Our Team

Our team works across projects for Pickle Jar Communications, bringing a wealth of expertise and experience together. They also all support the development, planning and delivery of ContentEd Conference.

Tracy Playle, Founder of Pickle Jar Communications

Tracy Playle

CEO 

Tracy set up Pickle Jar Communications in 2007 to share the power of social media and strategic communications with the education sector. She specialises in content strategy and developing creative content concepts, and has spoken at conferences all over the world.

Ellie

Ellie Lovell

Head of Strategy

When it comes to strategy development, Ellie has a wealth of experience. With insight into journalism, web management and online community management for large organisations, Ellie is well versed in everything digital from strategy to implementation.

Robert

Robert “Pez” Perry

Head of Research

Robert leads a number of research and insights projects at Pickle Jar Communications and is our specialist on providing meaningful insights. He also leads many content strategy and social media planning projects, along with community management work.

John Hill

Head of Content

A former journalist with more than ten years of newsdesk experience up and down the country, John has since branched out to explore the potential of telling stories with audio, video and social technologies. John leads on content creation for Pickle Jar.

Rachel Smith sitting in an orange chair at a desk

Rachel Smith

Senior Content Strategist

Rachel is experienced in delivering digital campaigns. She leads on content strategy projects and works with our retained clients to deliver engaging and compelling communications. Rachel also has experience working in-house at universities as well in an agency.

A professional headshot of Simon Fairbanks

Simon Fairbanks

Senior Content Strategist

Simon brings years of higher education experience to the team, having worked on four different campuses in a variety of recruitment and marketing roles. As a writer, Simon is particularly interested in storytelling, and how content strategy can deliver clients’ stories with greater impact.

A selfie of Linda Jameson

Linda Jameson

Senior Content Strategist

Linda takes a leading role on content strategy, IA and content modelling, as well as strategic and practical workshops and supports ongoing client projects. She previously worked for Newcastle University where she led a number of cross-disciplinary web projects and campaigns.

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Rosie Wowk

Content Strategist

Rosie excels at content planning, and making sure exciting ideas get beyond the daunting “draft” stage. Rosie works across a range of content strategy and social media planning projects, as well as content creation and community management. She project manages ContentEd, too!

Louise Shaw

Research Analyst

Working closely with our Head of Research, Louise assists on all research activities, including planning and analysis, creating influencer maps and interpreting data. She also manages our social media and editorial calendar. Louise graduated from Newcastle University in 2017.

Scout

Scout

Head of Security

Scout has been with Pickle Jar for four years. She is full of ambition (stealing food off high shelves), energy (charging off after tennis balls) and has solid communication skills (begging for cheese). Often found lurking near someone’s lunch or emptying bins.

Isla, a golden retriever dog, wearing a red tartan bow-tie with her paws on a wooden desk

Isla

Chief Barketing Officer

Although in the early stages of her career, Isla has come on leaps and bounds since working at Pickle Jar. Isla’s an expert at chasing birds and aims to leave no passerby undetected. When not providing stress relief, she can be found napping in Scout’s basket, dreaming of her next meal.

Lola the dog lays facing the camera in front of a wall with a brown small football.

Lola

Remote Head of Wellbeing

Lola works in Sutton Coldfield with our Head of Strategy, Ellie. As remote Head of Wellbeing, she ensures that break times are adhered to and that exercise is taken daily. Like Scout, Lola’s role includes office and domestic security, ensuring squirrels do not impact the working environment.