MEET THE TEAM

Tracy Pritchard

Director of Academic Excellence

Tracy leads academic initiatives across Further Education, Higher Education, postgraduate, and online learners. Prior to this, she held senior and leadership roles at Falmouth University and the University of South Wales. With a professional background in fashion design, Tracy brings extensive expertise in industry practice and 24 years of higher education experience to the role, and is a recognised subject specialist in fashion.

Tracy is dedicated to embedding principles of sustainability, equality, diversity, and inclusion into curriculum development and delivery, and has led numerous institutional projects throughout her career. She is the author of A Year in the Life of an Academic and in 2016 designed and launched the ‘Module Planning Tool’, a key financial planning resource.

Tracy is Chair of the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications, a member of the Education Committee at the International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes, and has served as an external examiner for 22 BA and MA fashion programs across the UK and Europe. Tracy completed the Advance HE Deans Development Programme and is a Principal Fellow of Advanced HE (formerly HEA).

Mark O’Connor

Head of Higher Education

Mark leads the Higher Education department at the Fashion Retail Academy, overseeing three BA (Hons) programs in Marketing & Communications, Buying & Merchandising, and Fashion Business, while actively developing new courses.

With over a decade in higher education, Mark has taught and managed courses in Branding and Communications, including roles as Programme Director for undergraduate and postgraduate programs at the University for the Creative Arts. His previous industry experience includes positions as Fashion Director at the Daily Express and Deputy Fashion Editor at FHM, as well as consulting for top brands like Nike, Next and Marks & Spencer.

Mark holds a PGCert and MA, is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE, and was recently an external examiner at Birmingham City University. He is keen to pursue a PhD focused on the future of consumer marketing, retail, and brand communication.

Claire Stacey

Course Leader

BA (Hons) Buying & Merchandising

Claire leads the BA (Hons) Buying & Merchandising program, bringing her extensive industry experience from roles like Merchandising Director at major retailers including Arcadia and House of Fraser to the Fashion Retail Academy.

Since joining the Academy in 2021, Claire has delivered content across buying disciplines, including Trading, Range Building, and Sourcing, helping to propel dozens of graduates into careers within Buying & Merchandising.

A graduate of Central St. Martins, she also holds a Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training and is currently completing her PGCert. Claire’s interests include consulting for small businesses and exploring external examiner roles.

Dr. Katrin Franke

Acting Course Leader, Year 2 Lead

BA (Hons) Marketing and Communications for Fashion

Kat is an expert in marketing science and brand loyalty modelling, collaborating with the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute to publish insights for top brands like Google and Unilever.

Before joining the Fashion Retail Academy, she directed programs at London South Bank University and led an international business seminar in Hamburg.

Kat holds a PhD in behavioural brand loyalty, an MSc in International Marketing, and is a Certified Digital Marketer.

Paul Ward

Senior Lecturer

Fashion Business

Paul specialises in Management, Leadership, and Business Strategy, drawing on 30 years in retail operations, including as Operations Director overseeing 80 stores.

He co-founded The Retail Solutions Partnership, providing consultancy services across training, HR, and recruitment.

Paul holds an MBA from the Open University and a Professional Diploma in Management.

Howard Wilmot

Lecturer

Brand and Digital Marketing

Howard lectures across Fashion Business degrees, bringing his expertise to the brand and digital marketing modules.

A creative entrepreneur, he founded two digital agencies, working with clients like 20th Century Fox and Sony Music, and co-founded First, a women's news magazine.

Currently pursuing his Certificate in Higher Education at Manchester Metropolitan University, Howard also works on an eldertech solution and an entertainment franchise.

Sophie Polkinghorne

Lecturer

Buying & Merchandising

With a background as a Buyer for Ted Baker, Sophie has experience across menswear, womenswear, accessories, and footwear, covering all aspects of omni-channel retailing.

Sophie joined the Fashion Retail Academy from a teaching role in secondary education and sixth-form colleges, and is currently pursuing a PGCE in Higher Education. She also holds a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Film Studies.

Luke Tubbs

Lecturer

Fashion Communication & Styling

With a strong foundation in fashion photography, Luke’s career began at Rankin Ltd. and HUNGER magazine as a Creative Assistant, where he worked on major campaigns for brands like Coco de Mer, L’Oréal, and Mazda. His professional experience extends to retail, including visual merchandising and personal styling roles with COS.

As a fashion image-maker, Luke's work has been showcased in respected publications like METAL, them., Attitude, and HUNGER.tv. He is dedicated to nurturing emerging talent, actively supporting collaboration between young designers and image-makers to foster innovation in the industry.

Luke has spent the past three years in higher education, notably contributing to the BA (Hons) Fashion Photography course at Bath Spa University. His research focuses on the semiotics of identity, investigating how visual and stylistic choices shape audience perceptions and influence the construction of identity. This exploration encourages new perspectives on how identity is portrayed and interpreted within image-making.

Trudie Le Marie

Lecturer

Fashion Communication & Styling

Trudie is an accomplished fashion stylist with over 25 years in the industry. She began her career in publishing, rising from Fashion Assistant to Fashion Editor at the Sunday Express.

Transitioning to freelance styling, she expanded her work to include diverse publications and brands, allowing her to style across womenswear, menswear, and childrenswear for editorial, advertorial, celebrity, and e-commerce projects.

Her client list includes prominent names such as Boden, TU, F+F, ASOS, Topshop, Crew Clothing, John Lewis, Nintendo, Amazon, and many others. In her teaching role, Trudie is dedicated to inspiring emerging creatives, guiding them to develop their unique styling voice and vision.

Francesca Castellano

Lecturer and Year 1 Lead

Fashion Marketing & Communications 

Francesca is a dynamic and innovative educator and industry professional with 11 years of professional experience as a fashion designer, brand consultant, social media strategist and entrepreneur, combined with four years of mentoring and teaching.

Francesca holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and management from the University of Aldo Moro, Bari, as well as a BA in Fashion Design and Marketing from ESMOD Berlin, with a specialisation in Brand Management and Marketing Strategy. She has further distinguished herself through numerous awards, including ‘Tomorrow’s Talent’ by The Prince’s Trust and the ‘London Made Me’ project supported by the Mayor of London.

Her extensive teaching experience includes partnerships with renowned institutions such as Istituto Marangoni Milano, Polimoda Firenze, and NABA Milano, where she has delivered tailored programs in social media marketing, brand strategy, and fashion design.

Jason Henry

Digital Technician 

With over eight years of experience in the field, Jason helps students enhance their portfolios, dissertations, and other printed work through precise, professional techniques to advance their creative and academic journeys. Jason's mentorship extends beyond technical skills, offering valuable guidance in marketing communications and online marketing to further equip students for the professional world.

Previously at the London College of Communication, Jason played a key role in ensuring the highest standards of digital print production and colour management across a wide range of academic materials.

In addition to his technical expertise, Jason is a Fellow of Advance HE, reflecting his dedication to mentoring the next generation of creatives and ensuring students gain a deeper understanding of the processes behind high-quality print materials. He is responsible for leading several initiatives designed to enhance the student experience to promote engagement and creative exploration.