Apprentice of the Year

Jessica Weavers-Medina is Operations Manager for the Nuffield Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford, leading operational and financial planning, governance, project delivery, and staff management to support world-leading medical research and education. She began her career at Oxford in 2016 in administrative roles after leaving formal education at 16 and has since progressed into senior operations leadership within a complex, highly regulated academic environment.

Alongside her role, Jessica is an External Governor at Abingdon and Witney College and holds elected and appointed positions at Oxford, including serving as the University’s first Transgender Representative and co-leading its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Community of Practice. She completed a Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship, graduating with First-Class Honours and a Distinction at End Point Assessment, and has been recognised with multiple institutional and regional awards, including Higher Apprentice of the Year.

Dr Hannah Bolt, MBA, is Head of Peptide Discovery at AstraZeneca. Hannah is an emerging leader in the peptide pharmaceutical field, with >10 years’ experience in peptide drug discovery and has delivered several peptide candidates that are now moving through clinical phases of development. Hannah champions scientific excellence as a sponsor for the adoption of disruptive and emerging technologies, is an active member of the external chemistry community and a passionate STEM ambassador, mentoring the next generation of scientists.

Karen Morales is a seasoned leader at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust with over 20 years’ experience in management, organisational development, and estates. She is passionate about improving outcomes for patients and colleagues through innovation, digital engagement, and a “team-first” approach. Karen has led high-impact initiatives such as the Trust-wide What Matters 2024 programme, engaging over 4,600 staff to embed CARE values, and the Up the Anti campaign, training more than 240 Equity Advocates to tackle discrimination. Her work has earned national recognition and positioned her as the first non-clinical face of the Trust’s Strategy campaign.

With a global perspective shaped by experience in the Spanish military and work across the USA, France, and South America, Karen champions resilience, equity, and inclusive leadership. She is a certified MBTI practitioner and achieved the highest-ever score for a CMDA dissertation at Henley Business School, focusing on digital feedback mechanisms to drive organisational efficiency. Karen is dedicated to empowering underrepresented teams and using her expertise to create meaningful, future-focused change within the NHS.

Adam James CMgr FCMI is a Senior Consultancy & Specialised Proposition Manager at PHOENIX UK, where he leads national strategic programmes supporting community pharmacy and improving patient outcomes. With over 20 years’ industry experience, Adam completed a management degree apprenticeship with the Open University, achieving a 2:1 degree and a distinction at end-point assessment.