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.”
Eddie Alleyn
National Security Advisor
With 35 years of public service in the UK, Eddie has held senior positions in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the Cabinet Office, and the Ministry of Defence.
He was Chair and CEO of HMGCC, the engineering specialists at the heart of the UK’s national security. Eddie applies his sectoral knowledge and experience through several non-executive and advisory roles, helping innovative British deep tech companies from startup to scale-up, with a particular emphasis on the defence and security sectors.
What does Realising potential mean to me? “I spent my first career in public service, focused on maximising my own and my colleagues’ potential to have a real-world impact by protecting and advancing the UK’s national security. I am now just as keen to help great British start-ups and scale-ups be as successful as they possibly can be for their clients, employees, shareholders, and other stakeholders. I strongly believe in the astonishing power of values — and mission-aligned, high-trust teams to outperform their competitors.”
Rob Smart
Head of Engineering
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
Head of Delivery
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.”
Chad Bond
Director of Strategy & 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.”
Steve West
Secure Government & Critical Infrastructure Director
Steve is a technologist with a career that spans both private and public sectors. After a long and varied stint at IBM, Steve then spent over 10 years working within national security with a focus on modern architectures and emerging technologies.
He held a CTO position with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and was a founding member of the National Security Strategic Investment Fund, which invests in UK tech companies and brings emerging technologies into national security. Steve is passionate about introducing innovative new ideas, approaches and methods to challenge long-held norms and leverage cutting edge technology.
“What does realising potential mean to me? Creating the conditions for people to realise their individual potential, to build teams that are greater than the sum of their parts, and to collaborate and innovate to keep the country safe, taking pride in our achievements that strengthen national resilience and protect our shared future.”
