Miranda Thomas appointed Executive Director of ESBF

Experienced education leader Miranda Thomas has joined Engineers and Scientists in Business Fellowship (ESBF) in the newly created role of Executive Director.

Miranda joins ESBF – the leading charity promoting business education for engineers and scientists – with over 20 years’ experience in higher education.

Each year, ESBF awards £800,000+ in Sainsbury Management Fellows scholarships to talented and committed individuals to study for an MBA at the world’s leading business schools. The charity is supported by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation and works closely with deliver partners: the Royal Academy of Engineering and the National Physical Laboratory.

The charity also partners with more than 50 UK universities to sponsor enterprise competitions to give engineering and science students an early insight into the world of entrepreneurship.

Miranda’s previous roles include Director of the Chevening Secretariat at the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), leading a team of 50 to deliver the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) flagship scholarship and fellowship awards programme which brings around 1400 scholars from 140 countries to study at UK universities each year.

She has also led teams to deliver the FCDO’s Commonwealth scholarships and fellowships programme and the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships. While at the ACU she was central to the development of The King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme which were launched by His Majesty King Charles III at the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting in 2024.

With a background in public relations and external affairs, Miranda is familiar with the business education landscape, having worked with a variety of business schools and affiliated organisations.

Miranda’s new role replaces that of retiring Director of Communications Cathy Breeze, who has led the charity, overseeing significant growth, for the last 30 years. Miranda will oversee all aspects the charity’s strategic operations including its scholarship programmes, enterprise competitions, alumni relations and fundraising activities.

Launched by Lord Sainsbury of Turville in 1987 to encourage engineers to progress to the boardroom, the programme has seen more than 400 individuals transform their careers through such scholarships – forming an unparalleled network of likeminded leaders, executives and entrepreneurs. Recently, this scheme was expanded to support scientists as well as engineers.

On her appointment, Miranda said:

“I’m absolutely delighted to be joining the ESBF community. I’ve already been inspired by the ideas, energy and ingenuity of the young people ESBF supports. The collective success of the Sainsbury Management Fellows demonstrates what happens when people with technical skills, imagination and drive gain access to world-class business education. I look forward to working closely with the Charity’s trustees, Fellows and partners to further grow the organisation’s impact.”

David Falzani MBE, President of ESBF, welcomed Miranda to the organisation, saying:

“Miranda brings to ESBF a deep passion for business education, strong leadership experience and a proven track-record of driving growth and excellence in the education and professional development sector. In her new role, she will lead ESBF’s next chapter, overseeing strategy, partnerships and programme delivery to amplify the charity’s mission of empowering technical talent to become business leaders.”