ABOUT OUR TEAM

Find out more about the people behind Manchester’s
Digital Strategy and Let’s Get Digital below.

Sherelle Fairweather
Digital Strategy Lead
Manchester’s Digital Strategy

  • Sherelle has worked within the equalities and social change space across local government and the community sector for over 10 years. Now, as Digital Strategy Lead at Manchester City Council, Sherelle is responsible for the implementation of the city's five-year strategy. 

    Sherelle previously coordinated the Council's response to reducing the digital divide during the COVID pandemic. She currently serves as a proud board member for Manchester Animation Festival and Community Arts Northwest, and is Chair of the Proper Job Theatre Trustees Board. 

    Why the Digital Strategy is important to Sherelle:

    The Digital Strategy is important to me because I want to see and be a part of making sure that technological influence on society is for the better.

    I was born in Manchester and live in the city centre and I have much love for the city and its people. Manchester is changing a lot, some of which is really exciting to see and some of which does not include the full range of communities that live here. I believe true cross-organisational collaboration mobilises action and long-lasting change.

    I am enthused by projects that enable people to live their lives independently and full. The strategy fits in this category and we have an opportunity here to do great things for great people and places!

Megan Lawless
Senior Digital Strategy Officer
Manchester’s Digital Strategy

  • Megan is the Senior Digital Strategy Officer for Manchester City Council. She has a keen interest in the impact of technology on society, climate and culture. Megan is interested in how Manchester can enable a just transition to digital, that improves the quality of people's lives.

    Before joining the Council, Megan worked in policy and communications positions at The University of Manchester and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

    Why the Digital Strategy is important to Megan:

    Fundamentally, I want to see the Digital Strategy succeed in its ambitions to help shape a Manchester where digital can help us to break down divides, not create more of them. I am also just fascinated in general by the scope of digital technology, how intertwined our lives have become with it, and its potential (positive and negative) impact on societal change.

Melissa Giusti
Senior Digital Strategy Officer
Manchester’s Digital Strategy

  • Melissa joined the Digital Strategy team in May 2026, after over eight years of experience in innovation, where she led the testing and scaling of digital and non-digital solutions to enhance customer experience and drive positive environmental outcomes. She brings a strong analytical capability, with expertise in data analysis, including GIS, and a focus on translating data into strategic insight. Melissa has a particular interest in data visualisation as a tool to inform decision-making and shape direction. She combines strategic thinking with delivery, working across teams to design user-centred, evidence-based approaches that support sustainable, long-term impact.

    Why the Digital Strategy is important to Melissa:

    The Digital Strategy is important to me because it gives me the opportunity to make a real and visible difference in people’s lives, particularly within the city I live in. It provides the structure to turn ideas into action, ensuring that what we deliver is grounded in people's needs and benefits the community in immediate and lasting ways. I’m motivated by knowing that my work contributes to the community around me - improving how local people experience services, navigate their environment, and connect with opportunities. Seeing that impact close to home makes the work feel tangible and meaningful. For me, digital is not just about technology; it’s about people, place, and models creating positive change where it matters most.

Becky McMillan
Digital Strategy Officer
Manchester’s Digital Strategy

  • Becky joined the Digital Strategy Team in January 2024. She is passionate about exploring the ways in which digital technology can make a positive impact to local communities and the importance of digital literacy in dismantling barriers to success.

    Before joining the council, Becky worked in a variety of roles within the Education sector. For the last six years, she has been surrounded by books, leading Libraries in a Multi Academy Trust.

    Why the Digital Strategy is important to Becky:

    My career in Education was built upon the belief that everyone should have access to the learning, skills, and resources needed to envision and achieve the future of their choice. While the digital sector may be a huge change from the world of education, driving equitable access to opportunities remains a core conviction in my professional work.

    Access to the digital world plays a pivotal role in shaping future prospects, and our Digital Strategy has the potential to make a real difference to communities and affect meaningful change.

    I’m so excited to be a part of it!

Emily Littler
Digital Inclusion Co-Ordinator
Let’s Get Digital

  • Emily joined the Digital Inclusion team in April 2025, bringing her experience of community engagement from her role as a Neighbourhood Officer.

    Emily has a strong digital background. Before working for the council, she spent five years working in digital marketing and software development, then in project coordination for university research grants. Emily is keen to tie together her digital skills and community engagement work to empower and better connect all of Manchester’s communities.

    Why Digital Inclusion is so important to Emily:

    Having worked in digital teams previously, I spent a lot of time ensuring consumer websites were accessible. Now in the public sector, it’s clear to me how inaccessible the online world really is. With rapidly advancing technology, the digital divide is leaving people behind.

    I am passionate about working at grass-roots level to empower our diverse communities with the digital skills that help make life easier. There really is something for everyone online! Whether that’s improving your employment prospects, online banking or connecting with family and friends, I want to support and encourage our residents to get online in a way that benefits them.

Bua Thomdon
Business Support Officer
Let’s Get Digital

  • Bua joined the Digital Inclusion Team in April 2026 as a Business Support Officer. Her role includes managing and responding to correspondence, providing administrative support to colleagues, and ensuring effective coordination across the service. 

    Previously, Bua worked within the School Admissions Team at the Council, where she developed strong experience in handling enquiries and supporting families and schools. 

    Before joining the Council, Bua gained experience working in a language school and spent over 10 years in the insurance broker industry in Thailand, working in a secretarial role. This background has equipped her with strong organisational, administrative, and communication skills. 

    Why the Digital Strategy is important to Bua:

    From my experience working with people from diverse backgrounds, I have learned that technology plays a vital role in education, employment, and everyday life. Despite this, some groups continue to face barriers to accessing digital technology due to factors such as cost, limited resources, or lack of opportunity. Supporting these individuals to achieve fair and widespread access to technology is therefore essential. 

    Being part of the Digital Inclusion team allows me to use my knowledge and skills to support the team and the wider oorganisation developing resources and delivering projects that provide the communities across Manchester with accessible, simple, and equitable access to digital technology. My goal is to help make technology easier to understand and use, ensuring that no one is left behind in an increasingly digital world.

Georgie McRae
Digital Inclusion Officer
Let’s Get Digital

  • Georgie joined the Digital Inclusion team in June 2025. She brings her previous experience in digital literacy education and community engagement to the role.

    Georgie has previously worked in the community health space, working to provide accessible and affordable digital literacy education for adults, among other health promotion initiatives. Prior to this, she worked in marketing, in both the legal and e-commerce sectors.

    Georgie has a passion for creating inclusive and meaningful opportunities for community members to access the digital space in a way that suits them.

    Why the Digital Strategy is important to Georgie:

    In my previous role, I saw first-hand the impact of digital exclusion to community members who were struggling to engage and interact online, and how these barriers contributed to feelings of social isolation, loneliness, and poor mental health.

    I also saw the immense changes in community members who went through digital literacy education programs and how their confidence improved dramatically. They were now able to connect with family members living overseas via social media, access their welfare payments, and use their laptops to apply for work.

    The value of being included digitally now extends into so many aspects of life, leading to those who are excluded being left behind, so I see it as an incredibly valuable effort to be working towards.

Ismahan Hassan
Digital Strategy Officer
Manchester’s Digital Strategy

  • Ismahan is the Digital Strategy Officer for Manchester City Council. She has always been fascinated by technology and how it drives progress in the world. She sees significant potential in bringing these advancements to Manchester, using them to benefit residents and improve everyday lives.

    Passionate about making a positive difference, Ismahan believes that a strong digital strategy is key to leveraging technology effectively for the community.

    Before joining the council, Ismahan worked in Consulting at PwC, gaining experience supporting the implementation of innovative solutions across both the public and private sector.

    Why the Digital Strategy is important to Ismahan:

    I believe technology has the power to transform communities and improve people's lives. In my previous role, I worked on tech-focused projects, where I saw first-hand how digital solutions could improve processes, enhance user experiences, and deliver tangible positive outcomes. I am passionate about finding ways to use digital tools to make services more efficient, accessible, and inclusive. For me, the goal is to identify opportunities to meet residents’ needs, create meaningful impact, and help build a city that is forward thinking and responsive. When applied thoughtfully, technology can improve everyday life and ensure everyone in Manchester benefits from smarter, more inclusive services. 

Sam Milsom
Senior Digital Strategy Officer
Manchester’s Digital Strategy

  • Sam is a Senior Digital Strategy Officer at Manchester City Council, having joined after seven years as Programme Manager at Open Data Manchester. Working across public, private, academic and VCSFE sectors, Sam led community-focused digital projects including Data for Communities, Our Streets Chorlton, Right to the Streets and Mapping Mobility Stockport. He also coordinates Design Justice North and is passionate about ensuring digital transformation serves communities equitably.  

    Why the Digital Strategy is important to Sam:

    Everyone has the right to a fulfilling life, and increasingly digital access is fundamental to that. Whether it’s accessing health services, finding work, or simply participating in your community, digital inclusion enables everyone to access the same opportunities. 

    I believe the best digital inclusion work happens when communities lead. I’ve spent seven years supporting grass-roots organisations and residents to use data and technology on their own terms, and I’ve seen how empowering people, rather than doing things for them, creates lasting change. 

    At its core, this work connects to my fundamental belief in kindness and helping each other thrive. Working within the Digital Strategy and Digital Inclusion teams mean I can be part of this on a bigger scale across Manchester, enabling people and organisations to ensure that no one is left behind.