean to me? “As a software engineer who has worked for the government and suppliers, I founded Zaizi to fulfil my own potential. Having built a great team that has delivered real impact, we want to realise their potential further by scaling the organisation. Ultimately, how can we have a significant positive impact on the UK through the great work we do and help realise the potential of our citizens? I believe passionate people with a purpose can!”
Andrew Hawkins
Chief Revenue Officer
For more than 15 years, Andrew’s been dedicated to supporting public sector organisations on their digital journeys. He’s collaborated with both central and local government and facilitated the development of exceptional services that improve people’s daily lives.
Realising Potential: “For me, realising potential is about helping create the environment in which people can understand their talents, explore their dreams and ambitions and lead full, healthy and positive lives.”
Tracey Robinson
Chief People Officer
Tracey attracts and retains talent at Zaizi. She’s been at the company since 2013, making her one of the longest-serving staff members. Her passion is promoting the company culture and making it an inclusive, modern and friendly workplace.
What does realising potential mean to me? “Establishing a great culture and close-knit community of people who work hard but also play hard. We’re keen to fill the technology skills gap by utilising our experts to hire and nurture graduates.”
Tracy Westall
Non-Executive Director
With over 30 years of experience in the digital and technology sector, Tracy is a non-executive director for several private and public sector organisations, including Department for Transport. She’s passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion and has been recognised by Computer Weekly’s most influential women in UK tech list for five consecutive years.
What does realising potential mean to me? “Realising potential together means opportunity for our team, our clients, our business, and the public — basically everyone. When we unlock our power, anything is possible.”
Anthony Enright
Non-Executive Director
Antony is an entrepreneur, company director, and non-executive director with over 25 years of experience as a founder, coach, NED and chair working with SMEs. His expertise lies in helping organisations grow and scale by developing effective strategies and execution plans that prioritise people.
What does realising potential mean to me? “Our responsibility is to create a safe environment where everyone can face their fears and insecurities and reach their full potential. When we achieve this, we create something truly special. As Margaret Mead once said, a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. At Zaizi, we have the potential to do just that.”
Clayton Smith
Club Executive
Clayton has nearly two decades of experience in delivery, including implementing user-centred products and services for government organisations. He has worked for the Home Office (including Border Force), Cabinet Office, GDS, and MoJ.
An MPLA graduate, Clayton’s direct involvement with senior leaders and ministers across various government departments has given him a deep understanding and a track record of delivering complex and impactful public services.
What does realising potential mean to me? “I’m passionate about fostering a people-first culture that embraces diversity and inclusivity, enabling teams and clients to reach their full potential and deliver exceptional products and services.”
Rob Smart
Principal Solutions Architect
Rob has a background of over 20 years in the IT industry successfully designing and implementing services to support operationally complex programmes of work across both public and private sector organisations.
Prior to joining Zaizi Rob was the Lead Solutions Architect for Census 2021 helping ONS to design and deliver the cloud based platform, supporting services and supplier integrations.
What does realising potential mean to me? ‘‘Building partnerships that enable government to achieve its digital ambitions and deliver better outcomes for the public.”
Nicola Peckham
Head of Product
Nikki has worked in product management for 13 years and has 16 years experience working for the civil service, including the Met Office, Veterinary Medicines Department, Home Office and other government departments.
She has developed and managed large public facing websites and apps, including the award-winning Met Office mobile weather app and has led the digital transformation of several large, complex paper-based systems, as well as coaching multiple aspiring Product Managers.
What does realising potential mean to me? “I’m passionate about instilling a strong user focus and agile mindset to product development, ensuring we are constantly learning and adding value to end users.”
Jaie Samson
Principal Delivery Manager
Jaie has been with Zaizi for 18 months and is a qualified personal and business coach, driving continuous improvement in project delivery. With hands-on experience managing a major project contract for the Home Office, Jaie is passionate about fostering excellence and innovation in every aspect of delivery.
Before joining Zaizi, Jaie spent 14 years as a Civil Servant, holding key roles in central government organisations, including Lead Delivery Manager at the Office of the Public Guardian (Ministry of Justice) and Delivery Manager at Parliamentary Digital Services.
What does realising potential mean to me? “It means crafting an environment where I, and those around me, can achieve more than what may initially seem possible. It’s about uncovering hidden capabilities, fostering growth, and empowering others to take bold steps toward their goals and visions. For me, it’s a blend of self-discovery and collective achievement, celebrating and learning every step of the way.”
Adam Kilsby
Principal Consultant
Adam’s been involved in security and defence work for much of his career. His background includes operational deployments with the RAF, stints building missiles, securing embassies overseas, and leading successful digital transformation projects in secure environments.
What does realising potential mean to me? “Passionate about improving the working lives of professionals in the sector, Adams wants to see the full potential of our national security apparatus used to counter threats and give the UK a competitive advantage.”
Derek Hulley
Principal Solutions Architect
For more than two decades, Derek has been at the forefront of developing, designing, and assisting teams in creating exceptional software. With experience as a developer, solution architect, and product owner, he’s honed his skills and developed a passion for Agile software practices and ways of thinking.
What does realising potential mean to me? “A job becomes a life experience when the meaning behind the work is revealed. Realising potential involves helping team members recognise the value of their contributions and how they fit into the bigger picture.”
Toni Levene
Head of Product
Toni helps teams and organisations to create products and services that put people at the forefront. For over a decade, she has helped organisations to design and implement strategies that are centred around the outcomes they are trying to achieve. She is passionate about helping teams to find the best solutions to problems that will improve people’s lives.
What does realising potential mean to me? “It means creating the conditions for individuals and teams to thrive, be motivated and excited about what they do.”
Hazel Doyle
Agile Team Coach
Hazel has nearly 20 years experience in Project Management. During this time she has worked in the private and public sector, in a variety of industries, with teams in the UK, India and the US. Hazel has broad experience with a wide variety of project management approaches, including both traditional and agile frameworks.
What does realising potential mean to me? “Creating the environment for people to be part of a high performing team, so Zaizi can deliver value and quality to our clients”.
Chad Bond
Director of Strategy and Innovation
Chad has been driving change for more than two decades in digital service delivery, including implementing national programs for government organisations. He has worked for the Department for Work & Pensions, Tony Blair Institute of Global Change, Cabinet Office Central Digital & Data Office, GDS, and New Scotland Yard.
An MBA and Harvard graduate, Chad’s worked with Heads of State and ministers across various government departments in the UK, Africa, Eastern Europe and South East Asia to deliver best in class digital services touching more than 22m users in the UK and saving the UK government c. £2.3bn through better approaches to technology.
What does realising potential mean to me? “I’m passionate about enabling a one team mentality and inclusive culture where the products we deliver together are of gold standard in meeting the needs of the customer.
Christine Thompson
Organisational and Agile Coach
Christine helps individuals, teams and organisations become the best versions of themselves. She builds people’s capabilities, coaches teams to success and guides organisations towards positive outcomes
What does realising potential mean to me? “I believe people are inherently creative and resourceful. For me, realising potential is about creating an environment where people can access the resources they need to become their best selves.”
Selena Cooper
Business Development Lead
Selena is a seasoned business development leader with extensive experience in driving growth within the public sector, technology, and telecoms industries.
Selena has joined Zaizi, where she is responsible for developing and executing the business development strategy at Zaizi, where she focuses on the UK Border Security and Central Government sectors. With a track record of success in leading teams and driving customer-centric strategies, Selena excels in cultivating high-value partnerships and new business opportunities.
What does realising potential mean to me? “It’s all about ensuring that we deliver our services to citizens to ensure that we provide outcomes that lead to making every citizens life better.”
