Governance (ID 1017)

• Sarah Newman,
  Community Governor
  Sarah Newman,

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  Sarah Newman is a communications and PR professional with nearly 25 years of experience, much of it in the education sector. As Associate Director of PR at the London & South East Education Group, she leads media relations, reputation management and crisis communications, helping to shape impactful strategies across digital and traditional platforms.

  Sarah has a strong background in stakeholder engagement, speechwriting and thought leadership, having worked closely with the Department for Education, local authorities, and policymakers. Passionate about education and community engagement, she brings her expertise in strategic communications to support BTA's vision and mission.

• Pavan Polavaram
  Chair of Governors
  Pavan Polavaram

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  Pavan is a seasoned expert in the financial services industry, bringing over 20 years of experience across payments, banking, fintech, and regulatory technology. Currently serving as a Senior Consultant in Solution Management, Pavan leads product strategy and go-to-market execution for global payments solutions and partner integrations.

  Throughout his career, Pavan has held senior roles at major banks and financial institutions, with a strong focus on real-time payments, open banking, compliance, and digital transformation. He is known for his ability to build scalable and secure payment ecosystems, often collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver complex solutions in fast-paced, regulated environments.

  With an academic foundation in engineering and management, Pavan continues to stay at the forefront of industry innovation through ongoing professional development in fintech and emerging banking technologies.