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
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 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 “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.
Rich Endean
Senior Design Consultant
Working with our Head of Content, Rich takes the lead on all things visual for Pickle Jar including print design, social media creative, video and motion graphics. Rich brings to the mix 18 years agency experience working for a range of clients in both the public and private sectors across the UK & further afield.

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.

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.

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
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.

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.
Elvis
Head of Barketing
Elvis joined the team with a number of office-working years under his belt and a proven track record of stealing the sofa when he thinks no-one is looking. A dab hand at social media, Elvis boasts a solid following and is often recognised while paw-trolling the streets of Newcastle.