Toni Beardon
Toni has taught in schools and universities in the UK, USA and South Africa in a career spanning 60 years. As a school teacher, teacher trainer, project leader, web author, school inspector and innovator, Toni’s aim has always been to help others to enjoy learning mathematics and to appreciate both its usefulness and its beauty.
At Cambridge University in 1987 Toni set up a new postgraduate teacher training programme and student community service programme. In 1996 she founded the NRICH Online Mathematics Club and other online projects that became the Cambridge University Millennium Mathematics Programme www.mmp.maths.org. In 2003 she was awarded an OBE for services to Mathematics Education in the UK and she founded the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences School Enrichment Centre (AIMSSEC www.aimssec.aims.ac.za ). AIMSSEC’s objectives are to empower teachers from schools in disadvantaged communities to give children a better education and better opportunities in life.
Toni and her husband, a retired Cambridge Mathematics Professor, share a passionate interest in teaching, in human rights and in mathematics, and both work as volunteers. They have four children and six grandchildren.
Caroline Ainslie
Caroline is an electronic engineer who changed careers mid-life to become a mathematical entertainer. Her career change was born out of a burning desire to help children who struggle with maths as she had the same experience as a child and was able to overcome it. She is an award winning performer and Guinness World Records title holder and she has delivered her Bubbly Maths shows and workshops on four continents for over 300,000 children and teachers.
Caroline founded Bubbly Maths www.bubblymaths.co.uk in 2005 and has been a strong supporter of AIMSSEC since 2009. In her endeavours to reach as many children as possible and raise funds for AIMSSEC, Caroline has made several attempts at a Guinness World Records title, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and co-hosted the Global Maths and Science lesson since 2015. Caroline’s mission in life is that every child on Earth should love learning and enjoy mathematics.
Caroline is a maths enthusiast with a particular interest in education and ensuring that early years learners start with their maths fundamentals in place. She cares deeply about children and their wellbeing and has four adopted Grandchildren in addition to her many beloved nieces and nephews.
Taylor Drayson
Taylor has been building websites since 2015. In school, he enjoyed maths and problem solving this passion grew as he got older. Taylor now runs a successful Digital Agency called The Creative Tinker where he helps busy business owners build an online presence.
